DILG chief says budget for return of OFWs to home provinces enough

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said there is enough budget to fund the government's project of sending overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) back to their home provinces amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

At the Laging Handa press briefing, Año mentioned that over 300,000 OFWs, mostly from the Middle East and South America, will return to the country until the end of the year.

He also said the government could ask additional funds from Congress to finance the projects of the national government amid the health crisis.

"Yes, mayroon tayong sapat na pondo diyan. In fact, dito rin sa Congress, dahil sa tingin natin mukhang e-extend 'yung Bayanihan Act, ay kasama din sa ating plano na humingi ng additional na pondo sa Congress para matulungan 'yung ating programa sa pagfight sa COVID at pati na rin itong Balik Probinsiya program," Año said.

Earlier, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency has already spent P420 million on accommodation, transportation, food and other kinds of assistance for the displaced OFWs.

Cacdac said OWWA has asked Congress for an additional P250 million budget because more or less 40,000 OFWs are expected to return to the country by June. — RSJ, GMA News