Govt won't let go OWWA go bankrupt –Palace

The Duterte administration will not let the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), as well as PhilHealth, go bankrupt amid the COVID-19 pandemic, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday.

“Ang OWWA at PhilHealth, hindi po natin papayagang ang gobyerno na malugi sa panahon ng pandemya,” Roque said at a televised briefing.

PhilHealth is a state-run health insurance company. Under Department of Health (DOH) protocol, PhilHealth is required to cover the cost of COVID-19-related expenses, including tests, of those with symptoms and those with exposure with COVID-19 patients whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic.

Facing a Senate hearing on Wednesday, OWWA Administrator Hans Cacdac said the agency’s budget could go down to less than P1 billion by 2021 if the COVID-19 pandemic persists since assistance to affected OFWs entails a huge cost.

Roque, however, assured the public that there is nothing to worry about as senators are in favor of giving OWWA a supplemental budget.

“Huwag po sila mag-alala, suportado po ng mga senador ang pagbibigay sa OWWA ng supplemental budget worth P5 billion,” Roque added.

Cacdac has said that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, OWWA had been assisting around 35,000 displaced OFWs as part of its reintegration program, a figure that could go as high as 100,000 to 300,000 due to the health crisis.

The Philippines has 32,295 COVID-19 cases so far. Of this number, 8,656 recovered while 1,204 died. —KBK, GMA News