Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs,
The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, will continue to exercise oversight and stands ready to approve a supplemental budget if needed to help protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as tensions escalate in parts of the Middle East.
Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, gave the assurance Thursday in a media interview a day after the joint briefing of her panel and the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, chaired by Agimat Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla.
“We will continue to exercise our oversight powers here in Congress. If a supplemental budget is necessary, this institution will support it,” Arenas told reporters.
The two House panels were briefed by officials from the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of National Defense and Department of Budget and Management on the situation in the Middle East and the government’s preparedness to assist OFWs in the region.
Philippine embassies and diplomatic posts across the Middle East also joined the briefing virtually to provide updates from the ground, even as some personnel had to temporarily move to safe shelters due to security risks.
Arenas said the House leadership is closely coordinating with the executive branch and stands ready to support both policy and funding requirements if government agencies need additional resources.
“We will support and assist hindi lang po sa polisiya. If they need additional funds, susuporta po ang House of Representatives,” she reiterated.
The lawmaker noted that the Philippines has between 2.4 million and 2.5 million OFWs in the Middle East, underscoring the country’s significant human stake in the crisis.
“Makikita po natin ‘yung vulnerability ng ating OFWs. We have 2.4 to 2.5 million OFWs [in the Middle East]. So malaki po ‘yung human stake natin sa crisis na ito,” Arenas said.
She also cited the death of Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, an OFW from Pangasinan who was struck by debris following an attack, as a clear example of the vulnerability of Filipino workers in the conflict zone.
Arenas reassured Filipinos in the region that the Philippine government is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist them.
“Gusto ko rin pong iparating doon sa ating mga kababayan sa Gitnang Silangan na nandito kami, hindi po kayo nag-iisa. Alam ho namin ‘yung mga pangamba ninyo,” she said.
During Monday’s hearing, officials assured lawmakers that funds are available to assist Filipinos in distress.
However, they said additional funding may be needed if the conflict persists or requires the repatriation of more OFWs
