DMW asking for bigger action fund, MOOE in 2026 budget

The Department of Migrant Workers is asking Congress for a bigger allocation in 2026 than the P10.2 billion proposed under the National Expenditure Program.

At the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on the DMW budget, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac told panel that the department was seeking a higher budget for its action fund and its maintenance and other operating expenses.

Cacdac said the DMW was unable to fully utilize its action funds due to adjustments was now hitting its targets.

“We’re hitting our stride in terms of utilization. For instance, we’re hitting 70% sa action fund at this stage. Kumabaga, hindi kami natugunan noon because of low utilization but now we're hitting our stride, bigla naman kaming natamaan ng mababang budget. So we’re seeking for more funding,” Cacdac said.

(We’re hitting our stride in terms of utilization. For instance, we’re hitting 70% sa action fund at this stage. It’s like we weren’t able to maximize this due to low utilization before but now we’re hitting our stride, and we are suddenly hit with a low budget. So we’re seeking more funding.)

“Legal, medical, and financial humanitarian assistance ang action fund. We do not hesitate to help anyone on the ground, whether it’s here or abroad,” he added.

Cacdac said the NEP figure for DMW was 44% less than its initial proposal.

'Heart and soul'

“Negative 2 ang increase sa [Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses] natin. We were proposing an increase sa MOOE natin, pero di naibigay. So we were hoping, we’re proposing an increase sa ating action fund. More than anything, it's the action fund. Yun po ang heart and soul sa OFW assistance programs natin,” said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.

(The increase of our [Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses] is negative 2. We were proposing an increase in our MOOE, but it wasn’t provided. So we were proposing an increase in our action fund. More than anything, it's the action fund. That is the heart and soul of our OFW assistance programs.)

He said that their action fund for 2025 was P2.2 Billion, and the DMW requested the 2026 budget to at least be the same amount, if not P2.4 billion.

Based on the 2026 NEP, the DMW’s action fund was currently set at P1.2 billion.

Migrant Workers Service Bureau

Cacdac also pushed for the creation of a Migrant Workers Service Bureau that would focus on distributing the action funds to their beneficiaries.

Cacdac had requested P12.29 million for DMW’s 2026 budget, as well as the employment of 17 new personnel, to establish the bureau.

“Ang Migrant Workers Services Bureau is mainly to administer the action fund… We feel that there should be a specific unit to administer the fund. Ngayon kasi ad hoc, di po nakakasama sa aming staffing pattern sa bureau na ito na gusto namin maitatag. Pero for a billion peso fund, this deserves a specific bureau,” he said.

(The Migrant Workers Services Bureau is mainly to administer the action fund… We feel that there should be a specific unit to administer the fund. Right now, it is ad hoc, and the bureau we want to establish is not included in the staffing pattern. But for a billion peso fund, this deserves a specific bureau.)

“Kapag may specific agency that handles a fund, it’s very, very manageable and protective of the fund. Of course, ang end-result nito is that the fund will better serve our dear OFWs,” he added.

(If there is a specific agency that handles a fund, it’s very, very manageable and protective of the fund. Of course, the result of this is that the fund will better serve our dear OFWs.)

The DMW also sought a higher budget for their protection bureau, which handles cases of Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Persons.

Frontline assistance

According to DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia, DMW was able to conduct 217 surveillance operations, close down 29 establishments, and entrap 17 illegal recruiters on a P20 million budget for 2025.

Cacdac also shared that they intend to establish OFW help desks in 82 provinces as “frontline, grassroots” assistance for OFWs.

“Kaya may 82 provinces panimula lang po yan, kasi ang gusto po talaga namin every city and municipality. Sa totoo lang, every barangay [ang gusto namin] pero mataas pa po na pangarap yun. Sa ngayon, 82 provinces muna ang hinihingi namin to cover the action fund,” he added.

(That is why we have 82 provinces for a start, because we really want this in every city and municipality. In truth, [we want this] in every barangay, but that’s too high a dream for now. For now, we will just ask for 82 provinces to cover the action fund.)

According to the DMW, they are currently servicing roughly 6 to 7 million OFWs nationwide.

BI personnel

Cacdac also said they are looking into the possibility of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel's involvement in illegal recruitment and trafficking schemes.

He said rescued trafficking victims from Cambodia narrated that they had been instructed to approach a marked BI officer at the airport for a faster exit.

“They have received this information na sila daw pagpasok sa airport sila ay pupunta [sa kung sino ang] may marka,” he shared.

(They have received this information that when they enter the airport, they must proceed to [whoever is] marked.)

While Cacdac refrained from sharing more information, he noted that the DMW was aware of the operations and was in coordination with the BI and the Department of Justice.

“Obviously, not all of the BI personnel are involved here, but yes. I am aware of the modus operandi, and rest assured that we vow to run after the scalawags who are operating to traffic our OFWs to these scam hubs. We are aware of this, we would take action,” he added.

Recently, the Philippine Embassy in Cambodia confirmed 186 Filipino workers were rescued in the country so far in 2025.–NB, GMA Integrated News