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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider OFW pension fund a must, says Erwin Tulfo

OFW pension fund a must, says Erwin Tulfo

Published Oct 19, 2025 09:52 pm

At A Glance

  • Noting that most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) don't receive the protection they deserve, Senator Erwin Tulfo has renewed his call for the creation of a pension fund for the sector that will be a separate fund other than the Social Security System (SSS) Fund.
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)


Noting that most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) don't receive the protection they deserve, Senator Erwin Tulfo has renewed his call for the creation of a pension fund for the sector that will be a separate fund other than the Social Security System (SSS) Fund.
This, after Tulfo joined in the “Bagong Bayani ng Mundo: OFW Serbisyo Caravan”, an initiative of the Marcos administration to bring government services of at least 12 agencies closer to Filipinos working abroad.
“Current government programs for our migrant workers should not be limited to legal assistance and medical aid; they should also ensure protection for their future once they retire,” Tulfo said in a statement Sunday, Oct. 19.
“That’s why we are calling for the passage of a law that will provide a pension system for our OFWs so they can reap the rewards of the sacrifices they made for their families and loved ones,” he added.
Senate Bill (SB) No. 252, or the proposed OFW Pension Act, is among Tulfo’s Top 20 priority bills.
Filed on July 8, SB No.252 seeks to provide a P5,000 monthly pension for eligible OFWs, particularly those engaged in manual, skilled, or technical occupations.
The neophyte Senator also took the time to visit a 50-year-old Filipina in Milan, Italy, who is currently in a vegetative state due to a road accident on Oct. 4, 2024.
He then urged Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officials to explore possible ways to sustain assistance and long-term welfare interventions for OFWs in situations similar to that of the Filipina who was involved in the road crash.
For his part, he will reach out to the family of the OFW patient for more support.
In line with this, Tulfo, along with officials from the Philippine Consular Office in Milan, also met with representatives of Studio Legale Parenti, which provides legal assistance to Filipinos who are victims of crimes, abuse, scams, and illegal recruitment in Italy, to check the status of cases involving our kababayans.
“In the upcoming plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) in the Senate, we will raise these cases so the government can provide sufficient funding for the protection programs and assistance of the DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,” Tulfo said.
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