Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan Ople. INQUIRER.net file photo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) P15.2-billion budget for next year was approved by the Senate subcommittee on finance on Wednesday.
Senator JV Ejercito led the subpanel’s hearing on DMW’s 2023 spending plan, which is expected to be elevated to the plenary for further deliberations and final approval.
DMW Secretary Susan Ople expressed gratitude for the panel’s approval.
“We express our deep appreciation on behalf of millions of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and OFW families. Ito po ‘yung historic day kung kelan ‘yung budget ng Department of Migrant Workers na-approve sa committee level dito sa Senado,” Ople said on the sidelines of the hearing.
(This was the historic day when the Department of Migrant Workers budget was approved at the committee level of the Senate.)
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Of the P15.2 billion budget, P3.5 billion will be allocated for DMW, while P11.7 billion will be for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
More specifically, the budget will be spent on the maintenance and other operating expenses (P13.03 billion), personnel services (P2.12 billion), and capital outlay (P50 million), among others, of both the DMW and OWWA.
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The DMW plans to establish offices in each region by next year through its 2023 budget.
However, it asked for a funding increase for the OFW Hospital in Pampanga.
According to DMW Secretary Ople, the Department of Budget Management gave P13 million for the OFW Hospital – lower than the P500-million proposal of the Philippine General Hospital running the health facility.