The OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) is just one of the many programs that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has in place in an effort to carry out its mandate to serve and protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families worldwide. It is a financial assistance program designed to extend support to both active and inactive OWWA members and their families in times of need.
Also Read: What are the OWWA Social Benefits?
The OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) is designed to extend the OWWA benefits to OWWA members, active or otherwise, who are yet to be eligible for regular OWWA programs and services. It seeks to offer relief and support in times of financial difficulties or crises. The support comes in various forms—from cash aid during calamities to financial support in cases of death, disability, sickness, accidental or crime-induced injury, and displacement due to economic, political, health crises, and bankruptcy.
What is the Welfare Assistance Program?
WAP stands for Welfare Assistance Program—a financial assistance program initiated by OWWA to extend their support to all OWWA members and/or their families. It is particularly designed to support those OWWA or former OWWA members who are not eligible under any of the regular and special OWWA social benefit programs and services.
OWWA WAP offers benefits in the form of cash relief assistance to OWWA members who find themselves facing difficulties caused by unfortunate circumstances like calamity, death, disability, sickness, accidental or crime-induced injury, and displacement due to economic, political, health crises, and bankruptcy when they are not yet covered by any of the regular and special programs implemented by the Secretariat.
List of OWWA Welfare Assistance Programs (WAP)
The OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) comes in various forms, including:
Calamity assistance
The OWWA Calamity Assistance benefit offered under the Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) is primarily a cash assistance program. It was meant to help active and inactive OWWA member OFWs and their families who were affected by either natural disasters (typhoons and earthquakes) or human-made disasters.
Under the WAP’s Calamity Assistance Program, OFWs who are inactive or active OWWA members during a natural calamity like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or typhoons are eligible for cash aid amounting to Php 500.00 if you’re inactive and Php 1,000.00 if you’re active. The same program also offers Php 1,500.00 (for inactive OWWA members) to Php 3,000.00 (for active OWWA members) to those affected by human-made disasters such as chemical spills.
Bereavement assistance
Under the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), bereaved family members who are qualified dependents of an OFW who passed away can claim cash aids as their Bereavement Assistance benefit.
The Bereavement Assistance benefit offers cash assistance to active and inactive OWWA member OFWs who are not eligible under the Death and Burial Social Benefits. The one-time cash aid given under the Bereavement Assistance Program amounts to Php 20,000.00 and is meant to cover the funeral expenses and income loss.
Disability assistance
OWWA also offers support to active or inactive OWWA members who were victims of crimes or accidents under the OWWA WAP Disability Assistance Program.
The program offers cash aid to qualified dependents of OFWs who are unable to work after sustaining significant partial or permanent injuries due to crimes or accidents during the course of their employment. It offers financial assistance ranging from Php 2,500.00 to Php 25,000.00 for partial or temporary injuries. For permanent injuries, the injured OFW may claim cash aid amounting anywhere from Php 50,000.00 to Php 100,000.00.
Medical assistance
The OWWA Medical Assistance is yet another benefit offered under the Welfare Assistance Program (WAP). This is a separate program offered to OWWA member OFWs who are suffering from illnesses or from an injury sustained due to a crime or an accident and are not covered by the OWWA Supplementary Medical Assistance or MedPlus through PhilHealth. The program also offers support in the form of a one-time cash grant to help cover expenses related to other medical conditions that the MEDplus does not cover.
Note that there is no specific amount awarded via this grant as it varies on a case-to-case basis. As such, it is not advisable for OFWs to consider this as a potential replacement for health insurance. After all, the benefit offered by this Medical Assistance Program is only valid for one application.
Relief assistance
The OWWA Relief Assistance Program offers cash aid to OWWA member OFWs who are displaced, distressed, or laid-off due to economic, political, health crises, bankruptcy, and other related conditions. The cash assistance is available to both inactive and active OWWA members, but just like the Medical Assistance benefit, the amount of the cash grant given for relief assistance is not fixed and may vary from beneficiary to beneficiary.
Applying for the Welfare Assistance Program (WAP)
Availing the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) benefits not only helps you make the most out of your OWWA membership, but it also serves as your anchor to tide you over the most difficult of times regardless of the status of your OWWA membership. To learn how, we listed everything you need to know to apply for the program.
Qualifications
The benefits offered by the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) are available to:
- Active or inactive OWWA member OFWs; or
- Qualified OFW dependents
Requirements
When applying for any of the programs offered under the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), interested availees must prepare the following documentary requirements:
Calamity Assistance
- At least two (2) valid government or company-issued IDs of OFW or Claimant
- Authorization Letter, along with the ID of OFW, if claimant is not the OFW
- Barangay Certificate as resident of disaster / emergency affected community
- If victim of fire incident, secure Certification
Note: Calamity Assistance can be claimed by OFW members who are living in areas where the Local Government Unit (LGUs) or the Office of the President declared a state of calamity.
Bereavement Assistance
- At least two (2) valid government or company-issued IDs of Claimant
- Proof of relationship with OFW
- Marriage Contract
- Birth Certificate
- Death Certificate
- Joint Affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons who witnessed the administration of burial rites
Disability Assistance
- At least two (2) valid government or company-issued IDs of Claimant
- Medical Certificate or Examination Procedure Result
- Accident or Police Report
- Special Power of Attorney (SPA), if the claimant is not the OFW
Medical Assistance
- At least two (2) valid government or company-issued IDs of OFW or Claimant
- Authorization Letter along with the ID of the OFW, if the claimant is not the OFW
- Original Medical Certificate or Medical Abstract with the PTR No. of Attending Physician
Relief Assistance
- At least two (2) valid government or company-issued IDs of OFW or Claimant
- Authorization Letter along with the ID of the OFW, if the claimant is not the OFW
- Proof of Displacement
- Termination of Contract
- Working Visa
- Certification from OWWA-POLO of OFWs’ job sites
Procedures
Applying for the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) can be done whether you are in or out of the country. You simply need to go to either the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) if you’re currently in the country or to the nearest Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) if you are still abroad. Whether it’s the RWO or the POLO, visiting these offices and following the procedures below will help you claim the benefits of the program.
- Secure an appointment to visit the OWWA Regional Welfare Office (RWO) or Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) that covers the permanent address or workplace of the OFW.
- Visit the selected RWO or POLO office.
- Get a priority number or ticket and wait for your turn to be accommodated.
- Present OFW ID or information to the Membership Verification Desk, based on status of membership and wait for the verification process to be completed.
- Secure an application form and the checklist of requirements that you will need to submit
- Submit the duly-accomplished claim form and all the required documents for validation or evaluation of the application.
- Wait for the application to be processed and approved.
- For approved applications, present the claim stub and claim the financial assistance through check or cash pay-out.
Important Reminders
For those who are interested in the OWWA WAP programs and benefits, here are a few things worth remembering:
- The benefits offered under the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) are not loans so there is no need to worry about repayment later on.
- Most of the cash grants offered under the WAP are given as a one-time cash aid to OFWs and their representative claimants.
- Valid IDs and active bank accounts are required to avail of most of the benefits offered under the program.
- If OWWA distributes the financial assistance in cash, then a bank account will not be required.
- The signatures on the OFW’s valid IDs, passport, and authorization letter must be identical.
- Like any other OWWA programs, application for the program benefits under WAP can be done either through their website, or by visiting the nearest OWWA or POLO Offices.
- The payout for the grants are often scheduled for claiming at another date after OWWA conducted a thorough evaluation and approval of the submitted applications.
- For the Calamity Assistance, OWWA usually releases a list of severely affected municipalities where the application for calamity assistance is available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For the common questions and answers related to the OWWA WAP,
1. What is OWWA WAP?
WAP stands for the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program. This is one of the programs initiated by OWWA in an attempt to extend their support to OFWs and qualified dependents of active and inactive OFW members who are not yet or no longer qualified for both the regular and special OWWA programs.
2. What are the programs offered under the OWWA WAP?
Under the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP), OFWs and their qualified dependents or family members may avail financial assistance in times of need. The financial assistance are offered as:
- Calamity Assistance
- Bereavement Assistance
- Disability Assistance
- Medical Assistance
- Relief Assistance
3. Who are qualified to avail of the benefits of the OWWA Welfare Assistance Program (WAP)?
Active and inactive OWWA member OFWs who are facing difficulties caused by unfortunate circumstances like calamity, death, disability, sickness, accidental or crime-induced injury, and displacement due to economic, political, health crises, and bankruptcy and are not yet covered by any of the regular and special programs implemented by the Secretariat may be eligible for the program. Their dependents or authorized representatives may also apply on behalf of the OFW as long as they bring the required documentation.
4. Can I apply as an authorized representative for more than one OFW member?
No. If an OFW claimant applies for the WAP benefits, they can only apply for themselves. If it is an authorized representative applying on behalf of the OWWA member OFW, he/she may only apply for the WAP benefits on behalf of one (1) OFW.
5. Am I guaranteed to receive assistance from any of the programs under WAP upon submission of my application?
No, applications for WAP benefits are not guaranteed. Just like any other OWWA programs, submitting an application does not guarantee approval. All WAP applications are subject to review and assessment by OWWA and the other concerned agencies due to the program’s limited budget.
6. How will I know if I am accepted as a WAP beneficiary?
WAP claimants may track the status of their application through the reference or serial number issued to them via call, text, or email from authorized DOLE or OWWA representatives.
7. How to set up an appointment with OWWA?
Applying for any of the OWWA programs typically merit a trip or two to the OWWA or POLO Offices. Thus, it is important to schedule an appointment to ensure that your trip won’t be wasted and you will be accommodated at the OWWA or POLO office. To learn how to schedule an appointment with OWWA either via the website, via email, or via call or text, simply follow these steps:
Via the OWWA Website
- Open the appointment booking page.
- Click Next then choose the preferred OWWA office and Workers Assistance as the program type.
- Choose your preferred date and time.
- Fill in all of your personal information.
- Verify the date and time of your appointment.
- On the day of your appointment, visit the preferred OWWA office, then wait for your turn at the queue as you enter.
- Take your completed documents to the designated OWWA counter.
Via Email
- Send your full name, address, phone number, and the service you’re considering to your preferred OWWA Office via email.
- Wait for the confirmation of your appointment.
- On the day of your appointment, visit the preferred OWWA office, then wait for your turn at the queue as you enter.
- Take your completed documents to the designated OWWA counter.
Via Call/Text
- Make an appointment by calling or texting the preferred OWWA Office.
- Confirm your appointment with the OWWA office before going.
8. What is POLO-OWWA?
POLO refers to the Philippine Overseas Labor Office. The POLO-OWWA office is a dedicated office stationed in various parts of the world where you can inquire and avail of the OWWA programs and benefits while working overseas.
Contact Information
In case you have inquiries or concerns regarding the Welfare Assistance Program, you may try contacting OWWA via the following channels:
OWWA Cares
OWWA Cares Hotline: 1348 (for Metro Manila), (02) 1348 for outside Metro Manila, 0632-1348 for those overseas / international calls
If you are in the Philippines, you may also reach out to the OWWA Main Office via the following contact information:
Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA)
Office Address: F.B. Harrison St, Pasay, Metro Manila
Tel. No.: 8891-7601 to 24
OWWA hotline number: 1348, (02) 1348 (Regional), (+632) 1348 (International)
OWWA Email Address: owwacares@owwa.gov.ph, commandcenter@dole.gov.ph
OWWA Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/OWWAofficial
OWWA Website: https://owwa.gov.ph/
Summary
Knowing about the different programs offered by OWWA is quite helpful for OFWs who wish to make the most out of their membership. After all, most of OWWA’s programs were designed to help the government serve and protect the OFWs and their families.
The Welfare Assistance Program (WAP) is just another one of the many programs offered by OWWA to their OFW members. Despite the similarities with other OWWA offerings, the WAP is, in fact, a special OWWA program. Not only does it offer numerous other programs under it, but it also extends the benefit to both active and inactive OWWA members and their families. Though applications for any of the assistance offered by WAP are not automatically guaranteed, it is possible to apply for any of the programs and receive a one-time cash aid from any of the benefits offered under the program.
As such, it is important to keep the OWWA membership active to guarantee yourself the financial assistance you are entitled to. Don’t forget to maximize the OWWA services so you can also apply and receive the maximum benefits offered by the Secretariat, as any kind of assistance is helpful in times of need.