Senator Raffy Tulfo has called on the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to immediately investigate and resolve the reported suicide incidents among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Hong Kong.

During a consultative hearing on Wednesday, April 23, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers said the number of suicide incidents in Hong Kong is already alarming.

The DMW recorded six suicide incidents in 2023, five in 2024 and one as of April 2025 in Hong Kong alone.

“I was in Hong Kong recently and some OFWs approached me telling me that there are a number of them committing suicide due to a money problem,” Tulfo said during the hearing.

“I immediately called (DMW) Secretary (Hans Leo) Cacdac and from what I understand there are already six (incidents) in 2023, five in 2024 and as of April this year, there is one. That is very, very alarming for me,” Tulfo said.

“Has this been monitored by the OWWA and DMW? And if yes, what are we doing to prevent this kind of issue from happening again?” the senator asked.

In response, Cacdac confirmed the problem and said that most of those who committed suicide have been drowning in debt, noting that most OFWs who are in deep in debt are struggling with high interest rates as well as harassment.

As a result, he said the agency is conducting financial literacy orientation for OFWs and their families to help them address any financial problems or setbacks.

Cacdac also said they have sought the help of the Hong Kong police in orienting  OFWs about existing loan sharks and unscrupulous lending schemes in Hong Kong.

“We have partnered with the Hong Kong police force to stop the harassment being done by these lenders against the borrowers.

based on their investigation, Cacdac said they were able to confirm the existence of a syndicated lending scheme who are targeting migrant workers, especially OFWs.

“What they do is they do not actually provide them with a loan; they are asked to surrender their ATMs to them in exchange for money. Then they would later find out that they would be using it for money laundering activities,” he said.

“That’s why we have OFWs who were arrested for money laundering,” Cacdac lamented.

While the DMW provides legal assistance to OFWs, assistance is limited especially to those who were rendered a guilty verdict for money laundering. Cacdac said they can only help reduce the years of their sentence.

“We are able to reduce the period of their imprisonment in jail,” Cacdac said.

On the other hand, OWWA chief Arnel Ignacio said that aside from financial woes, many OFWs in Hong Kong are having problems with their “love life.”

“Those are additional issues that are becoming a huge problem,” Ignacio said.

Part of OWWA’s plans, he said, is to expand and improve the agency’s hotlines and hire more call center agents who have a background in psychology.

Ignacio also took into consideration, Tulfo’s suggestion of having former OFWs be part of OWWA’s counseling team and or help line.