DBM adds P50M for repatriation efforts in Middle East

The Department of Budget and Management has allocated an additional P50 million for the repatriation of Filipinos in troubled countries in the Middle East, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said on Tuesday.

These funds will add to the P100-million emergency fund received by the DFA in August to repatriate Filipinos from Libya.
 
“Our countrymen face uncertainty and danger due to the untenable security situation in these Middle East countries. As such, the National Government (will) shoulder all costs of their repatriation, whether by land, sea, or air," said Budget Secretary Butch Abad in a statement.
 
Funds amounting to P50-million and P800-million will also be given by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) respectively to augment repatriation efforts.
 
Both repatriation funds will supplement the DFA's Assistance-To Nationals fund and were sourced from the 2013 contingency fund. —Rie Takumi/NB, GMA News

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