President Rodrigo Duterte has allocated a Ph 2.1-billion budget, the highest ever recorded, for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) capital fund. Some Ph400 million of the amount was sourced from the House of Representatives’ general appropriation fund.
The budget allocation in 2016 was only Ph1.8 billion.
“OWWA in 2017, got the highest budget in history mainly to cater to OFWs and their families. Ph2.1 billion is the highest in history, which increases substantial budgets for both the welfare and reintegration programs,” OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, told a press conference during his recent visit to the UAE.
OWWA’s Balik-Pilipinas, Balik-Hanabuhay reintegration program for OFWs has been allocated Ph600 million.
The livelihood program, which used to give only Ph10,000 worth of non-cash assistance to repatriated OFWs, is now issuing Ph20,000 cash grants.
“We have already given cash assistance and we are currently giving livelihood assistance to the stranded workers and amnesty workers. During Migrant Workers Day on June 7, Secretary Bello (Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III) awarded the initial release for 30 beneficiaries of the rejuvenated and reinforced Balik-Pilipinas, Balik-Hanapbuhay program,” Cacdac said.
“It has been changed based on the decision of Sec. Bello and the OWWA board of trustees so pinalakas na ang Balik Pilipinas Balik Hanapbuhay program. Pinaigting natin yung reintegration program para sa mga returning stranded workers and returning amnesty workers,” he added.
The increased OWWA budget also enabled the agency to increase the number of OFW scholars by 500 percent.
OWWA’s scholarship program for OWWA members is categorized into two: The Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP), which is offered to beneficiaries/dependents of active OWWA members; and OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (OFWDSP), an educational assistance for dependents of active OWWA-member OFWs whose income is US$600 and below.
“We have increased the insurance from Ph100k to Ph300k of OWWA scholars. Ang scholarship program para sa mga low income OFW ay may ceiling limit na US$400 salary. Ngayon the board has increased the ceiling limit to US$600 and below. So if you receive that salary or below, puwede na maging OWWA scholar yung anak mo,” Cacdac announced.
The newly appointed OWWA administrator also added that out of the same budget, around 4,000 families of OWFs in Marawi has been given assistance by OWWA, which amounted to PHP8 million.
“OWWA has given assistance for calamities, natural or m
an-made – Typhoon Lawin, Typhoon Nina, the Surigao earthquake, the Agusan and CDO floods and the most recent one is Marawi. The families were evacuated to Iligan and CDO. I think it is safe to conclude that since most of them are Muslims, the OFW members of these families are in the Middle East,” said the OWWA official.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is the lead government agency tasked to protect and promote the welfare and well-being of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents.
Photo Caption: 1) OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac (left) with Labor Undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III during their recent visit to the UAE.
Making Atty. Hans Leo Cacdac an administrator of OWWA may not be the best choice the president has made, it is “THE ONLY” choice. No one can best deliver the best services among OFWs and understand their basic needs as much as he does. Getting additional fundings from the local treasury would even translate to a much better service beyond any OFWs’ expectations. Kudos Adm. Hans and Mabuhay!