The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Monday that they have received 600,000 applications from displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The applications were intended for the government’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong (AKAP) cash subsidy program.

In a media briefing, DOLE-International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) Director Alice Visperas said that half of the number received their one-time cash aid of Php10,000 or $200. Meanwhile, she said 200,000 more will given their cash assistance once the funds for the ‘Bayanihan to Recover as One Act’ is released this week.

“We have received more than 600,000 applicants and out of the number or over more than 300,000 of them have been paid and we have still 300,000 plus who are waiting,” Visperas said.

A total of 322,409 Filipino workers abroad and those who have returned to the country were able to receive their cash aid under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. This means that some Php3 billion has been released for the subsidy program.

Visperas, however, noted that some 70,000 applications were denied due to several factors.

“Unfortunately, there were applications that have been denied. These are the double or triple applications. The system automatically denies them, they are over 70,000.So we will have over 200,000 remaining. Out of that, more than half from overseas and then the rest are in the country,” she added.

DOLE also wants to speed up the process of giving cash aid to returning OFWs. Visperas said that OFWs will no longer need to apply for the cash aid upon their arrival and they can do the application online.

Upon their return to the country and while waiting for the test results in quarantine facilities, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will process their cash aid application and it will be given to them upon their return to their home provinces.