MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) budget gained more support from several senators, saying the new agency needs more budget to ensure that the government’s programs for the country's modern-day heroes will be implemented.
Senator Raffy Tulfo said he will push for the inclusion of the PHP281 million Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) which was slashed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) from the proposed PHP15.2 billion budget.
Tulfo said the amount is appropriated to acquire vehicles to be used in far-flung areas in the provinces to fetch overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and build centers for OFWs 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 expressed support for the inclusion of the OWWA budget in the plenary debate, adding the amount is very important to support the programs of the agency.
Legarda even suggested to DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople to include and explain in English and vernacular through DMW social media the laws and bills supporting the department.
Earlier, Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros said they are also supporting the increase in the DMW budget.
The DMW is seeking an extra budget for its capital outlay for the establishment of its regional offices targeted next year.
Ople said the regional offices 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 thanked the members of the Senate especially the subcommittee on finance for the panel approval of its 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 said the budget approval at the committee level enables the agency to get an inch closer to its goal of being a "fully constituted department." (PNA)
