MEMBERSHIP contribution to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)  dropped by 60 percent as deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) declined in 2020 because of the economic effect and travel restrictions imposed by labor importing countries as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

'There is a 60 percent drop in membership contribution. The  [OWWA] fund now stands at P18.4 billion,' said OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac  over the weekend in a virtual press briefing even as he assured members that the  state-run overseas workers welfare fund is 'not in the red' and remains stable primarily because of the  support from the national government. 'As of now, we manage to balance our fund because of the support of the national government. We were given P5,2 billion last year and for 2021 we were given [by Congress] P6,2 billion,' Cacdac said.