A legislator voiced concerns on Thursday about the significant reduction in the 2025 budget for the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), warning that this could negatively affect various initiatives and programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) worldwide.
According to the National Expenditures Program released by the Department of Budget and Management, the DMW’s budget for 2025 stands at P8.503 billion, a notable decrease from the P10.12 billion allocated in the 2024 General Appropriations Act approved by Congress.
OFW party-list Representative Marissa Magsino expressed her disappointment during the plenary deliberations on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill. “It’s as if the budget increase we gained in 2024 was taken back, especially when the number of OFWs deployed has grown,” Magsino remarked in Filipino.
She added that a wide range of services and programs under the DMW would be affected by the budget reduction. “Napakaraming mga serbisyo at programa ng DMW na maapektuhan dahil sa malaking budget cut,” she said.
Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Jil Bongalon, who defended the DMW’s 2025 budget, explained that the reduction was primarily due to “non-recurring capital outlays,” which refer to expenses made for goods and services that provide long-term benefits beyond the fiscal year. Bongalon noted that P835 million accounted for these outlays, while an additional P650 million was related to the action fund adjustment.
In response, Magsino emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to avoid compromising vital services for OFWs.
Earlier, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac clarified that the budget for 2025 would focus on sustaining efforts to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs. “The budget will also support the establishment of CITES (Competence, Integrity, Transparency, Efficiency, and Service) Centers at the local levels, expansion of legal assistance, and provision of specialized services to senior and solo-parent OFWs,” the agency stated.
Additionally, the DMW aims to modernize and expand the National Maritime Polytechnic to enhance training and opportunities for workers.