After Riyadh Attack, Senator Villanueva urges stronger funding for OFW emergencies

MANILA – The injuries sustained by four Filipinos in the deadly missile attack on Saudi Arabia's main airport have brought renewed attention to the government's emergency assistance funds, with Senator Joel Villanueva emphasizing the need to ensure that help reaches overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) without delay.

In a statement Tuesday, Villanueva said the attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which left three Filipinos requiring intensive care, demonstrated why emergency assistance must remain adequately funded amid worsening geopolitical tensions.

“Kapag buhay at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya, hindi puwedeng mabagal ang aksyon. (When the lives and safety of our fellow Filipinos are at stake, action cannot be slow),” he said.

The senator specifically cited the need to strengthen the Department of Migrant Workers' (DMW) AKSYON Fund and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration's (OWWA) Emergency Repatriation Fund to ensure immediate assistance for Filipinos caught in conflicts and other emergencies abroad.

Under the proposed 2027 national budget, the DMW and OWWA have a combined allocation of PHP11.616 billion, significantly below their original PHP37.674-billion funding request.

The PHP26.058-billion difference was disclosed during the Senate's budget deliberations on Sept. 21, highlighting the funding constraints facing agencies responsible for protecting millions of Filipinos working overseas.

Villanueva said the latest attacks underscored the importance of ensuring sufficient emergency resources within the proposed budget.

“Our OFWs should never face danger alone,” he said.

The DMW confirmed Monday that four Filipinos were injured in the Riyadh attacks, including two airport workers and two passengers.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said three remained in intensive care, while another had been discharged after receiving treatment for burns.

The agency has also contacted their families and is coordinating assistance for the victims.

The attacks, claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, have killed several people and injured hundreds, forcing the closure of King Khalid International Airport until at least Oct. 17 and disrupting international flights.

Villanueva condemned the attacks and expressed hope for the swift recovery of the injured Filipinos.

He also thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs, DMW and OWWA for their immediate response and continued monitoring.

The Marcos administration earlier committed additional resources to OFW protection, including PHP3 billion for the DMW's assistance fund and PHP1 billion for OWWA, of which PHP700 million was intended for emergency repatriation.

Villanueva said the government must maintain a responsive assistance system capable of protecting Filipinos wherever emergencies arise.

“Our modern-day heroes must never feel alone in times of crisis. They must know that their government will stand by them, protect them and act when their lives are on the line,” he said.