The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been tasked to source out funding assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) until March this year as the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) transitions to a full-time agency this year.
DFA Undersecretary for Office of the Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega said during a public briefing that the Aksyon Fund, or the fund for assisting OFWs, will be under DFA jurisdiction.
This is in addition to the assistance to nationals budget which is for aiding non-OFW Filipinos abroad such as permanent residents of foreign host country, students, Filipino nationals who are citizens of host country but of Filipino descent or also a Filipino citizen, those awaiting naturalization, Filipinos engaged in government exchange visiting program and those who are there (abroad) who are there not to work, including spouses of foreign citizens.
“DMW is still setting up its funding mechanisms so for the time being, it (Aksyon Fund) will be under DFA. We are working on a joint agreement [in disbursing this],” De Vega said.
“We are still in the transition period. Pending the completion of transition, the DFA will be here to provide assistance,” he added.
The law creating the DMW was passed in February 2022. Under the law, the DMW should be able to fully function as an agency two years after the DMW law is passed.
Agencies under the DMW headed by Secretary Susan Ople include: Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, National Reintegration for OFWs, International Labor Affairs Bureau, Philippine Overseas Labor Office and OFW Hospital, among others.
“Within two years, their (DMW) duties [now being provided for by DFA] should be turned over to them. We are talking to them and we are hoping that within the six months [from now], the transition is done,” De Vega said.
“But the DFA will fund the Aksyon Fund from January to March, and we’re told that they (in DMW) can set up the Aksyon Fund] by April this year,” he added.
De Vega, however, clarified that the transition period is well within expectations.
“They are new, they only had a budget this January. You cannot set that up in a snap,” he said.
“It takes time and we understand [their situation],” he said.
