House moves Dept. of Migrant Workers’ budget hearing to Sept. 9

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The deliberations on the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) proposed 2025 budget before the House of Representatives were deferred until September 9, as Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac cannot attend due to a Committee on Appointments (CA) hearing.

During the hearing of the House committee on appropriations on Tuesday, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the motion to defer the DMW budget talks as it is important for Cacdac to be present.

“Madam Chair, we have questions [for] the new secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, I really believe that his presence is essential to be able to first, know firsthand from him the thrust and programs of the DMW and how it can also help,” Rodriguez told appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo.

“And that is why we also have some questions, so therefore, I move to defer the hearing of today’s budget deliberations to September 9, 11 o’clock in the morning.  So moved, Madam Chair,” he added.

Rodriguez suggested the deferment of the budget deliberations after Quimbo informed the panel’s members of a letter from Cacdac dated August 19, asking to be excused as his appointment would be discussed by the CA on Tuesday.

“I’d look to inform the body that I am in receipt of a letter dated August 19, 2024 from our acting Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, and in this letter he informs us that he is scheduled to appear before the Commission on Appointments, at the same time, 9:00 a.m. today, and he is respectfully requesting permission to be excused from attending today’s budget hearing,” Quimbo said.

Cacdac was appointed to head the DMW last April 25, following the passing of the agency’s first-ever secretary, Susan Ople, last August 2023.

According to the Department of Budget and Management’s National Expenditures Program for 2025, DMW got a budget of P8.503 billion, lower than the Congress-approved P10.12 billion in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.