DMW chief, hindi makahahawak ng natitirang pondo ng POEA – DBM

PINAALALAHANAN ng  Department of Budget Management (DBM) si  Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Mama-o  na huwag galawin at gastusin ang natitirang pondo ng Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) para sa  fiscal year (FY) 2022.

Giit ni DBM officer-in-charge Tina Rose Marie Canda, walang awtoridad o kapangyarihan ang  DMW na gamitin ang budget ng POEA dahil ang ahensiya ay hindi pa “fully constituted.” at ang may tangan ng kapangyarihan ay ang POEA.

“With respect to the authority to utilize the FY 2022 POEA budget, it is emphasized that the DMW shall be fully constituted if the conditions under Section 23 of RA No. 11641, as reiterated under Section 56 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are complied with,” ayon kay Canda sa liham nito kay Mama-o na may petsang Mayo 31.

Nakalatag at nakasaad sa batas ang tatlong kondisyon para  maging “fully constituted” ang DMW.

“First, they are an appropriation in the FY 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA); second, an effective IRR; and third, a staffing pattern,” ayon kay Canda.

Gayunman, sinabi ni  Canda na ang appropriation sa  FY 2023 GAA at staffing pattern ng DMW ay nananatiling nasa proseso.

“Since it did not meet the clear requirements of the law, there will be no complete transfer of funds unless and until now the DMW is fully constituted,”  paliwanag nito.

“Considering the mentioned premises,  it follows that the POEA, whose functions are supposed to be assumed by DMW when the latter becomes operational, will not outrightly lose its authority to use its 2022 budget,” ayon kay Canda.

Sinabi naman ng DBM na dahil ang  DMW ay kasalukuyang  nasa  two-year transition period at hindi pa fully constituted, ang mga aperktadong ahensiya kabilang na ang  POEA ay patuloy na hiwalay na umiiral.

“They shall perform their respective mandates until the complete constitution of the DMW,” ang pahayag ni Canda.

Nakasaad pa rin sa liham ni Canda na nagpahayag ng kahalintulad na posisyon si  Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea sa usaping ito.

Nakasaad sa Seksyon  29, Chapter 6, Book IV ng  EO No. 292 na “the head of office shall exercise overall authority in matters within the jurisdiction, including those relating to its operations, and enforce all laws and regulations pertaining to it.”

“Hence, applying the same in the instant case, POEA Administrator Olalia, being the head of office of the POEA, shall continue to exercise authority on its operations until the full constitution of the DMW,” ayon pa rin kay Canda. (Daris Jose)