2006 Foreign Affairs budget favors select diplomats over OFWs

The MIGRANTE Sectoral Party ably criticized the proposed 2006 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), branding it “a budget that favors select diplomats over overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in dire need of government assistance.”

For starters, the P5.25 billion pesos proposed budget for 2006 is not only very small for the DFA to exercise its functions and deliver services to OFWs. It’s appropriations are actually for the benefit of select high DFA officials in diplomatic posts abroad compared to other items in the said budget such as services for distressed OFWs.

The DFA budget is 0.49% of the total P1 trillion-plus budget being proposed by the National Government to Congress and is only number 12 among the list of priority departments of the current administration. (Then again, the Departments of Health and of Social Welfare and Development get much smaller amounts; but that is another long angst-filled story.)

The DFA cannot claim that it remains committed to protecting and upholding the rights and well-being of Filipinos overseas when the appropriations for the Assistance to Nationals Fund (P45 million) and Legal Assistance Fund (P15 million) comprise only 2.39% and 0.79% of the entire DFA budget for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE). These pale in comparison with the P611.174 million allocation for rents (32.45%). These allocations only ensure that the DFA, and the Philippine government in general, will not pursue the all-out protection and promotion of the rights, welfare and interests of Filipinos overseas.

Sections 25 and 38 of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act 8042), the Legal Assistance Fund must have an annual appropriation of P100 million and that “the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act.”

Aside from legal assistance and assistance to nationals, other sections of the said law also mandate Congress to allocate sizable budgets for the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Fund and the Emergency Repatriation Fund. It is revolting to note that this administration is pursuing austerity measures at the expense of OFWs and their families while ambassadors and consuls general live the high life in posts overseas.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin revealed that at least five Filipino diplomats live in luxurious quarters during the DFA budget hearing in Congress, September 28, 2005.

Government spends US$75,000 (P4.125 million) a month, or US$870,000 (P49.5 million) a year, for the rent of seven favored diplomats. This is revolting as these rates are downright exorbitant. If austerity is pursued, it is high government officials who should make sacrifices instead of us OFWs. Congress has to review and realign allocations to make the 2006 DFA budget more attuned to the needs of OFWs.

The following diplomats are enjoying the high life in their posts abroad with the corresponding MONTHLY rental rates paid for by the government:

Consul General Cecile Rebong, New York - US$10,000 (P550,000)
Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier, Italy - US$10,000 (P550,000) to US$12,000 (P660,000)
Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr., Los Angeles - US$10,500 (P577,500)
Consul General Minerva Jean Falcon, Berlin - US$11,000 (P605,000)
Consul General Hector Villaroel, Paris - US$11,000 (P605,000)
Consul General Victor Garcia, Vienna - US$10,000 (P550,000)
Consul General Aladin Villacorte, Seoul - US$10,000 (P550,000)

Here is one more thing: Consul General to Hong Kong Corazon Belmonte-Jover was allowed to use HK$1.5 million (P10.5 million) to renovate HER OWN residence in Hong Kong. She now faces a criminal case in Hong Kong courts.

This just shows that the DFA budget for 2006 is definitely pro-diplomat and anti-OFW based on the allocations in the said budget.

The sad part of this all is that the Philippine government will pursue the export of labor to continue financing the high lives of these diplomats.

Typical double- but no! Triple-whammy to OFWs and the people. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. #