DFA mandated to protect undocumented OFWs

MANILA, Philippines - A select committee of the House of Representatives yesterday mandated the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to help not only documented overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are in distress but those without documents as well.

The mandate is contained in a special provision the committee, chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, included in the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015.

The House has formed the panel to work on the amendments to the budget proposal submitted by its members. Ungab was the principal author and sponsor of the proposal as appropriations committee chairman.

He said one of the amendments his panel has approved “is the inclusion of a special provision in the DFA budget expanding the coverage of legal assistance to include all migrant workers in distress, whether documented or undocumented.”

“We also clarified that although the appropriation for legal assistance to distressed workers for next year is only P30 million, the DFA can use fund balances for this year and the previous years for such purpose,” he said.

The select committee is composed of representatives from the majority and minority.

The DFA has reported to the appropriations committee that as of June this year, 6,002 Filipinos were in jail abroad for various offenses.

Of that number, 807 were facing drug-related cases, 79 were accused of crimes punishable by death, while 3,407 were victims of human trafficking syndicates.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the DFA has been trying to help the detained Filipinos by giving them legal assistance.

Other aid the government is extending includes repatriation, settlement of immigration fees and overstay fines, provision of basic necessities, including food, clothing and personal care products, and medical and hospitalization assistance, he added.

Del Rosario reported that as of Aug. 15 this year, the DFA had P311.9 million in funds for assistance to distressed Filipinos abroad.

Of that amount, P285.6 million had been spent or obligated, leaving a balance of P26.3 million.

Of the amount spent, P41.3 million was for repatriation, P5.3 million for basic necessities, P6.4 million for medical expenses, P1.7 million for immigration fees and overstay fines, P30.6 million for travel to visit workers and for consular assistance, P73,448 for payment of translation services, P648,358 for financial aid, P185.2 million for “advances,” and P14.3 million for other expenses.

Besides the fund for assistance to OFWs, the DFA has a legal aid fund that amounted to P50.6 million as of Aug. 15.

Some P21 million had been spent, leaving a balance of P29.6 million.

For 2015, Del Rosario said the DFA will have P350 million in assistance to Filipinos abroad, P30 million for legal aid to distressed Filipinos and P43 million as overseas absentee voting fund.