A party-list lawmaker on Friday urged the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to revise the Aksyon Fund guidelines to help more distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) access the program.
OFW party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino said wider measures have to be implemented in utilizing the Aksyon Fund to help OFWs in specific circumstances, especially to cover unpaid debts—personal or otherwise—as well as secure exit visas in favor of OFWs-debtor.
Magsino cited the following circumstances as reasons behind the proposed revisions:
· In case an OFW-debtor dies whose remains cannot be repatriated until payment of debt;
· The OFW-debtor is due to return home or for repatriation due to grave or serious illness, other medical emergencies, or permanent disability; rescue from maltreatment and abuse of employers, contract violation, or serious threats to OFW’s person and well-being from different actors in the host country, which impede the OFW’s opportunity to work; or
· Termination or non-renewal of OFW’s contract and the OFW is 60 years old or above.
The proposal also includes other emergency situations requiring the voluntary or mandatory repatriation of the OFW such as the geopolitical tensions in the host country.
“When I visited our OFWs in their host countries, these are the common problems they have and these can be solved by reforming the guidelines of the Aksyon Fund,” the party-list lawmaker said.
Magsino made the appeal following her meeting with DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac to further improve the handling of the department’s Aksyon Fund, as well as strengthen reintegration programs for Filipino overseas workers.
Magsino also emphasized during the dialogue that while many OFWs are successful and are living their dreams, there are some who go home without any savings, worse, maltreated or victimized by illegal recruiters. And so, they need reintegration programs as safety nets, she added.
“The OFWs may be flattered with accolades of being our modern-day heroes, but what they need right now are targeted solutions to the specific challenges they face in host countries. We have the funds to help them during untenable situations and as they return to the country to start anew,” Magsino reiterated.
In response, Cacdac, along with other officials, expressed their support for the proposals and vowed to amending the Aksyon Fund guidelines.
The DMW officials also cited that they have been extending assistance to OFWs with pending debts or loans under special circumstances. One case is that of a 72-year-old OFW with grave illness, who was provided assistance by DMW with his pending obligations out of humanitarian consideration.
