Of course, there is every reason for the government to be deeply concerned with the immediate repatriation of our workers in that war-torn country as, in fact, it is doing every possible way to bring them back home safe and out of harm’s way.

The government’s worry is so real that it is willing to go to all lengths spending billions, if necessary, to make practicable their safe return to the country and to their families.

So far, some 2,000 have already arrived in several batches by chartered flights since July 23 but much more are left in Damascus waiting for their turn; according to the Department of Labor there were about 34,000 to 40,000 Filipino workers in Lebanon before the outbreak of the war against Israel, which also hosts some 30,000 Filipinos.

The other day, President Gloria Arroyo ordered the immediate evacuation of all Filipinos after designating Vice President Noli de Castro head of a task force to attend to their needs.

The Senate, ever sensitive to issues that potentially need new legislation wants to clarify reports regarding shortage of funds that is causing the delay in the repatriation of Filipino workers whose lives are endangered by the raging war as Israeli jets continue pounding Lebanon without letup.

Yesterday’s report said at least 643 people in Lebanon have been killed and 56 in Israel, most of them civilians.

The Senate committee on labor chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada would want also to investigate the alleged diversion of OWWA funds, both in aid of legislation, of course.

Already, the stalled investigation has earned a front-page treatment when the Senate threatened to issue an arrest order for the Cabinet officials who failed to attend last Tuesday’s public hearing on the matter.

Obviously piqued and bristling with impatience, Senate President Manuel Villar called on the President’s advisers to "Stop evading us …and come out clean."

Added to the initial funding controversy is a Malacañang request for R500-million supplemental budget for the continued evacuation of OFWs, a move which Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimenetel Jr. is questioning in view of the supposed billions of reserved funds in the hands of the OWWA itself.

The point was brought home more forcefully when he said that the new request for fund allocation was a "glaring proof" of the allegation that the OWWA fund had been used for purposes other than the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers.

For why should Malacañang request for supplemental budget when OWWA is supposed to have billions precisely for such purpose?

Curiously, every time people in government whether those in the Executive Office or those in Congress talk about funding not only in millions but in billion pesos, there seems to be always ready money for the purpose such as in the current repatriation effort.

When asked about the money for the massive development programs unveiled by President Arroyo in her State-of-the-Nation Address, administration financial advisers had ready answers for the sources of multibillion peso fund.

And they sound convincing.

So why is the government so timid when it comes to the challenge of the worsening poverty situation in the country?

If the government has the money, what’s hindering it from rescuing the very poor from perpetual penury?

Our biggest problems are not those who go abroad to escape poverty at home but those who are left behind desperately struggling to face each day and night just to survive, and millions of them are children.

They are the deserving poor.

Certainly, the close attention given to the plight of our OFWs should not obstruct government effort to address more urgently and aggressively and in more remarkable and sustained way the oppressive poverty situation that weighs heavily on our hopeless citizenry.