MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were victims of a balikbayan box scam are getting financial assistance from the Department of Migrant Workers.
The DMW said P30,000 in cash would be provided to the victims, including those who suffered loss, abandonment or extraordinary delays in the delivery of the boxes.
The agency has issued the guidelines for the provision of financial assistance to the victims of the balikbayan box scam through its AKSYON Fund.
The DMW said it has received reports about OFWs becoming victims of fraudulent activities of international freight forwarders and their local counterparts in the shipment of balikbayan boxes.
The agency said the one-time financial aid would be given to the victims upon submission of complete and compliant documentary requirements.
“In addition to the documentary requirements and to ensure qualification, the OFWs would be matched to the list provided by government agencies,” the DMW said.
Regional offices of the DMW will process and evaluate the applications and facilitate the release of the financial assistance to the victims.