Jinggoy seeks additional funds for OWWA

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is calling for appropriation of funds for the day-to-day operations of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) so that the contributions collected from registered overseas Filipino workers would go solely to programs benefiting OFWs.

Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on labor and employment, aired his support for the inclusion of a regular appropriation in the national budget for OWWA’s operations instead of sourcing this from the agency’s fund.

Quoting OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, Estrada noted that the agency’s fund reached P1.5 billion as of October this year and is projected to reach P2 billion by the end of the year.

The fund is sourced from the mandatory $25 membership fee paid by registered OFWs, which is reportedly collected every time a new contract is signed. – Marvin Sy