MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured on Tuesday to properly spend confidential funds in case they are granted under the 2024 budget.
In a public briefing on Tuesday, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said that they will leave it up to the Senate if they deem it proper for the agency to be given such funds.
“Hindi po namin hinihingi iyang confidential funds na iyan, pero kung kami po ay susuportahan, gagamitin po natin ito sa tamang paraan (We are not asking for this confidential fund, but if we will be given support, we will use it properly),” Olalia said.
During the DMW budget hearing at the Senate on Monday, Tulfo said that if there is a department he believes should be given the confidential funds, it is the DMW.
He explained that the department could use the funds to investigate and hunt down illegal recruiters and run after scammers who extort money from those who want to work abroad.
Tulfo said he does not agree with giving confidential funds to various government agencies, however, with the increasing number of Filipinos being victimized by illegal recruiters and human traffickers, he said that an intelligence fund might as well be given to DMW.
“We need intelligence information, DMW needs intelligence information to hunt them down, hunt down illegal recruiters, illegal recruitment agencies, hunt down these scammers. That’s why I believe they should have confidential funds,” he said.
Olalia said that even without the confidential fund, the DMW continues to do its mandate in protecting migrant workers.
He said that currently, the department has an Anti-Illegal Recruitment Branch, now the Migrant Workers Protection Branch, that actively campaigns against illegal recruitment.
Olalia further explained that in the fight against illegal recruitment, the DMW needs to have strong-willed and brave people who can do the job well.
“Diyan po gagamitin natin [ang confidential fund] upang masugpo po natin at mapasok iyong mga illegal activities na iyan. Makakatulong po iyan sa pagkukuha ng mga intelligence, makakakuha po tayo ng ating mga kasamahan diyan na puwedeng tumulong lalung-lalo na upang makita natin kung sinu-sino ang mga nagiging illegal recruiters at kung papaano po nila ginagawa ang kanilang modus operandi (We will use it so that we can stop and penetrate those illegal activities. That will help in getting intelligence data, we can get our colleagues there who can help especially so that we can see who the illegal recruiters are and how they do their modus operandi), he said.
The DMW originally asked for a PHP29 billion budget for next year, but the Department of Budget and Management only approved PHP15.309 billion. (PNA)
