As thousands of overseas Filipino workers in Dubai continue to race for slots in the government’s one-time financial assistance program, at least one recipient has come forward to share what the aid means on the ground.
Cherelyn Ondo Medina Magsino, a Filipino worker based in Dubai, posted on Facebook on May 5 that she had successfully received the USD 200 — equivalent to AED 730 — cash grant from the Philippine government’s financial assistance program for OFWs affected by the Middle East crisis. “From Dubai with a grateful heart. Received the $200 OFW assistance!” she wrote. “Between salary cuts and rising costs, this support is a blessing. Process was tough, but worth it.”
Magsino is among the approved applicants from the first two batches processed by the Migrant Workers Office in Dubai and Northern Emirates. Of the 822 applications received in Form 1 on April 28, 668 were approved. Form 2, released on May 1, yielded an even higher approval count of 849 out of 1,027 submissions. Salary reduction was the most commonly cited reason for applying across both batches, accounting for over 40% of submissions in each form — a figure consistent with Magsino’s own account of facing pay cuts amid the ongoing crisis.
Approved applicants collect the cash grant over the counter at any Al Ansari Exchange branch across the UAE upon receiving an SMS notification from the remittance center. A valid Emirates ID or passport must be presented upon collection.
For OFWs who have yet to secure a slot, Form 4 opens this Friday, May 8, at 8:00 A.M. A top labor official confirmed to The Global Filipino Magazine that after May 8, the office will pause further releases and wait for additional advice and funding from the Department of Migrant Workers before scheduling new windows. Based on the speed of previous sessions — Form 3 closed in under 30 minutes on May 5 — slots are expected to fill quickly.
OFWs applying for the first time or reapplying after a previous incomplete submission are reminded to prepare five documents before the portal opens: an accomplished RFA Form (available in Filipino at bit.ly/RFA-Form or in English at bit.ly/4t5Opjq), a copy of their passport bio page, both the front and back of their Emirates ID, at least one proof of overseas employment, and at least one proof of work disruption. The form link will be posted on the MWO-Dubai Facebook page ahead of the opening.
