Jinggoy eyes probe of OWWA Libya expenses

DOHA — A fresh round of investigations is being considered in the Senate on the use of hundreds of millions of Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds for the repat-riation of thousands of Filipi-nos from Libya a few months ago.

At least 80 recruitment agencies that have deployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Libya, assisted by OWWA, have yet to reimburse the P143-million OWWA funds spent by the government in bringing them back home during the height of the political tension in the Middle East country.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who learned of this information during his visit in Doha, Qatar, is already contemplating on calling for an inquiry by the upper chamber’s committee on labor and human resources development.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita Dimzon, who joined the senator in attending the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebrations of the Qatar-based Filipinos, mentioned the matter when the issue of the agency’s funds was discussed by them.

In an interview with reporters, the OWWA chief admitted that one local

recruitment agency has yet to settle P44 million due the agency.

“I’m considering of moving for an investigation. I would like to know why these recruitment agencies continuously fail to pay OWWA P143 million for the repatriation of the OFWs from Libya during the conflict,” the senator said.

He intends to summon the 80 recruitment agencies, officials from OWWA as well as Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to explain the situation once he returns to the Philippines from his four-day visit to Qatar.

During the height of the political turmoil in Libya, OWWA shouldered the travel expenses of thousands of stranded OFWs and this included the chartered ships and planes.

The OWWA chief said she has already sent notices demanding payment of the travel expenses to the said recruitment agencies some two weeks ago.

“The other recruitment agencies shouldered the expenses of the OFWS who were repatriated from Libya during the conflict there. But there are many OFWs who were forsaken by their employers and the recruitment agencies who recruited them,” Dimzon said.

While Republic Act 8842, or the Migrant Workers Act, provides that in times of war, manmade or natural disasters, the OWWA will use its funds to pay the necessary expenses for the repatriation of OFWs who were caught in the middle of the conflict, Dimzon said the funds spent by them to the 80 recruitment agencies have to be reimbursed.

“It is also the responsibility of the employers, known also as the principals, to shoulder their travel expenses,” she said.

Dimzon said she also created a task force to deal with the 80 recruitment that have continuously failed to pay the P143 million that OWWA shouldered.

She added OWWA will allow a staggered payment but is also considering of imposing legal interest to the amount owed by the respective recruitment agencies to the agency if they still fail to settle their obligations after two months.

“It has to be collected and paid. I will be castigated by Congress if it is not paid. I don’t think they can pay it easily in full given the huge amount that they owed OWWA. I already sent the demand letters for them to pay about two weeks ago, but they told me that they need time to pay it,” Dimzon said. –Angie M. Rosales, Daily Tribune