The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) became the first government agency to have its budget approved by the Senate Committee on Finance and this is expected to help boost funding to ensure overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)’ welfare.
Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, led the passage of the proposed P19.66 billion (Dh1.40 billion) budget in the committee on Thursday (August 17, 2017) and noted that it will now be sent to the plenary, PNA reported.
DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the agency’s proposed budget makes up 0.52 percent of the total P3.767 trillion (Dh269.45 billion) national budget for 2018.
He added the P19.57 billion of the budget will be allotted to agency’s Office of the Secretary, while the remaining P89.33 million (Dh6.38 million) will be for its attached agencies.
The Filipino Times earlier reported that Senator Ralph Recto expects the approval of proposed DFA budget to support the 140 percent increase in DFA’s Assistance to Nationals fund, which supports OFWs in distress.
As per President Rodrigo Duterte’s directives, OFW assistance fund will increased from P400 million (Dh28.58 million) to P1 billion (Dh71.45 million) in 2018.
Photo credit: PCOO EDP
