OWWA seeks ₱575M more for OFW repatriation after budget cut

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration is seeking ₱575 million more for emergency repatriation in 2027 after its proposed allocation was cut despite continuing geopolitical risks affecting overseas Filipino workers.

OWWA Administrator PY Caunan raised concern over the reduction during congressional deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget.

Caunan said the Emergency Repatriation Fund had received around ₱1.2 billion annually over the past three years, but the allocation was reduced to more than ₱900 million under the proposed budget.

OWWA is asking Congress to restore an additional ₱575 million to the fund, warning that the proposed amount may be insufficient if another major crisis requires the evacuation of Filipinos abroad.

The agency continues to deal with the impact of conflict in the Middle East.

Caunan said OWWA has already used up its regular repatriation allocation because of the Middle East crisis and is now relying on supplemental funding to continue assisting affected Filipinos.

The Department of Migrant Workers separately told lawmakers that geopolitical crises make previous fund utilization an unreliable basis for determining future emergency requirements.

“When it comes to crisis responses, precisely, there is no crystal ball that will tell us when a crisis will occur,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

Cacdac cited conflicts in the Middle East and potential contingencies elsewhere as reasons the government needs sufficient standby resources for OFWs.

The DMW said around 3,000 Filipino seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf, with authorities coordinating with shipowners to provide food, water and other basic supplies while they await exit.

In the Strait of Hormuz, 28 vessels carrying around 380 Filipino seafarers had been attacked, according to figures presented during the hearing. DMW said 256 seafarers had been repatriated while 53 were still awaiting repatriation.

The funding issue also comes as the government prepares for other potential emergencies involving large Filipino communities abroad, including a possible crisis in Taiwan.

The DMW is separately seeking another ₱1 billion for its Action Fund, which would increase the proposed allocation from ₱2 billion to ₱3 billion.

“We have 1 billion for the action fund to make it from 2B to 3B,” Cacdac said.

The DMW Action Fund and OWWA Emergency Repatriation Fund are separate funding mechanisms, but both provide resources for government assistance to OFWs during emergencies.