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Revilla slams fixers who ask payment for free OEC

Published Nov 13, 2023 10:47 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. slammed on Monday, Nov. 13, fixers who prey on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by charging them for the processing of an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), a document they can get free of charge.

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. slammed on Monday, Nov. 13, fixers who prey on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by charging them for the processing of an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC), a document they can get free of charge.
 

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Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., during the deliberation on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Migrant Workers on Monday, November 13, 2023, prods the agency to closely monitor the plight of overseas Filipino workers in recipient countries and provide them with assistance, especially in times of need. (Senate PRIB photo)

Revilla made the statement during the plenary deliberation on the 2024 budget of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The said document can be processed through the DMW app. 


“Can you give us a status report on your online application for OFW Pass? May mga nagsasamantala kasi dito sa programang ito ng DMW (There are those who are taking opportunity of this program). In a Facebook public group named “OFW PASS / THE NEW OEC”, tila may mga nagpapabayad para maproseso ang OFW Pass ng mga kababayan natin (it seems they are asking payment to process OFW Pass for our citizens). This should be made available for free, hindi ba?" the solon raised. 

Revilla asked the sponsor of the budget of the DMW, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, as to what steps the agency has taking to address such fraudulent acts. 

“Paano niyo nasusupil yung mga nagsasamantala at nagpapabayad sa serbisyong dapat ay libre lamang? Hindi ba dapat mayroon kayong information drive o campaign para maiawasan na nagbabayad sila para sa mga serbisyong dapat ay libre naman (How can you stop those who are taking advantage and asking payment for a service that's supposed to be free? Shouldn't there be an information drive or campaign to avoid paying for a service that is actually free),” the senator asked. 

The sponsor responded by saying that during the leadership of the late former DMW Secretary Toots Ople, issuance of OEC for rehires or “Balik-Manggagawa” was made free of charge.

Ejercito also said that the agency has been receiving reports on the same issue and is already in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division and with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). 



Revilla further asked whether or not someone had been prosecuted already. 

“Maganda may masampolan. Kawawa naman mga kababayan natin (It's better if we make an example out of someone. This is not good for our citizens),” he said. 

Related Tags

Senator Bong Revilla overseas Filipino workers Department of Migrant Workers
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