Senator proposes restoration of budget cuts to DFA

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Manuel Villar is proposing the restoration of an estimated 46 percent budget cuts to the Department of Foreign Affairs in the formulation of next year’s national budget.

“The severe and unreasonable budget cuts in the DFA’s 2011 budget is taking its toll on timely and effective assistance to distressed OFWs around the world. We need to rectify it this early while the executive branch is formulating next year’s budget,” Villar said in a statement on Tuesday.

The lack of resources and personnel to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in times of major emergencies, he said, was apparent particularly in the Middle East where protest actions had resulted in the outbreak of hostilities in several countries.

The senator had earlier blamed the big cut made on this year’s budget intended for “assistance to nationals” – from the proposed P156 million to P78 million – in the government’s slow response to rescue thousands of Filipinos trapped in strife-torn Libya.

And now, citing the urgent rescue and recovery efforts now underway in Japan, Villar underscored the need for the Philippine government to send augmentation teams to assist its embassy in providing assistance and comfort to an estimated 300,000 Filipinos in Japan.

“To raise the efficiency levels of the Philippine Embassy to help our OFWs, they would need more personnel and resources, or at the very least, sufficient funds to equip community volunteers with food, medicines, and other supplies to share with other OFWs,” said the senator.

The augmentation teams, he said, must be equipped with satellite phones and with adequate resources to rent vehicles to bring food, medicines and blankets for earthquake victims including several Filipinos staying in temporary shelters.

“We received reports that there is an urgent need for food supplies, flashlights, and even thick blankets for our compatriots especially those living near the epicenter of the earthquake,” he added.

Villar also noted that the sheer size of the Filipino community in Japan spread out in different prefectures would require an augmentation of funds, personnel and other resources that could only come from Manila.

“We must be prepared for the long haul in both Japan and in certain countries in the Middle East and such preparations must be reflected in and supported by the right level of appropriations and manpower support,” he further said.