Proposed use of OFWs verification fee for DMW expansion draws protest

MANILA — Makabayan co-chair and former Gabriela Party-list Representative Liza Maza and Migrante led a picket along with migrant groups outside the House of Representatives, criticizing the plan of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to use Verification Fee Fund (VFF) that OFWs pay to verify employment contracts to fund and expand migrant workers offices (MWO) abroad.

Maza and migrant groups said that these public funds should be used for services that directly benefit OFWs rather than administrative expenses.

Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas  brought up the issue during House budget plenary debates for the DMW budget, saying Congress should look for other source of funding for the MWOs and use the verification fee collected for the needs of migrant workers.

DMW budget sponsor Rep. Jil Bongalon said the agency acknowledges the concern and will review the policy.

“The DMW acknowledges that concern. But the DMW will review that policy just to thresh out all the differences about the payment of the verification,” Bongalon said.

“Thank you Mr. Speaker. Huwag naman natin gisahin ang ating mga OFWs sa sarili nilang mantika. Yun kayang nating iabot sa kanila ibalik natin sa kanila. If it’s necessary for the Congress to look for the budget, ang dami namang budget e, pwede namang kunin yun sa confidential funds, intelligence funds, dami nga e. Pwede nilang ilagay sa pangangailangan ng MWOs,” Brosas said.

Meanwhle, OFW partylist Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino called for an increase in the budget of DMW, saying the budget cut will affect several programs for overseas workers.

DMW has a proposed budget of P7.8 billion for 2025, 0.1 percent of the total proposed budget of the national government, P2 billion lower than the 2024 budget allotment.

“Panawagan sa ating kasamahan sa Kongreso, kung maaari ay dagdagan po ang pondo ng DMW dahil ito ay dagdag na yakap at kalinga sa ating OFWs,” she said, pointing out the budget is measly compared to the P2.75 trillion in remittances that OFWs contribute.

“Nakakahiya po ito. Iparamdam po natin sa ating mga OFWs sa pamamagitan na dagdag na pondo sa ahensyang pangunahing nangangalaga sa kanila na sila talaga ang bida ng ating bayan. Huwag naman natin silang kawawain. Ang OFWs natin ay mga tunay na bayani. Ibigay po natin sa kanila ang karapatang maging maginhawa,” she said.