Migrant groups, led by former Gabriela Party-list Representative Liza Maza and Migrante, held a protest outside the House of Representatives, denouncing the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) plan to utilize the Verification Fee Fund (VFF) paid by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for the expansion of Migrant Workers Offices (MWO) abroad. The groups argue that these funds should be directed towards services that directly benefit OFWs, rather than for administrative purposes.
Gabriela Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas echoed these sentiments during a budget debate in Congress, urging lawmakers to find alternative funding for the expansion of MWOs. “Let’s not cook our OFWs in their own oil. The fees they pay should go back to them, not for administrative costs,” Brosas said in her appeal to the House.
Rep. Jil Bongalon, sponsor of the DMW budget, assured that the agency would review the policy in response to the concerns raised. “The DMW acknowledges that concern. The policy will be reviewed to address all issues surrounding the use of the verification fees,” Bongalon responded.
Meanwhile, OFW Party-list Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino called for an increase in DMW’s budget, which has been reduced by P2 billion for 2025. Magsino highlighted that the budget reduction could affect vital programs for overseas workers, urging Congress to allocate more funds for the department. “Let’s show our OFWs that they are truly our nation’s heroes by ensuring the DMW has sufficient resources,” Magsino added.
The DMW is requesting a P7.8 billion budget for 2025, a figure that many migrant advocates believe is insufficient given the contributions of OFWs to the Philippine economy, which reached P2.75 trillion in remittances.