P8-B in DFA budget earmarked for consular services, OFW assistance

The Duterte Administration earmarked P8.5 billion for consular services and other assistance for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under the proposed P4.5 trillion budget.

Based on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ proposed P21 billion budget for 2021, the P8.5 billion is broken down to:

• P7.2 billion for consular services, including the issuance of passports, visas, and other consular documents and
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• P1.25 billion for protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipinos.

The P1.25 billion is further divided to:

• P1 billion Assistance to Nationals fund

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• P200 million for Legal Assistance Fund
• P43 million for Overseas Voting Secretariat and
• P16 million for the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs

DFA Undersecretary Sarah Arriola, for her part, said that the Bayanihan 2 has earmarked P820 million for repatriation of OFWs who lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have P820 million, pero wala pa pong SARO,” she said.

SARO is the Special Allotment Release Order issued by the Department of Budget and Management.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin, Jr. assured the public that all stranded OFWs will be repatriated on government expense.

“The faster we can send them home, the better,” Locsin said. — DVM, GMA News