P2-B cut in DFA budget scored by OFW groups

Saying overseas Filipino workers will be at the losing end, various groups have slammed the Aquino administration for the almost P2-billion cut on the proposed budget for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for 2011. Some of the groups said the cut is unjustified and even “illegal," and that OFWs in distress will be the first to suffer given the reduction in the legal assistance fund or LAF. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allocated only P10.9 billion to the department, which is P1.7 billion lower than last year’s budget of P12.6 billion. (See: DFA: Budget cut to add woes to troubled OFWs) The DFA originally requested a budget of P19 billion for its 2011 operations. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo also told the House appropriations committee during Wednesday’s deliberations that the Aquino administration approved only P27 million in LAF. ‘OFWs are not Aquino’s priority’ Migrants’ rights group Migrante International lamented that just like under previous administrations, OFWs do not seem to be part of President Benigno Aquino III’s priority. “(The reduction of the LAF) is a gross violation of Republic Act 10022 or the amended Migrant Workers Act, formerly RA 8042. Kulang na, nga binawasan pa (Small as it is already, it was further cut down)," said Migrante chairperson Garry Martinez. Section 18 of the amended Migrant Workers' Act provides for an allotment of P100 million in LAF, of which P50 million is supposed to be taken from the President’s contingency fund, P30 million from the President’s social fund, and P20 million from the Overseas Workers Welfare Fund. The LAF is used to provide legal services to migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress, such as hiring foreign lawyers, paying for bail bonds for the temporary release of detained workers, and shouldering court fees and charges and other litigation expenses. The LAF is now in danger of being reduced to just a quarter of what the law dictates, as it may get just P27 million next year based on the proposed budget. It only received an allocation of P50 million last year. Austerity measures Another group, United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil), likewise criticized Aquino for sacrificing the welfare of OFWs in light of the administration’s austerity measures. “Go after plunderers, tax evaders, corrupt officials and those using their office to live in luxury and not one of the most needed services for OFWs," said Unifil chairperson Dolores Balladares in a separate statement. For his part, militant priest Fr. Jose Dizon said the Aquino government must abandon austerity measures that only hurt Filipinos. “Adopting austerity measures is not bad per se, but measures that cut into the basic services like health, education and now this legal assistance for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) … is just wrong," Dizon, a member of the social activist group Solidarity Philippines, said in an article posted on the Union of Catholic Asian News site. “Our government is following the austerity measures adopted by rich countries like the United States after the failure of their bailout programs to cope with the financial crisis," he added. Billion-dollar remittance from OFWs Migrante-United Arab Emirates (UAE) meanwhile said OFWs do not deserve reduced allocation for legal assistance as they contribute billions of dollars in remittances that keep the country’s economy afloat. “Is this our reward for remitting more than $17 billion to the Philippines? We contribute more than 10 percent in our country’s economy even if the government cannot provide us with sufficient jobs back home," said Migrante-UAE chairperson Yuri Cipriano. “The least that the government can do is to give us adequate protection and services while we toil abroad," Cipriano added. Migrante-Middle East likewise urged the government to reconsider its budget proposal and adhere to the law’s prescription for LAF allocation. “We are demanding Aquino to review his policies and to look into the 100-M legal assistance fund intended for hiring lawyers in defense of accused OFWs and those in jail, among many other problems faced by Filipino migrants," said Migrante-ME regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona added. Apart from consular and diplomatic services, the DFA is helping some 7,000 Filipinos jailed around the world, 230 of whom have been meted the death sentence. Martinez said that Migrante members and OFWs are planning to troop to Congress and appeal to lawmakers to increase the budget for OFW legal and welfare assistance. The group will also hold a demonstration on September 23 at the House of Representatives to call for an investigation of the Overseas Workers Welfare Fund and mandatory fees imposed on overseas-bound workers. Kin of OFW on death row plead for help In a related development, the family of an OFW sentenced to death in China over drug-related charges has asked the government to do what it can to spare the life of the female worker. “Sana magawan ng paraan ng gobyerno na mapauwi siya rito (I hope the government finds a way to save her and bring her home)," a family member said in GMA News’ “24 Oras" report. The identity of the OFW, a mother from Nueva Ecija, was withheld as the DFA said the case is under appeal and the government’s diplomatic efforts may be negatively affected. The DFA has earlier said its services may suffer in light of the reduced budget allocation. “We will try to work it out within the organization so that one department can help the other department. We will try our best that the services do not suffer," Romulo said in the same newscast.—Jerrie M. Abella with report by Angel Tesorero/JV, GMANews.TV