MANILA, Philippines — The OFW Family Partylist, which is seeking reelection, said they plan to widen Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s scope of benefit programs for overseas Filipino workers.
Roy Señeres Jr., the leading partylist nominee for the upcoming May 2022 polls, poined out that OWWA’s trust fund comes from OFW’s contributions.
“Sa bagong departamento na ginawa which is the Department of Migrant Workers, kung saan attached agency ang OWWA, we’d like the administration to focus specifically on the welfare programs,” he said.
“Yung OWWA is an institution where, yung trust fund of OWWA comes from the contribution of OFWs. Therefore yung programa, they ought to receive in bulk or in essence must be limited to welfare only.”
Fellow nominee Ms. Krizzia Ann Loyang Tanabe said the partylist will push OWWA to provide additional benefits to OFWs who would like to retire from working abroad.
“Itong welfare programs mas palakawin pa na ‘tin para pag dating ng OFW na gusto nang ‘for good’ mayroon aasahan na may susuporta sa kanila kung nais pa nilang magtrabaho,” she said.
“We will push yung mga benepisyo pagdating sa housing, financial grant to start a business, ‘yung pension for retired OFWs for being a member of OWWA. Yan po ang gusto naming palawakin pa po.”
Seneres also added that the partylist will also create legislation that will propose changes to the Universal Health Law which will benefit OFWs.
“Gusto naming i-ease ang requirements for OFWs pagdating sa fees and conditions of Philhealth,” he said.
“Gusto namin irelax ‘yung payment of certain amount… We want to propose amendments para hindi sila mahirapan.”
Sa bagong departamento na ginawa na kung saan attached agency ang OWWA, we will focus specifically on the welfare programs. Currently ang sinasakuopan ng OWWA ay protection of OFWs, which should be the be the mandate of the national government. Yung OWWA is an intitution where, yung trust fund of OWAA comes from the contribution of OFWs. Therefore yung programa, they ought to receive in bulk or in essence must be limited to welfare only.
Tanabe added, “itong welfare programs mas palakawin pa na tin para pag dating ng OFW na gusto nang for good mayroon aasahan na may susuporta sa kanila kung nais pa nilang magtrabaho. We will fight discrimination at every step of the way lalo kung kaya pa nilang magtrabaho.
At ang benepisyo pagdating housing, educational scholarships ng dependents ng OFWs, financial grants to start a business, yung pension being a member of OWWA. ‘Yan po ang gusto naming palawakin pa po.”
OFW Family Partylist is #127 on the ballot in upcoming May 9 elections.
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