The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked ₱10.2 billion for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in 2026, reinforcing the government’s commitment to support millions of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
In a statement released on September 12, DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman stressed that the allocation is meant to ensure the agency can sustain its assistance to Filipinos abroad. “We will continue to support the important programs of the DMW to assist and protect the welfare of our fellow Filipinos. This includes funding to ensure the agency can continuously provide assistance, especially to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families,” Pangandaman said.
Of the ₱10.2 billion, ₱3.5 billion will go to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), while ₱1.2 billion is designated for the AKSYON Fund, which provides legal, medical, financial, and emergency services such as repatriation and rescue operations. Another ₱1.3 billion has been set aside for the Emergency Repatriation Program, ensuring swift government action during crises abroad.
Support programs for workers’ welfare also include ₱109 million for the Workers Auxiliary Support Program, ₱142 million for the Alagang OWWA initiative, and ₱497 million for the OFW Hospital, which continues to provide healthcare for migrant workers and their dependents.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his budget message last month, underscored the significance of the allocation: “We affirm our enduring commitment to protect the most vulnerable sectors of our society through the ₱227-billion budget for the social services sector in 2026. Of this amount, ₱223.4 billion will be allocated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and ₱10.2 billion to the [DMW], among others.”
The DMW’s budget is part of the proposed ₱6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026, where social services remain the top priority to safeguard the well-being of Filipinos at home and abroad.
