SENATE President Manuel Villar yesterday
said the decision of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration to shut its loan window for departing overseas
Filipino workers is one proof of fund mismanagement in that
agency.
Labor Secretary Marianito Roque said
earlier this week that the loan program had to be suspended
because only around 30 percent of the borrowers have paid.
OWWA has released P70 million of the P100 million allocation
for the program.
Villar said OWWA's decision is a big blow
to departing OFWs who need funds for pre-departure
requirements.
Roque has said despite the collection
problem, OWWA remains financially stable. He said OWWA assets
stand at P10.2 billion, P8.2 billion of which is in various
investments. The rest is being used for worker welfare
assistance programs such as livelihood projects, scholarships,
training seminars and repatriation.
Villar said if government can give training assistance and
scholarships to aspiring OFWs, it should not also neglect
pre-departure aid to those who are ready to work overseas.
- Dennis Gadil
