Senators say DMW deserves bigger budget for ‘critical role’
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has questioned the small budget being given to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) despite its critical role of supporting millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who remit billions of dollars yearly to the country.
“[A]lmost 10 percent of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) comes from the OFWs,” Cayetano said, adding, “Until now, they still are a big part of our GDP. But when we return their money, we’re stingy.”
He made the observation during the Senate deliberation on the proposed DMW budget of P11 billion for next year. According to him, the government must explain why an agency that protects workers who bring in billions of dollars in remittances gets only a fraction of the funds given to other departments. OFW remittances in 2024 totaled P2 trillion.
Cayetano stressed that the DMW has proven its value through its work in opening new job markets, forging bilateral agreements, and running programs for OFW protection and upskilling.
He noted that while the DMW is taking on more work, opening new markets, and addressing daily OFW concerns, its funding remains small in relation to its mandate.
Better use for DPWH budget
According to the senator, the billions of pesos removed from the DPWH budget could have been used to support OFWs through the DMW.
“OFWs give so much to the country. Why does the DMW have a small budget compared to the amount of their contribution?” he said. “The fight here is how you can hit the nail on the head, the programs that our OFWs need.”
Sen. JV Ejercito, meanwhile, called for stronger state protection for Filipino migrant workers as he urged the DMW to improve and build more temporary shelters for distressed OFWs and to expand mental health interventions.
Ejercito, who defended the DMW’s inaugural budget in 2022, asked whether the P870-million allocation for the refurbishment and construction of such shelters would adequately meet the needs of Filipino migrant workers.
“Let’s add funding for temporary shelters because we want to ensure that they are in good condition, especially in areas where there are many distressed OFWs,” he said in a statement.
“Mental health is health. We must continue to care for both the body and the mind. I will fight for a bigger budget to make sure every Filipino can get the help they need, when they need it,” he said.
Mental health support
Ejercito said the government must also ensure that all temporary shelters maintain humane and dignified standards.
“If there is a need to help other areas improve temporary shelters…just say it and we will help. I saw it personally, with my own eyes, there were temporary shelters that are well-maintained and beautiful like in Singapore and Korea. But let’s level up the others,” he said.
Ejercito also underscored the urgent need to strengthen mental health support for OFWs, noting that many continue to face isolation, emotional strain, and psychosocial distress.
He welcomed the assurance from the DMW that temporary shelters already offered psychosocial services and that they had psychiatrists, social workers and trained personnel available to assist OFWs dealing with distress and related issues.
Ejercito, however, urged the DMW to broaden these services to include OFWs who were not staying in government-run temporary shelters.
