MANILA, Philippines — The P13-billion contingent fund under the 2021 national budget should be used to fund the repatriation of 500,000 more overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) affected by the pandemic, some senators said Thursday.
During a Senate labor committee hearing, the senator was given the impression that the P13-billion contingent fund is being “preserved” as a source of additional funding for the proposed Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFil).
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon was the first to express concern about the government’s purported “hesitancy” to use the P13-billion contingent fund to fund OFW repatriation.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Admini…
Keep on reading: ‘Preserved’ fund for new dep’t but none for OFWs’ return? Senators want P13-B contingent fund tapped