The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday refuted a report from an online news outlet that tagged the agency as having the lowest budget utilization rate among government offices.
In a press conference in Makati City on August 22, DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac clarified that the agency closed 2024 with a utilization rate of 73%, not 49% as reported. He said the discrepancy may have come from figures taken midway through the year.
“For 2024, we have a 73% utilization rate. And I admit that is still not a desirable rating as it should be 100%. But I’m glad to report that the DMW had reversed this trend thus far in 2025. And we're on track toward 100% utilization by the end of 2025,” Secretary Cacdac said in a Facebook post.
According to the report by RH Jecelle Ricafort on Hataw Rapido Balita, DMW reported that the agency has so far achieved a 54% overall utilization rate as of July, with its ₱2.1 billion AKSYON Fund already posting a 61.8% utilization rate as of July 31. This is higher than the 59% utilization recorded for the same period in 2024.
Cacdac also emphasized that the department is now in a stronger position to maximize its budget, thanks to the hiring of 500 additional personnel this year. He said this boosted the DMW’s capacity to deliver faster and more responsive services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.
The DMW assured the public that its improved budget performance directly translates to expanded assistance and protection programs for OFWs and their families worldwide.
