Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 12) — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday appealed for a higher budget for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), saying the contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to the country’s economy merits a more substantial allocation for the government agency tasked with ensuring their welfare.
The Senate approved ₱16.2 billion budget for the DMW after insertions, up from an initial ₱14.9 billion laid out in the 2023 general appropriations bill.
“Two to four trillion pesos ang contribution ng OFWs sa economy over the last five years, tapos bibigyan natin sila ng budget na ₱16 billion?” Cayetano said during a session on Thursday.
“Bigyan naman natin sila ng 20, 25, 30 billion [peso] na pondo na kumpletos rekados,” he added.
[Translation: OFWs contributed two to four trillion pesos in our economy over the last five years, yet we can only give them a ₱16 billion budget? Let us give them 20, 25, 30 billion pesos in funds complete with other aid]
The agency’s budget was defended by Senator JV Ejercito, who claimed that OFWs contributed ₱2.093 trillion during the previous five years.
Cayetano reasoned that giving the DMW a higher budget in its first year will send the signal to OFWs and their families that the government is serious about supporting their interests.
“Let’s make a significant impact in the first year,” he said. “We don’t want to be so sentimental [now that] finally [there is a] department for OFWs and then not meet the expectation.”
He also urged the department to have more labor attaches, since currently the department only has 40.
The newly created DMW has administrative control over the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
