Question & AnswerQ&A (OWWA MEMORANDUM OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 123)
The Burial Assistance Program provides a monetary assistance amounting to ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to beneficiaries of OCWs.
The program covers deaths of OCWs, including landbased and seabased, as well as deaths by presumptions in the case of seamen officially reported as missing at sea, that occurred on or after May 1, 1982 during employment overseas or within six months after termination of overseas employment.
The monetary assistance covers deaths occurring after June 30, 1991 and/or after the consumption of all available memorial service plans as provided in MOI No. 061, series of 1989.
The deceased OCW must have at least one (1) recorded contribution to the OWWA fund and must not be covered by the OWWA insurance program effective from July 1, 1991.
The beneficiaries in order of priority are: a) Surviving Spouse; b) Children; c) Parents.
Applicants must submit the accomplished application form along with: original and xeroxed death certificate; official report in cases of seamen missing at sea; employment contract or equivalent documents; certificate of period of overseas employment; and proof of relationship such as marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificates for children or deceased OCW, with additional affidavits if necessary, plus two (2) 1" x 1" ID photos of the claimant.
Applications should be personally submitted or mailed to the Benefits and Statistics Division for landbased OCWs, or the Seafarers Assistance and Benefits Division for seamen, or to the OWWA regional units.
Any question or contest on claims among beneficiaries shall be adjudicated by the Legal Department of the OWWA Secretariat, whose decision shall be final and executory.
Yes, the burial assistance is over and above similar and other benefits due to the OCWs under the overseas employment contract.
MOI No. 123 supersedes MOI No. 061, series of 1989.