MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) budget received more support from various senators, stating that the new agency would need additional budget to secure the implementation of the government’s programs for the country’s modern-day heroes.
Senator Raffy Tulfo said he will support for the inclusion of the PHP281 million Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which was cut from the proposed PHP15.2 billion budget by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Tulfo stated that the funds will be utilized to purchase vehicles to be used in remote regions of the provinces to transport overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and to construct OFW centers in the provinces.
“Yung PHP281 million budget ng OWWA ay dapat pambili ng sasakyan, paggawa ng mga gusali, pero ang ibinigay ng DBM ay zero (The PHP218 million OWWA budget will be used to acquire vehicles, build OFW centers, but instead, the DBM gave zero budget),” he said during the DBM budget hearing.
Senator Loren Legarda also supported the inclusion of the OWWA budget in the plenary debate, noting that the budget amount is crucial for supporting the agency’s programs.
Legarda even urged DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople that the laws and bills backing the department be included and explained in English and vernacular via DMW social media.
Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros earlier mentioned that they are also backing the increase in the DMW budget.
The DMW is requesting additional funding for its capital expenditures for the building of regional offices scheduled for the following year.
The regional offices, according to Ople, would bring their services and cater to OFWs and their families especially in the provinces.
She said 16 DMW regional offices will be established next year.
“We don’t have the capital outlay to ensure that every regional office will have a service vehicle, computers, printers and other equipment to serve our OFWs and their families per region,” Ople said.
She commended Senate members, particularly the finance subcommittee, for approving the panel’s inaugural PHP15.2 billion budget for 2023.
“We welcome the offer of our senators to find ways and means to support and augment our 2023 budget taking into consideration the sustainability of our programs and services including the full operations of the country’s only OFW Hospital,” Ople said.
She stated that budget approval at the committee level allows the agency to go one step closer to being a “fully constituted department.”
