DFA doubles assistance fund for OFWs in 2014




Tags: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has doubled the proposed budget for assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for next year, DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario said Thursday.

During a Senate hearing on his agency's 2014 spending plan, Del Rosario said that proposed allocation for "assistance to nationals" was increased from P150 million this year to P300 million next year.

Del Rosario explained that as in previous years, bulk of this amount will be used to help OFWs seeking repatriation.

"We interpret that term [repatriation] quite loosely. We help any OFW who wants to be repatriated," the Cabinet official said during the budget hearing.

Senator Cynthia Villar, however, inquired why a lot of distressed OFWs still continue to stay in halfway houses abroad.

"Bakit noong bumibisita kami sa Bahay Kalinga, marami pa rin? Marami ring sumusulat sa amin asking for help to be repatriated," Villar said.

Del Rosario said that in most instances, officials from his agency still needs to negotiate with employers of OFWs before they can be finally repatriated.

He further said that since 2011, the DFA has already assisted in the repatriation of some 15,000 OFWs from strife-torn areas in the Middle East, particularly Libya and Syria. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

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