A group of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) demanded the government to increase funds for programs that aid the OFWs and their families in the 2021 national budget.
Migrante International mentioned that under the recent proposed budget, only P8.6 billion was allotted for programs meant to assist distressed OFWs. This is managed and assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)
“The 2021 budget for the DFA’s Assistance to Nationals Program and Legal Assistance Fund did not have any increase at all, amounting to P1.2 billion,” Migrante said in a strong statement.
Although the proposed given budget for OWWA had significantly increased to P7.4 billion, Migrante reiterated that the amount is still not adequate to serve the thousands of OFWs who have remained stranded and have yet to receive any financial aid from the government.
Migrante also emphasized that it is the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which was only able to provide financial aid to 280,000 OFWs who lost their jobs and displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
