* OFWs need protection,emergency assistance
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go called for sufficient funding for the Department of Migrant Workers in 2027 to sustain assistance for overseas Filipino workers, particularly those caught in emergencies and conflict areas, while pushing for additional Migrant Workers Offices abroad, continued support for the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital, and greater access to healthcare services for migrant workers and their families.
During the Senate hearing on the proposed 2027 DMW budget, Go reiterated his support for the department and recalled the role of its personnel and predecessor agencies in assisting Filipinos overseas, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sa lahat ng mga nasa likod, maalala ko kayo, aside from the OFW na mga hero natin na modern-day heroes natin, kayo rin po’y mga hero noong panahon ng pandemya. Kayo po yung nag-aasikaso talaga, walang pahinga, 24 hours kayo on-call,” Go said.
He also recalled the creation of the DMW through Republic Act No. 11641, which was enacted during the Duterte administration and consolidated several government functions dealing with overseas employment and migrant-worker welfare into a single department. The law specifically mandates the DMW to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs and operate Migrant Workers Offices overseas.
Go credited Senator Joel Villanueva, who chaired the budget hearing, for his role as principal sponsor of the measure and recalled the difficulties encountered in establishing a separate department dedicated to migrant workers.
Go then raised concerns over the resources available to the department for 2027.
Citing figures presented during the hearing, the senator said the DMW had proposed a budget of around ₱37.6 billion while the amount recommended under the National Expenditure Program stood at approximately ₱11.6 billion, or about 30.8% of the amount sought by the department.
“Among those not included in the NEP are additional funding for AKSYON Fund and funding for the creation of new Migrant Workers Offices. We want to know how this will affect the operations of DMW next year,” Go said.
The AKSYON Fund, formally known as the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan Fund, was established under RA 11641 to finance legal and other forms of assistance for OFWs, including government responses to distressed workers abroad.
Go stressed the importance of readily available resources as overseas Filipinos continue to face security risks, including conflicts in the Middle East.
“Dapat po magkaroon ng sapat at readily available na pondo para sa ating mga OFWs na naiipit sa conflict areas, lalo na sa gitna ng kaguluhan sa Middle East. Ito mismo ang dahilan kung bakit napakahalaga ng AKSYON Fund,” he said.
“Kapag may digmaan o biglaang krisis, hindi maaaring kulang ang pondo at hindi maaaring mabagal ang pagkilos ng gobyerno,” he added.
Go urged the Senate finance panel to examine ways of ensuring that the department has sufficient resources to respond to emergencies involving Filipinos overseas.
“Mr. Chair, sana magawan mo ito ng paraan. Alam ko namang mag-aaksyon ka kaagad diyan. Unahin natin sila. Pagtutulungan po namin ito. Isaalang-alang natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga migrant workers, mga OFWs,” he said.
The senator also raised the absence of a dedicated Migrant Workers Office in Nagoya following his recent visit to Japan, where he supported Filipino athletes competing in the Asian Games and met members of the Filipino community.
Go said Philippine Consul General in Nagoya Shirlene Mananquil brought the matter to his attention.
Go also sought sustained funding for the OFW Hospital in Pampanga and asked DMW officials how funding levels could affect its operations and services.
The senator has filed Senate Bill No. 414 seeking to institutionalize the OFW Hospital. He is also pushing SBN 1290, or the proposed OFW Wards Act, which seeks to make dedicated healthcare services for migrant workers and their dependents more accessible in different parts of the country.
“Dapat po tuloy-tuloy ang suporta natin sa OFW Hospital dahil para po ito sa ating mga OFWs at sa kanilang mga pamilya,” Go said.
“Hindi naman po lahat ng OFWs ay kayang pumunta sa OFW Hospital sa Pampanga kaya nararapat lang po na magkaroon ng OFW wards na available sa iba’t ibang parte ng bansa,” he added.
Go also used the budget hearing to reiterate his opposition to the proposed increase in the regular Philippine passport fee from ₱950 to ₱1,500, saying the additional cost would weigh heavily on OFWs and other Filipinos already dealing with higher living expenses.
The proposal emerged during the Senate’s September 18 hearing on the Department of Foreign Affairs budget after APO Production Unit sought a price adjustment. Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said the DFA had asked APO to defer the proposed increase until the rollout of the next-generation Philippine passport in 2028.
Go said OFWs he recently met in Japan had also expressed concern over the proposal.
“Nabanggit ko po na kagagaling ko lang sa Nagoya, Japan at isa rin ito sa mga usap-usapan ng mga kababayan natin doon na may planong itaas ang presyo ng passport application fee,” he said.
“Huwag naman po sana. Nakikiusap po tayo sa Department of Foreign Affairs, pakiusapan n’yo naman po ang Printing Office, ito yung tinatawag na APO, na sana po huwag naman po. Hindi po napapanahon sa ngayon,” he continued.
Go said the government should study whether it can subsidize additional passport production costs rather than immediately passing them on to applicants.
“Bawat piso, bawat sentimo na kinikita ng mga OFWs natin ay napakahalaga po ’yon na mayroon silang dadalhin sa kanilang mga pamilya. Bawat piso importante po ’yon sa kanila,” he said.
He recalled that during the Duterte administration, the validity of Philippine passports was extended from five to 10 years, citing the policy as an example of reducing the frequency and cost of renewals for Filipinos.
“Ang dinoble po natin noon noong panahon ni former President Duterte ay yung serbisyo. Mula five years ginawa pong 10 years ang validity ng Philippine passport. Dinoble natin ang pakinabang para sa ating mga mamamayan. Ang kailangan ngayon serbisyo, hindi po negosyo,” Go said.
Concluding his manifestation, Go reiterated his support for the DMW while reminding its officials and OWWA personnel to keep OFW welfare at the center of their work.
“Paalala ko lang po sa DMW at sa OWWA na lagi po nating unahin ang kapakanan ng ating mga OFWs dahil para po sa kanila ang lahat ng mga inisyatibo na ginagawa natin dito,” he said.
“Bukas po ang ating opisina 24/7 para sa ating mga OFWs lalung-lalo na po sa panahon na kailangan nila ng tulong at saklolo. Yun lang po ang pakiusap ko sa inyo. Full support po ako always sa inyong departamento. Pagtutulungan po namin,” Go concluded.
