'OWWA not a GOCC'

MANILA, Philippines - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Thursday clarified that the agency is not a government-owned and -controlled corporation.

Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said that the Department of Budget and Management classifies OWWA as a national government agency.

Dimzon made the clarification in the light of published newspaper reports including the OWWA as one of the 31 GOCCs being asked by the Commission on Audit to return alleged unauthorized bonuses and allowances given to their officials and employees in 2012.

"OWWA officials and employees do not receive any bonus or allowance not authorized by the government for NGAs. The OWWA, as an NGA, is governed by DBM guidelines on bonuses, allowances, and other benefits," Dimzon said in a statement. 

To verify the reports and the agency's inclusion in the COA list and to also clarify which bonus the OWWA had granted in 2012 is excessive and unauthorized, Dimzon said she and her officials had already met with the OWWA's resident public auditor.