PNA file photo
MANILA – Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said Wednesday he would push for an additional PHP5 billion for the 2025 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) when the House of Representatives considers its outlay in a plenary session.
He said the DFA could use part of the PHP5 billion increase for actions related to the defense of the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in light of China’s increasingly aggressive activities in the disputed islands and waters that are legitimately inside Philippine territory.
“The additional funds could also be used to help overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other Filipinos abroad who are in distress,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
He said the DFA and labor agencies should have more assistance funds for OFWs, especially those in the Middle East and other countries and regions facing security issues.
During Tuesday’s hearing by the House committee on appropriations on DFA’s budget next year, Rodriguez presented his proposal to increase DFA’s budget from PHP27.4 billion to PHP32.4 billion.
He thanked Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo for their “robust insistence of our sovereign rights in the WPS and in our 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”
Rodriguez also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for his vocal assertion of the country’s rights in the contested areas and for strengthening its military alliance with the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and other allies.
He said the DFA is pursuing similar military cooperation arrangements with Germany and France.
“These agreements with like-minded nations will deter China from intruding and violating our sovereign rights over the WPS, under UNCLOS and the International Arbitral Award won by the Philippines on July 12, 2016,” Rodriguez said.
He also praised DFA personnel for their efforts to help Filipinos needing legal, repatriation, and work-related assistance.
Rodriguez raised some concerns of OFWs and foreign service officers stationed abroad, including the need to allocate additional funding for Philippine embassies for Independence Day celebrations, business and trade events, and other cultural activities.
He also proposed the grant of an additional allowance for children of foreign service officers serving abroad. (PNA)
