DMW

FY 2027 budget and OFW protection: The FY 2027 NEP allocated PHP 11.616 billion to DMW and OWWA together, against DMW's PHP 37.674 billion department-wide submission to DBM. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac described DMW as a home for OFWs and their families, emphasizing practical help as well as case totals. He reported roughly 80,000 financial-assistance recipients, 14,000 legal cases and 5,000 medical-assistance cases; DMW and OWWA had brought home about 12,000 people from conflict-affected countries, while around 20,000 others received US$200 assistance after income losses. He also cited about 150,000 OFW Hospital service recipients over three years, nearly 50,000 reintegration beneficiaries and 1.5 million OFW passes. Digital services were still being improved. Examples of counseling and help for workers’ children illustrated support extending to families.

2027 budget and operating priorities: DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay identified NEP allocations of PHP 7.267 billion for the Office of the Secretary and PHP 4.349 billion for OWWA. She reported ₱9.77 billion for operations in the FY2027 NEP presentation. Priorities included the AKSYON Fund, overseas offices, reintegration, the OFW Hospital, employment facilitation, regulation and anti-trafficking work. Capital reductions affected hospital, maritime-training and information-system requirements; regional offices and overseas posts accounted for much of the staffing.

Utilization and additional crisis funding: Rubia-Tutay reported unqualified 2025 audit opinions for DMW and OWWA. OSEC budget utilization was 89% at end-2025 and 47% as of July 2026, or 64% excluding the additional ₱3 billion AKSYON allocation received in July. Its disbursement utilization was 97% in 2025 and 81% as of July 2026. OWWA utilization was reported at 80% in 2025 and 82% as of July 2026, before the additional ₱1 billion UPLIFT funding was reflected.

Recorded presidential message: The presentation included a recorded message from President Bongbong Marcos on UPLIFT and protection throughout the migration cycle: preparation before departure, assistance abroad, crisis response and support after returning home. It described repatriation as including onward travel and help rebuilding livelihoods, with agencies working together on skills, welfare, financing and employment pathways.

OWWA emergency and staffing requests: OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne "PY" M. Caunan sought higher emergency-repatriation funding after the roughly ₱1.2 billion annual provision was reduced by nearly ₱300 million to the ₱900 million level. OWWA was already using supplemental funding amid the crisis and had utilized about ₱1.7 billion. She described standby resources as the cost of readiness. She also sought updated job-order pay following COA advice and more permanent overseas welfare posts: around 1,100 of 1,600 OWWA personnel were job-order workers, while only 34 overseas plantilla welfare-officer positions were available. Filling overseas gaps by drawing from domestic offices strained staffing at home.

Scholarships and medical support: Caunan sought renewed funding for the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program, separate from OWWA’s trust-fund scholarships. She said it offered about ₱60,000 annually for four years but had not received new funding since the ₱50 million provided in 1995. OWWA had 20,000 scholars and planned another 10,000 slots in 2026. She also proposed medical or clinic retainers abroad to address increasing health needs, particularly psychosocial care for distressed domestic workers.

OWWA request and later congressional additions: OWWA's separate original proposal was described as approximately PHP 12 billion to PHP 12.8 billion. DMW and OWWA later each requested a further PHP 2 billion from Congress; these were separate hearing-stage additions, not the original DBM submissions. Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing requested a recalculation against beneficiary needs, remaining 2026 funds and the changed crisis context before amendment decisions.

DMW and OWWA requests for crisis and welfare funds: DMW asked Congress for PHP 2 billion beyond its NEP amount, including PHP 1 billion to lift the AKSYON Fund from PHP 2 billion to PHP 3 billion, plus reintegration, OFW Hospital, migrant-worker offices and other services. OWWA separately sought PHP 2 billion for operations, emergency repatriation, Alagang OWWA, capital needs and scholarships; it asked for PHP 575 million more for the Emergency Repatriation Fund, now around PHP 900 million, while calling PHP 1.2 billion the minimum restoration level. These are separate agency packages, not the original DBM submissions.

Attached-agency and service restorations: The National Maritime Polytechnic sought restoration of about PHP 76 million after DBM included PHP 50 million of a PHP 125 million training-building proposal. DMW also sought PHP 200 million more for the OFW Hospital, while OWWA mentioned PHP 130 million for medical and legal retainers. Those item requests were discussed but not separately approved. DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac later mentioned PHP 92 million for NMP; this was not reconciled with the director's PHP 76 million request.

Motion deferred and later recalculation: Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez formally moved to approve DMW and OWWA budgets with PHP 2 billion added to each. Presiding Vice Chair Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the session was a briefing and the motion would be considered at the proper time. Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing later requested a recalculated, beneficiary-based 2027 need that accounts for remaining 2026 funds and the current crisis, leaving the eventual amount open. No increase was approved in this hearing.

Resources for protection and reintegration: Presiding Vice Chair Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad framed the hearing around resources for protection and reintegration, including support for overseas and regional offices, the AKSYON Fund, emergency repatriation, the OFW Hospital and reintegration services. She cited the department's response to a constituent killed in Lebanon as an example of the protection families expect. Co-sponsor Rep. John Geesnell "Baba" Yap called for funding that translates into faster and more accessible assistance and stronger reintegration support.

Readiness beyond the current crisis: Overseas Workers' Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Bryan B. Revilla said the Middle East conflict had placed heavy demands on DMW and OWWA. He cited additional 2026 funding of ₱3 billion for the AKSYON Fund and ₱1 billion for OWWA, including ₱700 million for emergency repatriation, and asked whether resources would cover the next crisis. He also sought sustained support for service caravans that bring government assistance directly to workers abroad.

Domestic-worker pay and employment options: Ismula asked about implementation of the US$500 monthly wage for migrant domestic workers. Cacdac said the August 2025 order remained in a voluntary, incentive-based first phase because existing contracts were affected. DMW had processed 17,375 job orders at US$500 and planned full rollout of employer video interviews in the last quarter of 2026. He also described upskilling, alternative overseas jobs and livelihood options. The Middle East crisis had delayed implementation; the department would work toward broader acceptance before making the wage mandatory.

Delayed AKSYON claims and benefit rules: Ismula raised reported waits of three to six months for AKSYON assistance, including cases of chronically ill workers dying while awaiting support. Cacdac acknowledged delays after the ₱2 billion fund was exhausted during crisis response. He said the additional ₱3 billion allocation was being released subject to documentation requirements and committed to covering pending claims by early in the fourth quarter. Asked about amending the guidelines, he said DMW was reviewing the benefit schedule and would issue amendments. He cited ₱50,000 for distress, ₱75,000 for medical cases, ₱100,000 for deaths and ₱30,000 for trafficking-related cases, alongside smaller quick assistance based on need.

Emergency readiness and prepositioned teams: Ismula asked what the recent repatriations showed about crisis planning and funding. Cacdac said DMW, OWWA and DFA activated existing systems at the conflict’s outset, assisted people stranded by airspace closures and adapted to a crisis spanning seven countries. About 12,000 people had been brought home. He emphasized ready financial, material and human resources, dedicated fund-administration staff, improved management systems and teams stationed at borders and fly-out points. DMW had also opened its 43rd overseas office in Cambodia. He said buying tickets and deploying teams promptly required resources already available when an emergency began.

Support for workers who stay abroad: Ismula stressed that some OFWs wanted shelter and protection rather than repatriation, and supported higher DMW and OWWA funding. Cacdac described financial help, food packs, temporary accommodation and visits to workers in host-government shelters. Caunan said rapid-response personnel were in position from March 2, after the February 28 outbreak, helping workers cross borders and reach flights under a one-country-team approach with DFA. Funding covered hotels, meals, transport, international and provincial tickets, and financial assistance. She called for stronger overseas staffing, noting that deployed personnel also faced emergency warnings.

Reintegration choices for returnees: Gonzales asked whether workers repatriated from the Middle East could resume overseas employment. Cacdac said DMW and OWWA had profiled roughly 12,000 returnees—9,000 workers and 3,000 dependents—and most wanted to remain in the Philippines. Nearly 20 reintegration fairs connected them with job orders, business support and skills training. DMW was matching profiles to overseas vacancies, while partner agencies offered livelihood and training options, including TESDA courses with a daily stipend. About 30–40% wanted to return abroad; some had resumed their jobs, while others awaited business reopening. Matching and applications remained ongoing.

Hospital procurement, staffing and upgrade: Gonzales raised procurement delays and patient complaints at the OFW Hospital. Cacdac said medicine shortages had been substantially addressed, but equipment procurement remained a challenge. The hospital now had its own Bids and Awards Committee after roughly 198 regular positions were filled. He reported 41.4% of procurement ongoing and 35.6% fully served, with about 77% of items acted on rather than completed. The CAT-scan replacement part had arrived and testing was next; an MRI was still for procurement. Rubia-Tutay said cancer-care equipment was being procured, with operations hoped for in the first or second quarter of 2027. Another 110 plantilla positions brought the total to about 308, with hiring continuing. Gonzales cited her bill to upgrade the hospital to level 3, already approved by the Health Committee, and supported increasing the agencies’ budget.

Restoring emergency capacity: Nazal challenged OWWA's reduced emergency-repatriation allocation and supported its additional ₱2 billion request. Caunan said the roughly ₱900 million NEP provision was insufficient: restoring the earlier ₱1.2 billion level was the minimum, while OWWA had already spent about ₱1.7 billion amid the crisis. Nearly ₱600 million of the additional request was for repatriation. She explained that even ordinary repatriation covers fares, accommodation, medical escorts and onward travel, and had used around 60% of the ₱1.2 billion fund in 2024-2025. Cacdac endorsed OWWA's request and agreed that past utilization alone was a poor measure of contingency needs. DMW also sought a ₱3 billion AKSYON Fund level, against ₱2 billion in the NEP.

China and Hong Kong protection: Nazal raised reports of immigration enforcement in China and unauthorized secondary employment in Hong Kong, while explicitly stopping short of concluding that enforcement was retaliation. He asked for affected-worker counts and the minimum funding needed for legal, detention, medical and repatriation assistance. Cacdac said DMW had overall worker figures but lacked counts for overstayers and secondary employment. An undersecretary had recently met the Hong Kong Filipino community; the department was not seeing unusual distress calls at that stage, and its resource center remained available. No itemized funding estimate was supplied in the exchange.

Taiwan contingency planning: Nazal sought a fully costed evacuation plan for nearly 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan and questioned how quickly government could respond if funds ran out. Cacdac said agencies had worked on crisis manuals and transport arrangements for almost three years, with DBM and the Office of the Executive Secretary involved. He offered to provide details in confidence, citing security concerns, and said resource requirements were itemized by crisis stage. He promised a swift response but gave neither a public total cost nor a quantified turnaround time. Nazal urged House support for the agencies' requested funding.

Medical assistance and PhilHealth representation: Revilla asked whether OFWs must contribute to PhilHealth and how it helps meet their medical costs. Cacdac said contributions were mandatory and proposed amending the law to give DMW/OWWA representation on the PhilHealth board, alongside exploring a closer partnership. He explained that host-country or Philippine private insurance is used first; AKSYON assistance steps in when coverage is unavailable. For overseas hospital bills, he said DMW negotiates costs and does not impose a ceiling, citing a payment exceeding ₱1 million to bring a terminally ill worker home.

Frontline staff and equipment: Revilla backed higher AKSYON and emergency-repatriation funding and called for better support for OWWA's job-order staff. Drawing on an office visit, he described outdated equipment, employees using personal devices for call-center work, and building repairs that needed funding. No separate agency response followed this closing manifestation.

Access to the OFW Hospital: Pancho asked how sick returning workers from Bulacan could obtain hospital care and whether treatment was fully covered. Cacdac said current or former OFWs and their parents and children could walk in or seek assistance through a regional office, without a cutoff based on how long ago they worked abroad. Services at the level-2 OFW Hospital were free, while cases beyond its capacity were referred to JBL or another hospital. Rubia-Tutay described ambulance pickup for patients unable to travel, assessment, return transport and telephone follow-up; referrals also worked in the other direction when JBL was full. She said zero billing was supported by PhilHealth, medical-assistance funding, OWWA and the hospital's own operating budget. Pancho questioned the budget reduction and urged continued support.

AKSYON services and the additional ₱1 billion request: Bautista asked for 2026 service figures and the funding needed for 2027. Bay reported 145,448 services and assistance beneficiaries for January–July 2026, including 44,445 financial, 1,173 medical, 2,610 legal, 7,329 repatriation and 89,891 welfare cases. She cited 606,921 cumulatively from July 2023 to July 2026, 32 legal retainers and 13 local in-house counsel. Assistance covered documented and undocumented OFWs, including medical costs outside insurance coverage. With ₱2 billion in the NEP, DMW sought another ₱1 billion for crisis, welfare and seafarer needs. Bautista supported the increase.

Emergency-repatriation funding: Bautista asked what funding level OWWA needed after the ERF reduction. Caunan reported ₱1.6 billion in repatriation expenses and 139,688 clients served by July 31, with 240,000–250,000 projected by year-end. OWWA was relying on the ₱700 million supplement after earlier funds were exhausted. She sought at least restoration of ₱1.2 billion and described the formal request as another ₱575 million above the ₱900 million-plus NEP level. AKSYON and ERF had complementary spending rules and both needed resources. Bautista backed restoration and additional support; her closing manifestation referred to an additional ₱500 million for ERF.

Reintegration funding and support beyond capital: Bautista sought sufficient support after workers returned home. Cacdac outlined welfare, skills, livelihood and inter-agency assistance, reporting roughly 6,000 welfare interventions, 5,000 skills interventions and 2,000 capital-assistance recipients. DMW Assistant Secretary Francis Ron C. De Guzman specified ₱309 million for about 51,000 OFWs and family beneficiaries and a further ₱321 million request for a similar beneficiary count; Cacdac and Bautista used rounded ₱300 million figures. DMW had raised livelihood assistance from ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 and hoped to reach ₱20,000, with a database prepared for rollout and the Bagong Balikbayan bill still awaiting Senate passage. Caunan stressed counseling, mentorship and further financing, citing SB Corp’s ₱2 billion OFW Negosyo Fund. OWWA’s Step Up program paired TESDA training with allowances and DOLE or DMW employment facilitation. Bautista endorsed greater reintegration funding.

Reintegration outcomes: Acidre asked for evidence of successful employment, businesses or education, beyond beneficiary counts. Cacdac cited existing welfare, training and livelihood interventions and at least 3,000 returnees given overseas job-order information; these were opportunities offered, not confirmed placements. Caunan said more than 60% of monitored Balik Pinas Balik Hanapbuhay and Tulong Puso beneficiaries still had a business or an employment pathway after 12 months. These programs used OWWA’s member trust fund rather than the GAA. She identified expansion finance and technical assistance as obstacles, and cited seafarer upskilling, skills scholarships and a tertiary-education pathway for OFWs themselves.

Planning before workers return: Acidre urged advance profiling and reintegration choices before contracts ended, so agencies and Congress could plan adequate resources. Cacdac described a planned virtual one-stop shop through eGov and access to partner-agency programs, illustrating this with an SB Corp ₱300,000 interest-free loan whose repayments began in the second year. Caunan said returnee profiling was already being piloted, including livelihood, overseas and local employment, training and financing preferences. OWWA was adapting e-CARES for its roughly 2.7 million active members, but had no NEP allocation for ISSP-related capital equipment. She committed to following the recommendation and presenting the pilot, while seeking resources for full rollout.

Scam-hub victims and criminal cases: Acidre asked for an overarching response for Filipinos trapped in scam hubs or jailed in Cambodia, citing 23 affected families approaching his office. Cacdac described rescue, welfare, repatriation, legal assistance and action against recruiters. Around 3,000 people had been assisted home from Myanmar and Cambodia over three years, with DFA and Thai-border coordination. About 12 recruiter cases had reached court. DMW had opened offices in Thailand and Cambodia and was working toward a Myanmar presence. Cacdac warned that Cambodia’s legal changes could expose scam-hub workers to prosecution; lawyers were assisting in Cambodia and Thailand, with DFA coordination for Myanmar. Acidre reiterated support for both agencies.

Trafficking and cross-border protection: Elago sought stronger cooperation with destination countries on scam hubs, trafficking and illegal surrogacy, including laws that could endanger trafficking victims. Cacdac described DFA and embassy coordination, the new Phnom Penh migrant workers office and a proposed labor-cooperation agreement with Cambodia. He also referred to an ASEAN fair-and-ethical-recruitment initiative for the November summit, withholding details pending a presidential announcement. Elago urged parliamentary as well as executive cooperation and opposed cuts to frontline support.

Medical care and gender-responsive case handling: Elago pressed for medical retainers, mental-health support and stress debriefing for both distressed OFWs and frontline personnel. Cacdac said clinic and hospital partnerships existed at selected posts but formal medical retainerships needed expansion. Caunan sought ₱130 million for medical and health retainers, including additional legal retainers, prioritizing several Gulf posts. She emphasized access to locally licensed professionals alongside telemedicine. Both agencies described gender-responsive training, and Caunan committed to continued training and care for staff. She reported 1,800 sexual-abuse or harassment cases assisted in January–June 2026, compared with 2,600 such abuse and violence cases in all of 2025. Elago requested the referral system, urgent-case procedures and inter-agency arrangements.

Verification-fee collections: Elago asked where contract-verification collections went and raised reported increases in Hong Kong and Singapore. Rubia-Tutay reported about ₱5.851 billion collected from 2023 through July 2026 and deposited with Treasury, with earmarked appropriations of ₱163 million in 2024, ₱580 million in each of 2025 and 2026, and ₱777 million in the 2027 NEP. DMW said its fee remained US$10 and had not increased. Elago said she would submit the reported increases for review.

Free maritime training and facilities: Elago questioned the NMP budget reduction and its effect on seafarer training. Del Rosario said it mainly reflected lower capital outlay following ₱271 million for modernization within the ₱406 million 2026 allocation. For 2027, ₱53 million in capital funding included ₱50 million for a training building against a ₱125 million proposal; he asked for a reported ₱76 million restoration. All 55 regular courses had become free from August 3, with 3,026 seafarers reported trained and up to 12,000 targeted by December. He outlined expansion work for Tanza, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Elago emphasized that infrastructure also needed regular staff with security of tenure.

Missing seafarer and Strait of Hormuz response: Elago asked about missing seafarer George Miranda. Cacdac said unsafe conditions still obstructed salvage of the tugboat; DMW was helping the family pursue legal claims with the Dubai shipowner and would provide an Omani note verbale privately. He later reported 256 repatriations from attacked ships and about 53 people awaiting repatriation, confirmed another recent fatality, and described continuing food and supply coordination for roughly 3,000 Filipino seafarers still in the Persian Gulf. The chair requested the data provided to Elago.

Outstanding assistance and reintegration reports: Elago requested the programs and funding omitted from the NEP, current coordination with DOLE and DTI on employment and livelihood, and action on AKSYON requests pending since January–February 2026. She argued that reintegration must lead to decent work and a living wage in the Philippines and urged higher funding in the House budget bill. Those specific follow-up reports were requested, rather than delivered within the round.

Restoration request and Congress's budget authority: Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez questioned the reduction from DMW's ₱24.792 billion request to its ₱7.267 billion NEP allocation. Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said DMW was seeking a ₱2 billion augmentation, rather than restoration of the entire reduction, after discussions about fiscal space; OWWA was separately seeking ₱2 billion. Rodriguez emphasized Congress's authority to determine appropriations and requested an itemized submission to support the proposed increases.

DMW's proposed ₱2 billion augmentation: Cacdac outlined an additional ₱1 billion for the AKSYON Fund, raising it from ₱2 billion to ₱3 billion; ₱60 million for Serbisyo Caravan activities; ₱60 million for international labor affairs and the Philippines' Abu Dhabi Dialogue chairmanship; and ₱180 million for general administration, including repairs to the old POEA building. He also identified ₱92 million for the National Maritime Polytechnic, ₱7.5 million against illegal recruitment, ₱200 million for the OFW Hospital, ₱100 million for new Migrant Workers Offices and ₱300 million for reintegration. These were requested additions, not approved appropriations.

New headquarters and continued use of the old POEA building: Asked why DMW would renovate its old headquarters, Cacdac said a new headquarters was planned on Agham Road at the Occupational Safety and Health Center site. He reported ₱500 million for a first construction phase in the DPWH budget and another ₱500 million needed for a second phase of the planned ten-storey building. The old Ortigas-EDSA property would be retained for DMW's NCR regional office.

OWWA's proposed additional services and facilities: Administrator Patricia Yvonne "PY" M. Caunan presented OWWA's separate ₱2 billion request: about ₱322.006 million for general administration, ₱1.180 billion for operations, ₱447.99 million in capital outlay and ₱50 million for scholarships. She linked the request to job-order wages and aging vehicles; emergency repatriation, including an additional ₱575 million for the Emergency Repatriation Fund; ₱475 million for Alagang OWWA; seafarer welfare centers, airport lounges, global centers and upskilling; and medical retainers for uninsured workers. Facility spending included repair or replacement of unsafe or inadequate offices and training facilities. Caunan described the scholarship proposal as a national-government counterpart separate from the OWWA trust fund, with assistance of ₱60,000 annually for four years.

Saudi residency cases and the status of the budget motion: Rodriguez raised a constituent's difficulty returning from Saudi Arabia without a valid resident permit. Cacdac said such cases can involve immigration or labor-law problems; DMW uses legal assistance and the AKSYON Fund to address penalties, hospital debts and related obstacles, although some cases take time. Rodriguez then moved to approve the budget with an additional ₱2 billion each for DMW and OWWA. Chair Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad said the proceeding was a budget briefing and reserved a ruling for the proper time; the exchange did not approve those augmentations.

OFW Hospital reach and expansion: Rep. Florabel C. Yatco asked how many patients the OFW Hospital served and what improvements were planned. Cacdac reported 184,870 patients served under the current administration and a ₱423.59 million hospital budget, with an additional ₱200 million being sought. Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay described the counts as unique patients and reported about 40,000 from January to July 2026. She said 90–95% of patients came from Luzon, especially Central Luzon. The hospital was operating at Level 2 with 78 approved beds and targeting Level 3 with 102 beds; a cancer-care center was under construction for a 2027 opening.

Cancer care, dialysis and medical missions: Yatco supported wider hospital access, including services beyond Luzon, and asked whether funding would cover cancer care and doctors' compensation. Rubia-Tutay said the roughly ₱400 million hospital NEP allocation and proposed ₱200 million addition might still be insufficient; she also identified dialysis as a priority because of demand from patients with chronic kidney disease. Yatco requested dialysis services the following year and supported the additional budget. Officials thanked her for helping arrange a Makati Medical Center mission, while she proposed annual missions and expansion to nearby provinces. The roughly ₱400 million figure referred to the hospital budget, not an earmark solely for cancer care.

Free maritime courses despite a lower NMP budget: Rep. Niko Raul S.J. Daza asked about free training at the National Maritime Polytechnic and whether its reduced budget could sustain it. Executive Director III Victor A. Del Rosario said all 55 regular courses, including 23 mandatory STCW courses, became free on August 3 under Memorandum Order No. 360. Daza highlighted a roughly ₱210 million, or 52%, reduction. Del Rosario attributed the decrease mainly to capital outlay after ₱271 million in 2026 infrastructure funding and said personnel and operating funds could sustain free courses. He projected about 28,000 trainees in 2026, including 12,000 during the August–December free-training period, and around 30,000 in 2027.

Tacloban capacity and planned regional centers: Daza pressed NMP on capacity as demand for free courses grew. Del Rosario sought an additional ₱92 million for Tacloban classroom and information-system needs, describing a planned building with 15 classrooms. He distinguished that request from proposed regional training centers in Cavite and Davao, which were still in feasibility and pre-implementation work, with funding submission hoped for fiscal year 2028. The regional centers were not presented as operational or funded under the Tacloban request.

Support for the DMW and OWWA augmentations: Daza said earlier exchanges had addressed his OWWA questions and supported a combined ₱4 billion augmentation—₱2 billion each for DMW and OWWA. He highlighted additional AKSYON assistance, service caravans, international labor affairs, administration, reintegration, hospital and Migrant Workers Office services, maritime training and migrant protection. His statement was support for the requests, not a committee decision approving them.

Support after an unsuccessful reintegration business: Rep. Eulogio "Leo" R. Rodriguez asked what happens when an OFW's government-assisted business fails. Cacdac said the door remains open to further support where there is determination and a sound business proposal, reinforced by mentorship and coaching from DTI and other partners. A business failure would not end necessary medical or legal assistance. Caunan pointed to the National Reintegration Network and the TESDA-linked K2K partnership for upskilling and training before another attempt. Rodriguez stressed that OFWs should hear this reassurance, while distinguishing a legitimate failed venture from misuse of assistance.

Provincial response to illegal recruitment: Rodriguez cited an alleged illegal recruitment operation shut down in Bicol that reportedly charged applicants ₱350,000 and advertised through social media and local radio. He asked about prevention, victim assistance and access in island provinces. Cacdac said regional staffing had grown from about 8–10 under POEA to 30–40 regular personnel, supporting nationwide tracking and closures with police and LGUs. Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia described the 16 regional offices' LGU partnerships, surveillance, verified closures, entrapment and prosecution, alongside welfare and AKSYON assistance for distressed, trafficked or illegally recruited OFWs.

Commitment to occupy a Catanduanes office: Rodriguez renewed his request for coordinated DMW and OWWA services in Catanduanes, saying the completed provincial building would spare residents a trip to Legazpi. He reported that OWWA was already using an LGU business hub and DMW had submitted a letter of intent. Cacdac acknowledged the island province's need and committed to moving into the building with OWWA as soon as possible. No specific move-in date was given.

Medical repatriation and third-doctor disputes: Rep. Jan Franz Norbert Joselito A. Chan said confusing requirements and deadlines for third-doctor opinions can prevent medically repatriated OFWs from recovering compensation. He asked about assistance and applicant numbers. Cacdac pointed to the Magna Carta for Seafarers and its implementing rules. Olalia explained that an unchallenged company-doctor assessment becomes final, while a conflicting worker-commissioned assessment requires a third doctor. DMW and DOH were still drafting joint guidelines for selecting that doctor. He also said the AKSYON Fund could support surety bonds for appeals of NLRC or NCMB decisions. The response did not provide a count of medical-assistance applicants.

AKSYON capacity and conciliation outcomes: Asked whether the AKSYON Fund could cover these cases, Cacdac estimated that it would be sufficient for legal assistance, while acknowledging the need to benchmark experience. He relied partly on growing conciliation, which can settle disputes without lawyers or formal adjudication. Caunan reported a 99.23% settlement rate for sea-based cases in 2025 and nearly ₱180 million in monetary claims awarded; combined land-based and sea-based cases had a 94% settlement rate and over ₱202 million in settlements. These were conciliation figures, not a count of medically repatriated workers assisted.

AKSYON protection for abused dependents: Rep. Bella Vanessa B. Suansing asked whether AKSYON assistance covers repatriation when an OFW's child or dependent suffers abuse, including risks affecting families left behind. Cacdac confirmed coverage for dependents, especially abuse victims, and described a recent joint DMW–DFA repatriation of a mother and child escaping abuse, withholding the country to protect them. He said assistance also extends to families affected by an OFW parent's distress, with DSWD and DepEd coordination for school interventions, guidance and counselling.

Aftercare proposal and existing children's programs: Rubia-Tutay outlined a proposed interagency aftercare framework for children left behind, linking home, community and national services. It would combine temporary caregiving, early problem identification, protection against abuse, neglect and bullying, caregiver training and coordination with DSWD, TESDA, DILG and DepEd. The framework was still being developed for the Cabinet social cluster. Caunan distinguished existing OFW Children's Circle and family-circle activities, including developmental programs for 20,000 scholar-dependents, OWWA Cup Jr., arts and music. She proposed incorporating the 1348 hotline, which children already use, into the broader support system.

Mental-health access beyond the OFW Hospital: Suansing asked about mental-health services for dependents outside the OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga. Cacdac said overseas medical retainers would include mental care and emphasized DOH, DSWD and DepEd partnerships for counselling and social-work support. Rubia-Tutay described hospital telemedicine, online partnerships for OFWs overseas, and a hospital psychologist and wellness sessions. She acknowledged the need for a psychiatrist, additional private providers and stronger services, with limited accredited psychiatrists remaining a constraint. Suansing closed by thanking DMW for repatriating constituents referred during the Middle East war.

Written answers to Nazal: Labadlabad requested written answers to Roberto Nazal's additional questions and asked that the committee also receive the response. This was a written follow-up, without another oral interpellation.

OFW records and e-registration glitches: Rep. Salvador A. Pleyto asked about consolidating OFW databases, citing missing records, mismatches and e-registration glitches that delay deployment. Cacdac said DMW was improving its databases, e-registration and cybersecurity with DICT through the eGov system. He acknowledged daily glitches and described an innovation hub with four desktop workstations for walk-in help, plus remote technical support. He reported 1.5 million digitally issued OFW Passes, replacing the OEC and facilitating departure. The response described ongoing improvements rather than declaring database consolidation complete.

Cybersecurity safeguards and funding: Pleyto asked how DMW would protect sensitive passport, contract, salary and family records. Cacdac described round-the-clock monitoring and DICT response, acknowledging compromised employee email accounts while saying the database remained untouched. Rubia-Tutay reported an approximately ₱290 million balance for ongoing equipment procurement, including cybersecurity. She corrected the 2027 NEP figure to ₱53 million and said another ₱11 million was included in DMW's ₱2 billion augmentation request. Pleyto urged stronger allocations, regular third-party penetration tests and Data Privacy Act compliance, and supported the 2027 budget.

NEP comparisons and allocations within welfare programs: Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing asked DBM and the agencies to reconcile the 2026 and 2027 NEP figures before discussing additional funding. DBM Director IV Benjieleth M. Zuñiga said DMW's Workers Welfare and Government Placement Services program—which includes AKSYON, the OFW Hospital and Migrant Workers Offices—rose from ₱4 billion to ₱4.6 billion. The exchange identified an increase in OWWA's broader Welfare Services program from ₱2.3 billion to about ₱3.28 billion. Zuñiga explained that allocations within it changed because OWWA's proposal prioritized Alagang OWWA over emergency repatriation. Suansing noted that the budget call preceded the conflict and asked whether internal realignment could address changed priorities before augmentation.

Emergency needs beyond the original allocations: Caunan said OWWA was already using supplemental funding: ₱700 million for emergency repatriation and ₱300 million for Alagang OWWA. The latter added to a ₱942 million GAA allocation, bringing it to roughly ₱1.2 billion, comparable to its 2027 NEP level. She contrasted the proposed ₱900 million Emergency Repatriation Fund with ₱1.7 billion already used that year, including ₱700 million for the crisis and ₱1 billion for repatriation elsewhere. Cacdac reported ₱3 billion in UPLIFT funding after DMW exhausted its ₱2 billion allocation. He sought a ₱3 billion AKSYON level and argued for proactively helping workers whose jobs, hours or income had been lost, including those remaining abroad.

A needs-based 2027 submission: Cacdac also defended Tier 2 needs, including ₱60 million for the Philippines' Abu Dhabi Dialogue chairmanship, the OFW Hospital and NMP facilities. Suansing requested a new projection based on remaining target beneficiaries, expected repatriations, assistance for those staying abroad and any 2026 UPLIFT balance available for 2027. She said the resulting requirement could be higher or lower than the two separate ₱2 billion requests and should reflect both the crisis and limited fiscal space. She directed coordination with Vice Chair Labadlabad and the agencies to work out a more accurate amount for the House appropriations process; no final augmentation was set.

Deadline for revised figures and airport-lounge services: In a later follow-up, Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing requested revised figures by the end of the week or, if necessary, the first half of the following week, for open consideration by the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee expected to convene in about a week. Labadlabad would coordinate the request. Suansing recalled the prior year's funding effort to keep OFW airport lounges open. Caunan reported service in Cebu and Zamboanga, a presence in Davao and a Clark opening planned for September. She said lounges served about one million OFWs in a year and more than two million cumulatively. The deadline was a request for submissions, not confirmation that the agencies had delivered them.

Budget support and flexibility during crises: Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez commended DMW and OWWA's organized repatriation and assistance after return, while noting that some Filipinos chose to stay abroad. He supported their budget and requested operational flexibility because crisis needs change quickly. Cacdac thanked him and committed the team to the committee's directions, including preparing the revised budget calculations sought by Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing. Caunan affirmed continued service to OFWs. The exchange expressed support rather than approving a specific funding increase.

Budget briefing concluded: Rep. Bella Vanessa B. Suansing moved to terminate the DMW and attached-agency budget briefing, Committee Chair Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing seconded the motion, and Presiding Vice Chair Rep. Irene G. Labadlabad declared it carried. On a further motion by Rep. Bella Vanessa B. Suansing, the committee proceedings were suspended until August 27, 2026 at 9 a.m.