The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is urging lawmakers to boost the 2026 AKSYON Fund allocation to ₱2.2 billion, warning that the current proposal of ₱1.2 billion would fall short of meeting the urgent needs of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
During a budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasized the central role of the AKSYON Fund in providing swift financial aid to OFWs in crisis. “We are proposing for an increase sa ating AKSYON Fund, more than anything. ‘Yun po ang heart and soul… sa OFW assistance programs natin,” Cacdac said, highlighting its impact on over 100,000 beneficiaries to date.
Each distressed OFW is entitled to a minimum of ₱50,000 in immediate financial assistance, and Cacdac stressed that maintaining this support level is vital. He also requested an additional ₱17 million to establish a dedicated bureau to manage the AKSYON Fund, arguing that a specialized unit would improve fund protection and efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) raised its own concerns about the proposed ₱142 million budget for the 2026 Alagang OWWA Fund, which supports 24/7 OFW lounge services at airports. Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan warned that this amount would not be enough to sustain existing operations.
“If that’s the budget we’ll get, we won’t be able to maintain even one lounge at the current service level,” Caunan said. She pointed out that the lounges provide a safe, dignified space for first-time OFWs—many of whom travel from the provinces and would otherwise be forced to sleep on airport floors.
House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chair Rep. Bryan Revilla strongly supported OWWA’s call, stressing the importance of expanding—not slashing—such facilities. “These are not just rest areas; they are vital sanctuaries for OFWs in transit or in distress,” Revilla said.
For fiscal year 2026, the Department of Budget and Management has proposed ₱10.2 billion for the DMW and OWWA, a 17% increase from the current allocation. However, this is still 44% lower than what the agencies had originally requested. Several lawmakers have signaled their willingness to push for budget increases.
Crackdown on illegal recruiters continues
Secretary Cacdac also reported intensified efforts to combat illegal recruitment. From January to September 2025, the DMW shut down 29 illegal establishments—double the annual average of past years.
“This is a record for us. Usually, we only close 10 to 15 a year,” Cacdac told lawmakers, noting that cases have also been filed against illegal brokers involved in scamming OFWs.
Currently, the agency is handling 345 cases involving 865 complainants, some of which involve multiple victims per case. So far in 2025, the DMW has already secured three convictions, adding to the nine convictions recorded in 2024.
Cacdac reaffirmed the DMW’s commitment to rooting out abusive recruiters, ensuring only licensed and accountable agencies operate. To date, the DMW has accredited 1,100 recruitment firms—around 700 land-based and the rest sea-based.
