(Photo by Sen. Villanueva’s office)
Senator Joel Villanueva has called for increased funding for emergency assistance programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) following a deadly missile attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that injured four Filipinos.
In a statement Tuesday, October 13, Villanueva stressed the need to strengthen government resources to ensure immediate assistance for Filipino workers affected by armed conflicts and other emergencies overseas.
“Kapag buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya, hindi puwedeng mabagal ang aksyon,” Villanueva said.
The senator urged lawmakers to prioritize additional funding for the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) AKSYON Fund and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) Emergency Repatriation Fund.
Under the proposed 2027 national budget, the DMW and OWWA have a combined allocation of Php 11.616 billion, substantially lower than their original funding request of Php 37.674 billion.
The Php 26.058-billion funding gap was disclosed during Senate budget deliberations on September 21, raising concerns over the agencies’ capacity to respond to emergencies involving Filipinos abroad.
Villanueva said the Riyadh attack highlighted the urgency of ensuring adequate financial resources for emergency medical assistance, evacuation, and repatriation.
“Our OFWs should never face danger alone,” he said.
The DMW confirmed Monday that four Filipinos were injured in the missile attack, including two airport employees and two passengers.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said three of the victims remained in intensive care, while the fourth had been discharged after receiving treatment for burns.
The agency has contacted the victims’ families and is coordinating assistance for those affected.
The attacks, claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, reportedly killed several people and injured hundreds, prompting the closure of King Khalid International Airport until at least October 17 and disrupting international flights.
Villanueva condemned the violence and expressed hope for the immediate recovery of the injured Filipinos.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs, DMW, and OWWA in responding to the incident and monitoring the situation.
The Marcos administration earlier committed additional funding for OFW protection, including Php 3 billion for the DMW’s assistance fund and Php 1 billion for OWWA, with Php 700 million earmarked for emergency repatriation.
Villanueva emphasized that the government must maintain a reliable and responsive assistance system to protect Filipino workers facing life-threatening situations overseas.
“Our modern-day heroes must never feel alone in times of crisis. They must know that their government will stand by them, protect them and act when their lives are on the line,” he said.
