Group backs proposed funding hike for OFW programs

MANILA, Philippines — The Trabaho party-list on Saturday expressed its support for the proposed additional P1 billion fund for migrant workers’ social protection program sought by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the 2027 national budget.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing, the DMW requested an additional P1 billion for Aksyon fund, a program providing medical, financial, humanitarian assistance to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFW).

In a statement, Trabaho party-list Rep. Johanne Bautista said she supports the proposal, saying that increased funding ensures continued protection and assistance for Filipinos working abroad, particularly during crises.

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Under the proposed P7.2 trillion National Expenditure Program for 2027, approximately P7.267 billion will be allocated to DMW, and P4.349 billion for Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

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The OWWA had reported that it had already exhausted P1.6 billion on repatriation-related assistance in 2026. 

OWWA Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne Caunan also said that the agency had also spent its continuing funds in 2025, as well as the P1.2 billion Emergency Repatriation Fund (ERF).

She added that the agency is heavily reliant on the additional P700 million in supplemental funding. 

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Bautista backed the restoration of the ERF of at least P1.2 billion, from an initial P900 million proposed in the budget, as well as the additional P575 million request in the proposed budget for the agency’s continued and expanded assistance.

“I also manifest my strong support for the return of at least the minimum of 1.2 billion ng ERF po at kung maaari pa po ay the few hundred million na nire-request po ng OWWA dahil nakikita naman po natin diretso naman po sa tao ang pinupuntahan ng mga pondong yan,” Bautista said.

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(“I also manifest my strong support for the return of at least the minimum of 1.2 billion of the ERF and if possible the few hundred million requested by OWWA because we see that those funds go directly to the people,”)

OWWA noted that as of July 31, around 139, 688 OFWs had been supported by the ERF.

It added that between 240,000 to 250,000 more will be assisted by the end of the year.

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She stressed that assistance should also assist returning Filipinos aside from repatriation and rescue efforts. /gsg