A health crisis that forced Edith O. Loriaga home after more than 14 years abroad has drawn a direct response from the Philippine government, which released P75,000 to help cover her treatment. The grant came through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) under its AKSYON Fund, the emergency assistance mechanism the agency uses for workers in distress.
Loriaga spent over a decade working as a massage therapist in Saudi Arabia before a complicated medical condition prompted her return. She is now staying with her sibling while she undergoes treatment, and the cost of her medication and other medical needs led her to seek help from the DMW.
Rather than requiring her to process the request at a government office, DMW staff brought the money to the temporary residence in Marikina where she is recovering. The hand delivery took place on August 28, 2026.
The assistance sits within the administration’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, or UPLIFT, program launched under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The AKSYON Fund — short for Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan — channels immediate aid to qualified migrant workers and their dependents facing crisis, emergency, or distress situations. Depending on their category and needs, beneficiaries typically receive either P50,000 or P75,000, according to DMW-NCR figures reported by Pilipino sa Kuwait.
The department has stressed that its support does not stop at cash grants. Workers who need help beyond what the fund provides can be endorsed to other government bodies, including the DSWD, TESDA, DTI, and local government units, as circumstances warrant.
Loriaga expressed her gratitude in a statement to the agency. “Very grateful and thankful po ako sa ating pamahalaan at sa DMW. Kung wala po kayo, wala din po kami. Nandiyan po kayo, handang tumulong at umagapay sa amin, mula sa aming pagtatrabaho bilang OFW hanggang sa aming pag-uwi sa bansa. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong malasakit at suporta. God bless po sa ating pamahalaan at sa DMW.”
