House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairperson Bryan Revilla expressed readiness to take on its oversight functions and approve a supplemental budget should it be necessary for the aid and protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

In a Thursday report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan, Revilla said his committee is prepared should government funds allocated for contingency measures to safeguard Filipinos fall short.

The lawmaker used the COVID-19 pandemic as an example for a crisis that proved costly, underscoring the importance of a proposal for a supplemental budget.

For her part, Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas, chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the House leadership is coordinating with the executive branch and has also made known their readiness to support the policy and funding requirements.

At present, there are around 2.4 million to 2.5 million OFWs currently in the tumultuous Middle East, according to Arenas.