DFA to continue aid for OFWs until DMW’s full transition

FILE: Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the departure area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will continue to fund assistance for overseas Filipino workers until the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has fully transitioned.

In a televised public briefing Monday, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega added that the agency would still be responsible for overseas Filipinos in countries where there are no labor attachés.

He said the Aksyon Fund for OFWs and the Assistance to Nationals (ATN) fund for non-OFWs abroad would be under the DFA as the DMW is still setting up its funding mechanisms in the meantime.

“Sini-setup pa ng DMW ang kanilang funding mechanism, so ang gagawin namin, kami muna ang magpopondo pati na sa mga contract workers for the time being. Nagkakaroon kami ng kasunduan ngayon, pinag-uusapan namin; we are coming out with a joint agreement with DMW. Tinatanong lang namin kung gaano katagal ang transition period bago sila fully mag-takeover ng pondo (The DMW is still setting up its funding mechanism so what we are doing is that we will fund contract workers for the time being. We are going to have an agreement on this, we are coming out with a joint agreement with DMW. We just want to know how long the transition period will run before they can fully take over the funds),” he said.

Under Republic Act 11641 creating the DMW, the DMW should fully function two years after the law is passed, or on February 2024.

“Kasama na iyong POEA, magiging under the DMW. So, mula verification, employment contract hanggang pagtulong sa kanila abroad, pagri-repatriate (That includes POEA, which will be under the DMW. So, from verification, employment contract until assistance going abroad, repatriation),” he said.

“Maraming lugar ang wala pa ring labor attachés. Amin pa rin ang responsibilidad na iyan, contract worker o hindi at kung hindi contract worker, halimbawa, ‘yung sa Ukraine mga Filipina iyan na (We still have that responsibility, whether contract worker or not, for example, Filipinas in Ukraine who are) married to Ukrainians,” de Vega added.

Since the DMW is a new department, de Vega said the DFA is aiding the agency in the gradual turnover of functions through training of personnel among others.

“Ang advise naming sa taong bayan don’t worry nandito parin ang ating pamahalaan whether its DMW o DFA, mayroong popondo sa inyong assistance (We advise the public, don’t worry, the government is here whether its DMW or DFA, to fund your assistance),” he added.