fisherfolk from the organization Pangisda, in Bataan. She reported how a member was arrested by the Bantay Dagat for going out to fish during ECQ and how money, supposedly for food, was spent on bail. The Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) reports that even before the crisis, topmost on the list of abuses experienced by women migrant workers even way back in 2017 is the non-payment or underpayment of wages. They reported that with the lockdown, this type of abuse all the more persisted. 40 This prompted the call from Migrant Forum Asia and other migrant organizations for the payment of wages of OFWs and establishment of a justice mechanism to ensure the same.41 Migrante on the other hand draws attention to the massive loss of employment suffered by OFWs, followed by massive repatriation. 42 They criticized the failure of the government immediately adopt a comprehensive and systematic repatriation of OFWs, with many OFWs remaining stranded on site.43 Those who have been successfully repatriated, on the other hand, do not only face lack of employment, they also become locally stranded individuals and are often excluded in the benefits provided by the local government unit. 44 As of August this year, the Department of Labor and Employment reported that the number of overseas Filipino workers seeking assistance due to the effects of the pandemic surged to more than 600,000, of this number, 349,977 are stranded overseas, while 254,426 are repatriated landbased and sea-based OFWs.45 In a webinar sponsored by Gabriela and Center for Women’s Resources, it was emphasized that prior COVID-19, women workers were already victims of contractualization. With the ECQ and lockdown of places of employment, many of the women contractual workers were unable to receive support from their agency or the government.46 Half of what they received were advances from their 13 th month pay, and which were not really shouldered by the company. This left many of the workers in debt. When work resumed with the declaration of GCQ, most companies lacked safety guidelines and protocols, putting already vulnerable workers at risk.47 On the plight of LGBQI+, activities undertaken by the Commission during the new normal also highlighted the economic impact of the crisis to the community. During a webinar sponsored by the Commission, UNDP, and Lagablab LGBT Network, on the situation of LGBQI+ community during the pandemic, a Cebu based organization reported 68% of their research respondents reporting loss of income during the pandemic. The same report also revealed that during the conduct of the survey, 50% of the respondents feel that they are already financially struggling and having difficulties in making ends meet. 48 40 CMA and UN Women Webinar “ Preventing Violence and Violations: An Online RTD with Government Agencies on Providing, Coordinating, and Sustaining Support for WMWs” 27 August 2020 41 Migrant Forum Asia. Call for Urgent Justice Mechanism for Repatriated Migrant Workers. http://mfasia.org/callfor-an-urgent-justice-mechanism-for-repatriated-migrant-workers/ 42 Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson, MIGRANTE during the “Women, COVID-19 Crisis and the New Normal”, 1 June 2020, a webinar sponsored by Gabriela and Center for Women’s Resources. 43 Joanna Concepcion, Chairperson, MIGRANTE during the “Women, COVID-19 Crisis and the New Normal”, 1 June 2020, a webinar sponsored by Gabriela and Center for Women’s Resources. 44 Silayan, see note 45 DOLE. Displaced OFWs soar past 600k. 16 August 2020. https://www.dole.gov.ph/news/displaced-ofws-soarpast-600k/ 46 Avic Villanueva , Spokesperson, Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan during the “Women, COVID-19 Crisis and the New Normal”, 1 June 2020, a webinar sponsored by Gabriela and Center for Women’s Resources. 47 Avic Villanueva, see note 41 48 Cebu United Rainbow LGBTIQ Sector Inc (CURLs) “Situation of LGBT Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic” during the ‘Webinar on the Situation of LGBTQI Filipinos During COVID-19 Pandemic’ sponsored by CHR, UNDP, and Lagablab 9