OFWs’ new burden: house bill 6195 (more fees in the Philippines!)
Many of my colleagues in the blogging world shared their sympathy with our fellow overseas Filipino workers in blocking the passing of the bill that will require them to shed off as much as 2,200 pesos (USD 50) from their hard-earned money as a requirement before leaving the country for work.
Most people (including myself) do not fully understand the pain of leaving your country and your loved ones to get a high-paying job to support the needs and desires of your family back home. They are indeed unsung heroes for sacrificing their self in exchange of a better life for their family. Sadly, most people only see them as highly-paid earners not realizing the agony that our OFWs needs to endure just to bring home a more decent pay than that offered here in the country.
We do see them get a fancy car, a new house or even high tech gadgets when they return to their homeland and spend leisure time with their family. But honestly, the 30-45 day temporary stay in their beloved nation is a very short time for them to enjoy what they have fruitfully earned in a 2-5 year work duration plus the difficulties of having to adjust to a different culture or even the agony of working under a strict company. Still, working in your own country will be more satisfying than anything else. Only that we aim for better lives of our own thus the need to go of the country and endure the burden of being faraway from home.
I do not know why Congresswoman Theresa Bonoan-David thought of instigating this new house bill placing another burden to our poor OFWs. I think we already have so much income-generating sources for the government and frankly we never taste any of the money that we have shared in helping our homeland to improve our way of life. Instead, more public officials are enjoying what is supposed to be for the best interest of the public. Our government should not ask more money from our OFWs and instead allocate a budget for the Emergency Repatriation Fund for OWWA (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration).
If our lawmakers want to have more income generation for our people and promote work migration around the world, forget enacting this bill and instead give incentives to our OFWs and help them work harder not only for their family but also for the rest of the country. Rep. David should first try to work as an OFW before she filed this bill.
Tags: Congresswoman Theresa Bonoan-David, Emergency Repatriation Fund, HB 6195, new fees for our OFWs, overseas Filipino workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, OWWA
