SEN. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the Senate will scrutinize the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) budget and evaluate its performance not just in terms of utilization but more importantly how its budget for the current year was spent.

“We also want to know the significant accomplishments of the DMW and how its programs contributed to the improvement of our OFWs’ lives and situation,” Ejercito said.

“What we want to know…is if the agency’s allocation is enough so that no more OFWs will be abused or lose their lives abroad?” he added.

The DMW proposed a total of P15.309 billion budget for 2024, with P3.359 billion being allocated to the Office of Secretary while the remaining P11.949 billion will go to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as its attached agency.

Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, officer-in-charge of the DMW, presented the agency’s proposed budget for 2024.

Cacdac assumed the position of Susan “Toots” Ople who died last August 29. Ople, who died of cancer, is a known advocate of OFWs rights and is the first secretary of the DMW.

Aside from focusing on the welfare of the OFWs, Ople also worked with the Immigration Bureau where she fought for the welfare of private citizens from being trafficked to other countries.

Meanwhile, Sen. Raffy Tulfo urged the DMW to be more proactive in addressing the issues facing overseas Filipino workers.

While expressing his support for the DMW’s P15.309-billion proposed 2024 budget, Tulfo lamented the agency’s underspending of its 2023 funds despite the numerous concerns and incidents involving OFWs during its maiden year as a government agency.

He also inquired about the lack of equipment, supplies and facilities in the OFW Hospital in Pampanga and in OFW shelters abroad.

“I encourage them to be more proactive and transparent. We owe it to our kababayans abroad to rightfully exercise our mandate and perform our tasks diligently,” Tulfo told the DMW.

AUTHOR PROFILE

PS Jun M. Sarmiento