Malacañang assured the public on Monday that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) trust fund remains untouched despite concerns over a PHP1.4-billion land deal that led to the removal of OWWA Administrator Arnell Ignacio.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said initial findings show no part of the trust fund—dedicated solely to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families—was used for the purchase of land near Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.
“Sa initial na imbestigasyon, hindi po affected ang OWWA trust fund. Pero inimbestigahan kung may nagamit. Pero sa inisyal na imbestigasyon wala po,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
Under Republic Act 10801 or the OWWA Act, the fund is a private trust exclusively for OFWs and cannot be used to fund other government agencies. It is also exempt from being merged into the national budget under the “one fund doctrine.”
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is investigating the land deal, which allegedly lacked approval from OWWA’s Board of Trustees. The purchase was intended for a dormitory-type facility for OFWs near NAIA.
Castro said the probe will also determine if other OWWA officials were involved.
“Sa ngayon po ay under investigation pa po ang lahat. Kung mayroon pang mga opisyal na involved dito, magkakaroon po ng aksyon. Kung sila’y tatanggalin, sususpindehin. Agarang aksyon po ang gagawin,” she added.