Manila: Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sen. Sherwin 'Win' Gatchalian on Monday commended the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for its swift and innovative action in addressing the plight of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), particularly in the Middle East. During the 2026 budget hearing of the DMW and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, Gatchalian cited a sharp decline in the number of OFWs seeking shelter and assistance abroad.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian revealed that during his first term as senator, he observed about 500 to 600 distressed OFWs in halfway houses in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and other parts of the region. However, in his second term, he noted a significant reduction, with numbers dropping to around 20 to 50, depending on the location, marking about a 90 percent reduction in distressed OFWs.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique Tutay confirmed the positive trend, noting that the number of distressed OFWs in Riyadh has decreased from 500 to 200, in Qatar from 300 to 20, and in Jeddah from 300 to 200. She stated that the department continues to strengthen its assistance and repatriation programs to further reduce these numbers.
Gatchalian also expressed support for increasing the department's legal assistance budget to ensure that more OFWs receive proper representation abroad. DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency plans to expand both its in-house and contracted legal services, aiming to double its current capacity.
Cacdac mentioned the department's plan to fund these expansions through the action fund, which Senator Marcoleta also referenced. Cacdac highlighted the need for a budget increase to hire more lawyers, recommending a 50 percent increase in law firms and a 100 percent increase in in-house lawyers.
When asked by Gatchalian if the proposed increase was already covered under the 2026 budget, Cacdac replied that they requested PHP2.4 billion but were only allocated PHP1.2 billion, prompting a further request for an increase.
Gatchalian affirmed the Senate's support for the proposal to hire additional lawyers to provide legal support to OFWs, emphasizing the importance of legal representation in winning cases.
The DMW, established in 2022, has implemented a series of reforms to provide comprehensive protection for OFWs. These reforms include enhanced coordination with foreign posts, expanded repatriation programs, and legal assistance for workers in distress.
