OFWs in Qatar and other overseas destinations may have access to stronger emergency and welfare assistance next year if Congress approves additional funding requested by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and OWWA.
The funding requests were discussed during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on September 21.
The proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program provides around Php 11.616 billion combined for DMW and OWWA, lower than what the agencies had originally sought.
More money sought for distressed OFWs
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac requested an additional Php 2 billion.
Half of that proposed increase, or Php 1 billion, would be added to the AKSYON Fund.
The fund is designed to assist OFWs who need legal, medical, financial, humanitarian, or repatriation support.
OWWA separately asked lawmakers to consider an additional Php 2 billion for its programs.
What the AKSYON Fund can support
The AKSYON Fund has been used to assist distressed OFWs in situations involving employment problems, legal cases, medical concerns, financial emergencies, and return to the Philippines.
Past DMW data showed the fund supporting thousands of workers dealing with labor complaints and court cases.
For Qatar-based Filipinos, this type of assistance may become relevant when a worker suddenly loses employment, faces a legal dispute, requires urgent assistance, or needs repatriation.
Middle East emergencies remain part of the concern
Lawmakers also discussed the need to keep sufficient funds available because a large number of OFWs remain based in the Middle East.
Earlier in 2026, government officials were already reviewing repatriation readiness and funding as regional security tensions affected Gulf countries and other parts of the Middle East.
This makes emergency reserves particularly relevant to OFWs in Gulf states such as Qatar.