NEWS RELEASE
8 September 2010
Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Luz Ilagan raised much
concern over the increasing number of distressed Overseas Filipino
Workers and the obvious lack of efficient mechanism to address their
needs amid cuts on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ budget. “How
exactly is the Department of Foreign Affairs going to cope with the
growing needs of distressed migrants abroad?”
According to Ilagan there is an estimated 5,000 OFWs languishing in
jails, 108 of them in death row, all in need of legal assistance.
There are also several thousands more in need of immediate
repatriation after escaping abusive employers. “That the number of
distressed OFWs has grown to such magnitude is an indication that the
DFA is acting rather sluggishly on these problems.”
The Gabriela solon noted that the DFA budget has consistently decreased from P14.4B in 2009 to P12.7B in 2010 and 10.9B in 2011. “In effect this can and will result to cuts in the funds for legal assistance, repatriation and assistance for the families of migrant workers. Presiodent Noynoy Aquino must realize that protection and service for migrant workers must be a priority especially as his administration is obviously bent on continuing the policy of exporting human resources.”
Ilagan expressed concern that the cuts in the DFA budget will either
result in the failure to effectively act on OFW concerns or result to
an increase in state exactions imposed on Filipino migrants, including
increases in passport processing fees and the like. “The Department of
Foreign Affairs will have to make sure that services to OFWs will not
be compromised by these budget cuts.” (Bulatlat.com)
For Reference:
REP. LUZVIMINDA C. ILAGAN
Jang Monte (Public Information Officer)
