Lack of funds hinders OFW repatriation
By Gerry Baldo 03/24/2011The failure of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release and identify the sources of funds is taking its toll on the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers hit by armed conflict in the Middle East and the tsunami in Japan.
Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) attending a congressional hearing appealed to the DBM headed by Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad to prepare a financial contingency plan which could be used for repatriation of Filipinos many of whom are undocumented.
According to Michael Macaraig of the DFA, there are hundreds of Filipinos in Japan, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen who are waiting to be repatriated but could not because they do not have the funds to do so.
“All of us are trained to assist OFWs whether it is right or wrong, we are supposed to help them. But how can we do our jobs when things are purely based on budget,” Macaraig told lawmakers yesterday..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110324nat2.html
0 comments
Post a Comment