Qualified OFWs in Butuan, Agusan Norte get P5.625M in aid for recovery, livelihood
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — For 98 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who faced difficult circumstances abroad, government assistance is allowing them to meet urgent needs, rebuild their livelihoods, and continue supporting their families without leaving the country again.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Caraga provided a total of P5.625 million worth of assistance from the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund to qualified OFWs from Butuan City and Agusan del Norte during a distribution activity on October 6 at the DMW Caraga Conference Hall, here.
Of the total assistance, 53 beneficiaries from Butuan City received P3.025 million, while 45 beneficiaries from Agusan del Norte received P2.6 million.
For the beneficiaries, the assistance provides more than immediate financial relief. It can help address essential needs, including medical expenses, while also providing resources that can be used as capital for a small livelihood or business as they rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families in the Philippines.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the assistance, saying the support would help them cope with their present circumstances and move forward with greater financial stability.
One beneficiary expressed gratitude for the government’s provision, saying the assistance allows them to continue working and earning for their families even without having to work abroad.
DMW Caraga Regional Director Ritchel M. Butao encouraged the beneficiaries to use the assistance wisely, whether for their immediate needs or as capital for a livelihood or small business that could provide a sustainable source of income.
The assistance forms part of the national government’s continuing efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to protect the welfare of OFWs and provide timely support to migrant workers who experience distress and other extraordinary circumstances abroad.
Under DMW Department Order No. 02, series of 2025, the AKSYON Fund provides legal, medical, financial, repatriation, evacuation, rescue, and other forms of assistance to OFWs experiencing distress or economic displacement due to abuse, exploitation, serious illness, illegal recruitment, war, political unrest, natural calamities, and other extraordinary situations.
The assistance also supports the government’s broader efforts to help returning and distressed OFWs reintegrate into their communities and establish sources of income that can enable them to remain productive while staying close to their families.
Before the distribution, DMW Caraga Supervising Labor Employment Officer Marissa A. Garay, RSW, led a ‘kumustahan’ or catch-up session, allowing beneficiaries to share their experiences and receive guidance on self-care and mental health awareness.
The session formed part of DMW Caraga’s observance of Mental Health Month, emphasizing the importance of seeking support, practicing self-care, and maintaining emotional well-being as OFWs transition back to life with their families.
Aligned with the reintegration pillars of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), a whole-of-government framework established under Executive Order No. 110 by President Marcos Jr. to support Filipinos affected by the Middle East tensions, through the AKSYON Fund, DMW Caraga continues to provide assistance that goes beyond immediate financial relief, helping distressed OFWs recover, rebuild livelihoods, and create opportunities to support their families without having to seek work abroad again. (NLM, PIA Agusan del Norte with a report from DMW Caraga)
