JV Ejercito vows to push for DMW budget increase
November 13, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito stressed
the need to restore the proposed budget of the Department of Migrant Workers
(DMW), citing the ongoing crises in Israel-Gaza, Ukraine-Russia, and other
global conflicts.
“The budget will be very helpful for DMW to
function very well and serve our OFWs most especially now in times of the
brewing crises in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine,” Ejercito said during the budget
deliberation at the Senate on Monday, Nov. 13.
As per the Senate Committee Report, the DMW
has a total budget of P13.7 billion, with P6.9 billion allocated for Office of
the Secretary (OSEC) and P6.7 billion for Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA).
The proposed budget of the DMW in the initial
House deliberation was P15.308 billion, but the General Appropriations Bill
(GAB) was approved at P12.752 billion, indicating a significant reduction.
However, the Senate Committee Report, which
was submitted for amendments, includes an augmentation of P900 million for the
OSEC and an additional P100 million for the OWWA.
Ejercito said these extra funds will aid in
enhancing OSEC's maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) for 16 DMW
Regional Offices, sustaining the OFW Hospital's operations, contributing to the
Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund,
and prioritizing the Tatak Pinoy budget initiative.
The lawmaker from San Juan further said that a
portion is allocated to support OWWA's MOOE, specifically for the Emergency
Repatriation Fund (ERF).
He also emphasized the importance of the ERF
for overseas workers, particularly during the emergencies like the COVID-19
pandemic.
In September, during the hearing of the Senate
Subcommittee "N," chaired by Ejercito, he recommended an additional
P5.1 billion from OWWA's ERF for the DMW. The total proposal is P17.23 billion,
which seeks to address challenges, especially in establishing new migrant
worker offices globally.
At the hearing, DMW-OSEC requested a
realignment of P5.1 billion, but only P3.7 billion was granted, resulting in a
cut of P1.4 billion.
If not retained in the proposed realignment,
Ejercito noted that the P14-billion budget cut would significantly impact key
programs of the DMW.
Programs that will be affected include the
expansion and improvement of Migrant Workers' Offices (MWOs), provision of food
and other basic necessities to distressed workers and their families, hiring of
additional local staff for Assistance To Nationals (ATN) functions, and other
operational expenses, including repatriation due to various crises.
Additionally, assistance to OFWs affected by
Philippine government suspension/deferment and/or host country regulations,
Cancer Assistance and Relief Expenses (CARE) for OFWs, creation of the Migrant
Workers Welfare Services Bureau, and the additional budget for General
Management and Support.
"It's about P5.1 billion more than GAB
figures. Because this P5.1 billion came from the ERF of the OWWA since it is
not anymore being utilized at that much because the pandemic is declared over
as an emergency," Ejercito explained.
"We're
hoping that we can restore this so that it can be put into good use, especially
now that the department is in its second year. But still, a lot of challenges,
a lot of things to be done, especially with the organization of the new migrant
workers offices in the different parts of the world," he added.
