Senator Raffy Tulfo on Monday proposed the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds for the Department of Migrant Workers to help the agency combat illegal recruitment and scammers that victimize overseas Filipino workers.

During the Senate Committee on Finance's budget deliberation for the DMW's proposed P15.542 billion budget for next year, Tulfo said that he has no problem with several agencies having billions worth of CIFs, however, he pointed out that the DMW should also be equipped with secret funds.

"I am not complaining when various agencies are receiving confidential funds. If you have noticed, I am silent about it. However, for me, perhaps it's about time to also allocate confidential funds to DMW," he said.

He explained that the DMW, an agency mandated to facilitate the overseas employment and reintegration of Filipino workers, may use the secret funds to halt illegal operations of syndicates that victimize OFWs.

"There are so many illegal recruiters here. There are so many illegal recruitment agencies that should be dismantled. There are so many scammers that preying on our OFWs," he said.

"So, we need intel information. [The] DMW needs intel information to combat these illegal recruiters, illegal recruitment agencies, and scammers. That's why I believe it should have confidential funds," he added.

The lawmaker proposed P25 million to P50 million for the CIFs of the DMW.

For his part, Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, who presided over the budget deliberation, said the DMW should be strengthened instead of allocating them a confidential funds.

"We can strengthen the bureau instead under Usec. Bernard Olalia since you are effective. So, we don't have to use confidential and intelligence funds. Let us be example that civilian departments do not need this," Ejercito said.

He noted that it might be more fitting to leave the request for CIFs to departments or agencies concerned with national security.

Olalia, who heads the licensing and adjudication services at the DMW, said the agency was able to close at least four recruitment agencies in the past year.