Around P11.616 billion in proposed funding for two agencies serving overseas Filipino workers won early endorsement from congressmen on August 26, 2026, when the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) presented their spending plans to the House Committee on Appropriations. Of that total, the DMW is set to receive P7.267 billion and OWWA P4.349 billion.
Appropriations Committee Chairperson Rep. Mika Suansing pointed to the on-the-ground role both agencies played once fighting erupted in the Middle East, telling officials she had watched their personnel accompany returning workers.
“Kayo po iyon! When they get off from the plane talaga po from there ay hinahawakan niyo po ang mga kamay nila. Nakita ko pa po yung mga DMW at OWWA staff na kasama pa sa bus, yung pagtawid ninyo across borders, bilib na bilib po ako noon. At the start of the conflict where everything is uncertain, you were the first ones on the ground, you have your boots on the ground as soon as the conflict started,” she said.
Suansing framed the agencies’ reintegration work as central to the recovery of repatriated Filipinos who must rebuild their lives at home.
“Ang laki pong bagay ng mga programang ginagawa ninyo kapag nakabalik na po sila sa Pilipinas, they have to start anew and I know you are playing here a big role making sure that they landed on their feet when they are back home. So I just really want to take this opportunity to thank you po,” she said.
She committed the panel to equipping both offices with what they need and asked them to file updated figures and any proposed changes ahead of the coming deliberations.
Support at the briefing extended well beyond the committee leadership. Senior Deputy Speaker Rep. Ferdinand Ledesma Hernandez singled out the response to the US/Israel-Iran conflict, crediting the agencies with quietly bringing workers home and helping them once they landed.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank DMW and OWWA. You’ve done so much. Some people criticize na hindi ito kasing tulad nung pandemic. Despite those criticisms, hindi ninyo pinansin. You silently do your job, at inuwi sila at tinulungan pa sila pagbalik, unsung heroes,” Hernandez said.
He described the operation as fast and well-run, and tied that record to his backing for the budget.
“Nagawa ninyong mabilis, very organized ang pagrepatriate at pagbigay ng programa sa mga bumalik nating kababayan. We are glad na peaceful na, hopefully tuloy-tuloy na ito,” he said.
Hernandez also reached back to earlier emergencies, including the pandemic, in laying out why he considered the two agencies deserving of full flexibility in their funding.
“Malaki ang naitulong ninyo, dapat talagang bigyan kayo ng papugay, na tahimik ninyong ginawa ang trabaho ninyo. Sometimes it’s a thankless job to be in Government. But ah salamat, it is a labor of love. Congratulations! I’m here to support your budget, all the support, all the flexibility be given to you because you have proven in the past paano kayo nagperform, paano niyo ginawa ang trabaho niyo, pandemic and all crisis. Maraming salamat!” he said.
For the agencies, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac told the panel his team would follow the committee’s instructions on assembling the proposal.
“Just to acknowledge our Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez, maraming salamat Sir. We will keep on working on behalf of the men and women of the Department of Migrant Workers and, of course, Admin PY and the OWWA family. Chair Mika, Ma’am, we will abide by your direction, and we fully subscribe to your direction. Rest assured, we will have our team ready with their sleeves rolled up, ready to crunch the numbers,” Cacdac said.
OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan echoed her thanks to the lawmakers.
“Maraming salamat, for always supporting us. Maasahan niyo po na tuloy-tuloy lang po kami sa serbisyo na may puso para sa ating mga OFWs. Maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta sa aming OWWA at DMW,” Caunan said.
The lawmakers grounded their endorsement in the range of services the two offices sustain for migrant workers, from emergency aid and repatriation to reintegration and broader welfare programs.
