Forms of Assistance

Under the Omnibus Guidelines (DO-02-2025), the AKSYON Fund provides twelve (12) enumerated forms of assistance, plus a catch-all for analogous interventions:

Legal Assistance

Covers the hiring or engagement of lawyers, payment of attorney’s fees, and other litigation expenses, relative to legal cases:
a. borne by employer-employee disputes
b. immigration cases
c. police/criminal cases
d. illegal recruitment cases
e. trafficking in persons
f. other analogous cases

Medical Assistance

Covers expenses for physical and/or mental illness including medical examination, treatment, ambulance, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and drugs/medicines not provided by the employer nor covered by health insurance. This is distinct from compulsory/mandatory insurance under Section 23 of RA 10022 and the joint and several liability of the employer/principal/PRA.

Medical Evacuation

Covers emergency transport of an OFW and/or family members living with them in life-threatening situations to the nearest healthcare facility.

Medical Repatriation

Covers the urgent return of an OFW due to medical reasons, including the OFW family living with them. Expenses include: land, sea, or air transportation and ambulance; oxygen, stretcher, medical escorts, and medical devices; exit visa; airfare and airport/luggage fees; food; personal hygiene items; temporary accommodation in host country, during transit, and upon arrival; medicines and laboratory fees.

Repatriation (Non-Medical)

Covers the urgent return of an OFW in distress and/or family for any non-medical reason, including personal effects. Expenses include: land, sea, or air transportation; security vehicle/escorts if necessary; exit visa; airfare and airport/luggage fees; food; personal hygiene supplies; and temporary accommodation in host country, during transit, and upon arrival up to final destination in the Philippines.

Financial Assistance

Immediate financial aid to OFWs in distress and/or their family to alleviate economic displacement and cope with distressful conditions. May be given onsite through MWOs, upon arrival at a Philippine airport, or at the DMW Central Office or Regional Offices. Disbursement may be in cash, bank transfer, money remittance, e-wallet, or any cost-effective mode.

Burial/Cremation and Shipment of Human Remains

Covers burial or cremation in the host country and/or shipment and transport to the Philippines of the remains/cremains and personal effects of the deceased OFW (or deceased family member formerly living with the OFW), including domestic transfer to the residence of the receiving next of kin and incidental expenses.

Rescue and Evacuation

Covers pre-rescue, actual rescue, and post-rescue and evacuation operations, including food, clothing, personal hygiene supplies, temporary shelter, land/sea/air transportation and fuel, and payments for third-party service providers of intelligence, security, and similar services.

Emergency Shelter Assistance

Covers temporary accommodation, food, and transportation allowance for OFWs in distress in the host country and for repatriated OFWs needing emergency shelter, including victims of illegal recruitment or human trafficking not eligible under OWWA’s shelter assistance program.

Compassionate Visit of OFW Family

Covers expenses for next of kin to visit an OFW hospitalized due to severe illness/injury or an incarcerated OFW, including visa assistance, airfare to and from the host country, accommodation, food allowance, and transportation during the visit and return. The number of family members allowed and duration of visit require prior approval from the Fund Administrator and/or the Secretary.

Welfare Assistance to Senior OFW

One-time cash subsidy or medical vouchers (for medical check-up, laboratory examination, and medicines) for OFWs aged 60 and above who are returning to the Philippines for good or with final exit from the host country.

Other Analogous Interventions

Includes all iterations and variants of the above forms of assistance and all other similar forms of aid and support that address any threat, risk, condition, or matter inimical to the OFW under the laws of the host country, international law, or Philippine law, and/or that adversely impact the OFW’s and/or family’s welfare.