MANILA, Philippines—Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, also Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Concerns, has asked Malacañang for money to repatriate at least 1,084 undocumented OFWs who are camped out at the seaport Hajj Terminal in Jeddah.
In a letter to President Aquino, Binay requested the release of a little over P23.6 million from the President’s Social Fund or any fund source to cover the OFWs’ plane fares.
Binay said “the DFA’s assistance to nationals fund is limited to specific programs and is now depleted, and cannot possibly be tapped to fund this repatriation without disabling those programs.”
“The Saudi Arabian government is extending full cooperation in providing the necessary travel clearances, but we need to provide the air tickets to bring them (OFWs) home to the Philippines,” Binay told the President.
The Riyadh government had earlier offered to facilitate the repatriation of some 4,500 overstaying OFWs in the Middle East kingdom.
Binay said the government was paying 15 Saudi riyals daily for every OFW housed at the Saudi terminal, noting “this creates a serious drain on the limited resources” of the Philippine embassy in Riyadh.
According to Binay, Mr. Aquino had “previously authorized this funding as requested by the Department of Foreign Affairs.”
“But the Department of Budget and Management simply referred it back to the DFA. This will not solve the problem,” said Binay.
From a P19-billion allocation in 2010, the foreign office received a 40-percent budget cut, bringing its 2011 budget to only P10.9 billion.
During his recent official trip to Saudi Arabia, Binay again failed to get an audience with Saudi King Abdullah, who was reportedly undergoing medical treatment.
In a news release, Binay’s office said in lieu of an audience with King Abdullah, the Vice President met with Foreign Minister Prince Saul Al-Faisal, Labor Minister Adel Fakeih and Trade Minister Ahmad Zainal Reza.”
He also met with the Deputy Minister of Interior Ahmed Al-Salem and discussed proposed agreements for security cooperation, including a bilateral agreement for the transfer of sentenced persons.
According to a DFA report, Binay also promoted bilateral trade and investments during his recent trip.
The Vice President, joined by a prominent business delegation, met with the chambers of commerce and industry in both Riyadh and Jeddah.
Binay also met with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, who briefed the Vice President on the status of the $3-billion Raffles-Fairmont investment in Makati city, which will be completed in 2012.
Binay spoke to Filipino community leaders there and listened to their concerns, the DFA said.