Galing peninsula
DOHA • A bill concerning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) which has just been filed in the Philippine Congress has solicited negative reactions from OFWs including those based here.
Representative Edgar Chatto of Bohol filed House Bill 4898 seeking the establishment of an Overseas Filipino Workers' Pension Fund.
The bill if passed will require all OFWs duly registered with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Committee on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) to remit five percent of their monthly income to the pension fund for five years.
OFWs suspect it is another government scheme to legitimately exact money from them who are considered as the lifeblood of the Philippine economy.
"It is a strategy by the present government to get funds to be appropriated for the coming 2010 elections," said an irate OFW adding that it's better to invest in other projects rather than divert one's savings to the government.
"As long as the President is there, that pension fund is not possible," another OFW who works as an administrative assistant commented. She was implying a number of fiascos and scandals in the past involving government officials.
"There are other options to save money other than the pension fund. It just depends on the priorities of an OFW. He only has to redirect his priorities like instead of buying things not needed, invest in some business in the Philippines," she added.
However another Filipino resident who has been in Doha for 11 years said if the government could devise a good system the OFW pension fund it would be okay. "As long as it doesn't fall in the wrong hands," he said adding saving money is a big challenge for OFWs. "Let's face it there's a tendency for many of us to overspend," he said.
Chatto, chairman of the house committee on tourism, said the fund shall be administered by the Overseas Filipino Workers' Pension Fund Board to be composed of the secretary of labour and finance as chairman; and the secretary of finance, governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of Philippines), the administrator of the POEA, and one representative of the OFWs.
The said bill incorporates provisions in case of termination or death of an OFW.
All OFWs abroad shall be covered on the first working day of his employment and the funds will be guaranteed by the government, the proposal says.
In recognition of the OFWs' contributions to the Philippine economy, Senator Antonio Trillanes has introduced the bill three months ago in the first regular session of the 14th Congress as a system to help the OFWs and their families in the event of an unforeseen misfortune in the course of their work.
