DAVAO CITY – A partylist lawmaker urged the officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs to explain the P138.25 million in salaries, allowances and bonuses for its 13 officials.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs repeatedly bemoans the lack of resources for OFW assistance, maintains the budget is never enough to maintain shelters for OFWs in distress, yet it can afford to give 13 officials P138.25M in salaries, allowances and bonuses in 2014,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan.
Ilagan said “DFA officials will be made to explain these bonuses when the House of Representatives scrutinizes the proposed budget for 2016.”
“These bonuses are highly irregular and even scandalous! It is unconscionable especially amid OFW neglect,” Ilagan said.
“This is the reason why Mary Jane Veloso remains in Indonesia’s death row. Clearly DFA official are enriching themselves while doing a disservice to migrant workers,” she said.
Ilagan added that seven DFA officials are among the top ten highest paid government officials for 2014. (davaotoday.com)
