Group warns of ‘double insertion’ using OWWA fund
MANILA, Philippines — Migrante International on Thursday warned of a possible case of “double insertion" in the P250-million money from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) fund to finance the government's economic stimulus package.
"We smell something fishy with this stimulus package. And as usual, they are targeting the funds of OWWA, which belong to us OFWs," Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez said in a press statement.
"This program is not new. Mrs. Arroyo is deceiving OFWs when she presented this so-called package," he said.
Martinez pointed out that the allocation from the stimulus fund will only create double budgeting for programs that already exist. He presented the case of the P250 million allocated from the fund of the OWWA which President Arroyo signed under Administrative Order 248.
President Arroyo signed AO 248 last December 4 for OWWA to contribute P250 million to the stimulus package. The amount was supposed to finance the program of OWWA, which in fact, has been part of the agency's annual budget since 1986.
He added that Malacaňang can now easily pocket the P250 million from the stimulus package while OWWA will just continue to use the original allotted budget for the program.
“The President had already raided the OFW fund during her campaign in the 2004 election, and she will probably do it again on this coming 2010 election!" warned Martinez.
The group was referring to the P540 million OWWA fund that were transferred to PhilHealth during the 2004 presidential election from the OWWA Medicare Program. PhilHealth insurance cards were distributed for free during President Arroyo's campaign sorties.
Martinez also warned that the stimulus fund could be another source of corruption to finance alleged plan of President Arroyo to perpetuate itself into power beyond 2010.
"How can we trust a corrupt-ridden administration, which has installed itself into power due to electoral fraud? P330 billion is more than enough to railroad President Arroyo's Charter change plans, to finance a possible coup d’ etat or another electoral fraud," he said. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV
"We smell something fishy with this stimulus package. And as usual, they are targeting the funds of OWWA, which belong to us OFWs," Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez said in a press statement.
"This program is not new. Mrs. Arroyo is deceiving OFWs when she presented this so-called package," he said.
Martinez pointed out that the allocation from the stimulus fund will only create double budgeting for programs that already exist. He presented the case of the P250 million allocated from the fund of the OWWA which President Arroyo signed under Administrative Order 248.
President Arroyo signed AO 248 last December 4 for OWWA to contribute P250 million to the stimulus package. The amount was supposed to finance the program of OWWA, which in fact, has been part of the agency's annual budget since 1986.
He added that Malacaňang can now easily pocket the P250 million from the stimulus package while OWWA will just continue to use the original allotted budget for the program.
“The President had already raided the OFW fund during her campaign in the 2004 election, and she will probably do it again on this coming 2010 election!" warned Martinez.
The group was referring to the P540 million OWWA fund that were transferred to PhilHealth during the 2004 presidential election from the OWWA Medicare Program. PhilHealth insurance cards were distributed for free during President Arroyo's campaign sorties.
Martinez also warned that the stimulus fund could be another source of corruption to finance alleged plan of President Arroyo to perpetuate itself into power beyond 2010.
"How can we trust a corrupt-ridden administration, which has installed itself into power due to electoral fraud? P330 billion is more than enough to railroad President Arroyo's Charter change plans, to finance a possible coup d’ etat or another electoral fraud," he said. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV
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