For millions of overseas Filipino workers and their families, help is getting stronger, faster, and more visible.
In 2026, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will receive a 34 percent budget increase, raising its total allocation to P11.745 billion. The boost signals the government’s renewed commitment to protecting Filipinos working abroad, especially in times of crisis.
Speaking at a Malacañang press briefing on Monday, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia said the increase reflects the administration’s push to strengthen social protection for migrant workers under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Overall, the agency’s budget grew by 34 percent compared to its 2025 allocation.
Of the total amount, P7.46 billion was allocated to the Office of the Secretary, a 40 percent increase from last year. Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) received P4.285 billion, up by 26 percent.
A large portion of the increase will go to one crucial lifeline for OFWs.
The AKSYON Fund, which provides immediate help to Filipinos in distress overseas, has been doubled. From P1.2 billion in 2025, the fund now stands at P2 billion in 2026.
For Olalia, this is a major step forward.
For the first time, the fund has reached the two-billion-peso mark, allowing the DMW to respond more quickly to emergencies involving overseas workers.
The AKSYON Fund covers legal, financial, and humanitarian assistance, and its impact is already being felt. In 2025 alone, the DMW assisted 160,769 OFWs through the program.
This included financial aid for 27,661 OFWs and their families, medical assistance for 1,085 workers, legal help for 6,780 cases, and the repatriation of 3,723 Filipinos caught in scam-related incidents in Cambodia and Myanmar.
Support at home is also improving.
Olalia announced that the OFW Hospital in Pampanga has been upgraded from Level 1 to Level 2, expanding its ability to serve migrant workers and their dependents. The hospital now has a total budget of P639 million, including P145 million for facility improvements and new equipment.
Despite the upgrade, one promise remains firm.
The hospital continues to strictly follow the government’s zero-billing policy, ensuring that OFWs and their families receive care without worrying about hospital bills.
Beyond health care and emergency aid, the increased budget also strengthens the DMW’s overseas service caravans under the “Alagang OWWA” program. Through a whole-of-government approach involving at least 15 agencies, services are brought directly to OFWs abroad.
As of November 2025, 63,161 OFWs had already been assisted overseas, resulting in 145,807 government transactions, mostly across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
For many Filipino workers far from home, the message is clear.
Help is expanding. Protection is improving. And the government is stepping up where it matters most.
