APD | Department of Foreign Affairs continue to assist Filipino nationals in distress

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

The Department of Foreign Affairs has continued to extend assistance to Filipinos in distress worldwide.

Speaking before legislators at a budget hearing today, Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. said his Department spent P 999.4 million from the P1 billion Assistance to Nationals Fund last year and helped 101,918 overseas Filipinos in distress.

In his remarks, Secretary Locsin said the amount represents 99.95% utilization of the fund.

“Additionally, over P190 million was utilized from the P200 million Legal Assistance Fund for 2019 for a total of 3,735 Filipinos in trouble with the law (outside the Philippines),” he added.

For 2019, Secretary Locsin said they have already utilized 48% or P483 million from the P1 billion Assistance To Nationals Fund and helped 100,522 overseas Filipinos and spend 41% or P81 million from the P100 million Legal Assistance Fund to assist 3,728 overseas Filipinos accused of various crimes abroad.

“From January to December 2018, under the One-Country Team approach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies assisted a total of 5,886 trafficking victims exploited through illegal recruitment, forced labor, sex trafficking and other exploitative and abusive arrangements,” he explained. However, he added these arrangements came to fruition with the connivance of fellow Filipinos.

It will be recalled personal remittances reached US$32.2 billion in 2018, the highest annual level achieved to date.

According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, personal remittances is a major driver of domesic consumption and in 2018 accounted for 9.7 of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.1 percent of the gross national income (GNI).

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)