The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by AGIMAT Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla is expected to aggressively push for the approval of House Bill (HB) No. 275 or the proposed OFW Remittance Protection Act in its upcoming hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Motivating Revilla to pass the bill in the soonest possible time are the emerging global fees that threaten to chip away at the remittance values.

Citing data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Revilla emphasized that 95 percent of OFW remittances are spent on food and other basic household needs — proof that the money sent back home were not just symbolic expressions of love but the most crucial lifeline sustaining millions of Filipino families.

“Hindi na dapat mabawasan pa bawat remittance ipinapadala ng ating mga OFWs sa kanilang pamilya. Literal na dugo’t pawis ang kanilang puhunan dito. Kahit mukhang maliit ang isang porsyento, ramdam pa rin ito sa bulsa mga Bagong Bayani – lalo na sa patuloy na pagtaas ng mga serbisyo’t bilihin,” Revilla said.

(Every remittance our OFWs send to their families must remain intact. Their investment here is literally their blood and sweat. Even a seemingly small percentage cut is felt deeply by our Bagong Bayani—especially with the rising costs of goods and services.)

The lawmaker raised this concern following the implementation of a new one percent federal tax in the United States (US) on certain cash-based international remittances that took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The policy imposes a levy on transfers funded by physical instruments such as cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks.

While bank and digital transfers remain exempt, Revilla noted that many overseas Filipinos — particularly those with limited access to digital financial infrastructure — may still be affected.

With the US accounting for roughly 40 percent of the Philippines’ total remittance inflows, Revilla stressed that the country cannot afford to be passive in the face of evolving global remittance costs and domestic fee structures.

“OFW remittances are more than economic statistics. Ito ay pagkain sa mesa, matrikula ng mga anak, at panggastos sa araw-araw. Kapag may bawas, kabuhayan agad ang tinatamaan (This money translates to food on the table, tuition for children, and daily expenses. Any deduction immediately hurts their livelihood),” he added.

HB No. 275 proposes a comprehensive framework to safeguard OFW remittances by regulating excessive remittance fees. It seeks to mandate transparency in exchange rates and charges, penalize abusive or predatory practices by financial institutions, and expand access to free and mandatory financial education for OFWs and their families.

Revilla underscored that while the State continues to pursue long-term solutions to domestic job creation, migrant work remains a present reality for millions of Filipinos — making income protection an immediate national responsibility.

“Habang wala pa ang pangmatagalang solusyon sa labor migration, tungkulin nating tiyakin na napoprotektahan ang kita ng ating mga OFWs (While long-term solutions to labor migration are still pending, it is our duty to ensure that the earnings of our OFWs are protected)," he said.

The committee chairman said the upcoming hearing will focus on building durable, system-wide protections that will shield remittances from unexpected external charges and unfair domestic practices.

He reiterated that protecting OFW remittances goes hand in hand with broader reintegration and welfare measures, including the proposed Bagong Balikbayan Act.

“Ito ang ating pangako: kapag ang OFW ay nagpadala ng pera, dapat buo itong makarating sa kanilang pamilya. Agad tayong kikilos – para sa kanila at para sa ating ekonomiya (This is our pledge: when an OFW sends money, it must reach their family in full. We will act without delay--for them and for our economy),” he added.