ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN))

Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial bet ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is eyeing the enactment of a law that would institutionalize a pension system for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

Tulfo, the House deputy majority leader for communications, intends to file a House measure soon for this purpose.

“OFWs are called ‘modern-day heroes’ because of their noble contribution to the country’s economy at the expense of being away from their families," the broadcaster-turned-lawmaker noted. 

“But by the time they get older and can no longer work, they become reliant on their children. Is this how we treat our heroes?” Tulfo asked.

“It’s the country’s way of saying thank you to our OFWs for being strong pillars of the nation

for many years while working abroad. It is only right and just to return the favor,” Tulfo said in justifying such legislation.

According to the lawmaker, “A lot of our OFWs cannot save up because they prioritize paying for their children’s school fees or building a decent home for their family. The needs of the people who rely on them come first, leaving them with nothing for themselves.”

“For instance, our domestic helpers, laborers, and drivers who work abroad receive meager wages and frequently cannot save because they live paycheck to paycheck. They no longer have the financial flexibility to set aside savings,” Tulfo further said.

Under his proposal, both the OFW and the government will contribute to the pension fund, which would provide benefits that OFWs can enjoy upon their retirement. 

The government may contribute double or triple the amount of the OFW’s contribution to the

pension fund, said the Senate hopeful who had been leading in most pre-election surveys.

Tulfo said the benefits from the OFW pension will be separate from those they will receive from the Social Security System (SSS) when they reach 60 years old.