Ninety-two overseas Filipino workers facing hardship abroad received financial support from the Department of Migrant Workers on August 31, when the agency marked National Heroes Day with an event honoring the country’s modern-day heroes.
Of those aided, 86 workers in distress each received P50,000, while six others were granted P75,000 apiece to cover medical needs. The recipients came largely from the National Capital Region, which accounted for 72 beneficiaries, with the remaining 20 hailing from Region IV-A.
The disbursement was carried out under the UPLIFT initiative, following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and aims to strengthen assistance for migrant workers and their families during emergencies, crises, and other difficult circumstances.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac used the occasion to place OFWs squarely among the nation’s heroes. “Pero kung tutuusin, hindi tayo nalalayo sa hanay ng mga bayani. Dahil narito sa ating harapan ang ating mga buhay na bayani: ang ating mga mahal na OFWs,” he said.
The gathering, held as part of the “Parangal sa Bagong Bayani ng Mundo” under the Tahanan ng OFW program, brought workers together for conversation, songs, dancing, and the turnover of aid.
According to Cacdac, the President added P3.0 billion to the AKSYON Fund for 2026, bringing its total to P5 billion so that more workers can be reached when they encounter emergencies and crises.
OFWs who find themselves in distress can check their eligibility for the AKSYON Fund by reaching out to the DMW Central Office, the nearest DMW Regional Office, or a Migrant Workers Office through https://dmw.gov.ph/contact-us.
