Duterte okays additional P5.2B budget for repatriation, quarantine of OFWs

Labor and Employment Sec. Silvestre Bello III. Senate PRIB file photo / Henzberg Austria

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the release of an additional P5.2 billion for the repatriation and quarantine expenses of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he received a call from the Office of the President on Wednesday informing him that Duterte had approved the recommendation of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado.

“I just received a call a few minutes ago. In-approve na ang ating Pangulo ‘yung (The President has approved the) recommendation ni (of) Secretary Wendel Avisado for… P5.2 billion for the repatriation expenses of our OFWs,” he said in an online media forum.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) originally requested an additional P9.8 billion to fund the accommodation expenses of OFWs subjected to quarantine as it earlier reported the impending depletion of its allocation for the undertaking.

Bello earlier said the P6.2-billion budget for the hotel, transportation, and food expenses of returning OFWs under the 2021 General Appropriations Act could run out this May.

He said that with the approved P5.2 billion funding, the DOLE will just request more funds if it sees the need for more budget for Filipino repatriates.

According to Bello, around 556,000 OFWs displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic have since returned home.

Earlier in May, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said around 9,300 OFWs are staying in various isolation hotels following their repatriation.