MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo on Monday said he supports moves to increase the budget of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to strengthen assistance and protection for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) amid continuing conflicts abroad.
Speaking during the DMW budget hearing for fiscal year 2027, Tulfo recalled that the Senate had secured additional funding for the agency and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) last year.
Tulfo said the additional P800 million for the DMW Office of the Secretary and P500 million for OWWA approved during the bicameral conference committee helped strengthen services for migrant workers.
He said the additional funding included support for the AKSYON Fund, which provides repatriation and emergency assistance to OFWs.
"We did not make a mistake in increasing your budget last year," Tulfo said, noting that the additional funding had been provided in anticipation of possible crises overseas.
The senator said the need for adequate funding remains important as conflicts continue in parts of the world, potentially putting Filipino workers abroad at risk.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the agency has sufficient resources to respond to emergencies and protect the welfare of OFWs.
Under the 2027 National Expenditure Program, a P7.267 billion budget was proposed for the DMW and P4.349 billion for OWWA.
