OWWA told to identify officials who did not remit OFWs’ fees

MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino migrants’ rights group demanded Saturday that the  Overseas Workers Welfare Administration  release to the public the names of its officials abroad who failed to remit overseas Filipino workers’ membership renewal fees.

“This is a matter of invoking the stakeholders’ (OFWs) right to public information and in the spirit of transparency especially if it’s about their funds entrusted to the government through the OWWA,” said John Leonard Monterona, Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator.

The Commission on Audit earlier disclosed that overseas officers of OWWA failed to remit more than P21 million in collections to OWWA’s Manila account in 2010, putting these funds at risk of misappropriation.

In its 2010 report on the OWWA, the COA said dollar and euro collections from various foreign posts amounting to P21.587 million had been unremitted “for a long period of time.”

The money represented collections for the agency’s voluntary membership program, under which overseas workers obtain assistance.

Monterona said that the possibility of transferring OWW officials who failed to remit the OFWs’ membership fees to other posts may only complicate remittances to and disbursements from the OWWA account in Manila.

Aside from demanding the release of the names of the OWWA officials concerned, Monterona also urged OWWA chief Carmelita Dimzon to investigate the unliquidated expenses of the agency officials who have travelled abroad.

“We have heard allegations that there were millions of unliquidated expenses of some OWWA officials who have travelled abroad which were charged to OWWA trust funds. These unliquated expenses may surpass the unremitted OFWs funds and must be investigated, too,” Monterona said.

He added that the OFW  funds consist of hard-earned money so it must be given protection and security by the government from any misuse and misallocation.

“Let us remind the government that the OFWs funds are just being entrusted to OWWA. Proper accounting and utilization to the benefit of its stakeholders (OFWs and their dependents) must be ensured,” Monterona added.