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4 embassies, 2 consulates general to be opened
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By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 05:50pm (Mla time) 09/21/2007
MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday asked the Senate for a 100 percent increase in funds it uses to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
At the budget hearing, Secretary Alberto Romulo asked for PP100 million for the DFA’s assistance-to-nationals (ATN) fund next year, double this year’s P51 million; and P30 million for its legal assistance fund (LAF), double the current P15 million.
The ATN fund is usually used to repatriate undocumented OFWs who wish to go home; the repatriation costs for documented OFWs are shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
On the other hand, the LAF is used to pay for the legal fees of OFWs who find themselves in legal trouble in their host country.
“There is a need to increase these funds because right now they are almost depleted,” the secretary said.
At the same time, Romulo told the hearing of the Senate sub-committee on finance that, with its proposed 2008 budget of P10.53 billion, the department plans to open four more embassies -- in Dublin, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; Helsinki, Finland; and Warsaw, Poland -- and two consulates general -- in Chong Qing and Macau, both in China -- next year .
The new foreign posts, he said, are meant to assist OFWs who have begun to flock to these places and to increase the possible trade with them. In particular, he said the consulate general in Chong Qing is seen to help meet the P30-billion trade and investment targets with China by 2010.
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