Solon warns to block DMW, OWWA budgets over OFW abuses

Following persistent reports of abuse against overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), Senate Committee on Migrant Workers Chairperson Raffy Tulfo warned that he will move to block the budgets of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) if such cases do not stop.

During a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday, Tulfo said it would be a ‘fair’ to slash budgets of both agencies in the upcoming budget hearing, emphasizing both agencies must yield results in protecting OFWs.

“Mahal ko kayo mga taga DMW at OWWA, pero kung ganto nalang, hindi matapos tapos mga problema ng kinakawawang OFW, tabla tabla nalang tayo (I love you all at DMW and OWWA, but if it’s going to be like this — with the problems of our poor OFWs never ending — then we might as well call it even),” he said.

Tulfo said abuse cases could be prevented through constant monitoring of workers and proper verification of employers.

Under the employer verification the senator is pushing for, he recommended gathering information such as the employer’s background, identity, psychiatric test results, criminal record, and whether a Filipino worker had previously left the said employer.

“Especially in the Middle East… the abuses are horrific. After being raped, some victims are even killed,” he added.

Tulfo also commended OWWA  Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan during the hearing for her fast response on reported cases. However, he stressed that prevention must be prioritized.

“But your action is after the fact… the abuse has already happened. We should have what we call prevention,” he said.

He emphasized that agencies must regularly reach out to OFWs and assign personnel to personally check on their welfare.