The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has assured overseas Filipino workers (OFW) that the agency will continue to assist them until the newly-created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is completely ready to take over such function.
This came as the two agencies came up with an agreement to allow the DFA to continue funding all assistance to OFWs until the DMW has set up its operations for disbursing its AKSYON Fund through its overseas offices.
Such move is a “demonstration of the government’s commitment to the welfare” of OFWs, the DFA said in a statement.
DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo José A. de Vega explained, “Under Republic Act No. 11641, the DMW is mandated to disburse its AKSYON Fund for overseas contract workers, while the DFA is mandated to disburse its ATN (Assistance to Nationals) Fund and Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) only for overseas Filipinos other than contract workers, or for all overseas Filipinos situated in places without a resident Migrant Workers Office,” DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Eduardo Jose Vega said in a statement.
With the agreement with DMW, DFA will be provided legal basis to continue using the ATN and LAF funds to assist all overseas Filipinos, including contract workers, in the interim period, which should last until the end of March 2023, Vega added.
“Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has identified the protection and promotion of the welfare of overseas Filipinos as a priority of his administration. The DFA remains committed to doing our part to help the President achieve this objective,” he said.