Raffy Tulfo hails 2nd reading approval of Free OFW Financial Literacy Education bill
By Dhel Nazario
Senator Raffy Tulfo welcomed the Senate's approval on second reading of the “Free OFW Financial Literacy Education Act” or Senate Bill (SB) No. 1910 on Wednesday, March 11.
(Photo from the Office of Senator Raffy Tulfo)
Tulfo, principal sponsor and one of the authors of SB No. 1910, said the timely bill provides for free financial literacy education for overseas Filipino workers and their families, and it covers OFWs, either land-based or sea-based, documented or otherwise, and their families or dependents.
“Its purpose is to educate our OFWs and their families on how to save money," Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers Chairperson said.
"Hindi po ito ayuda. Ito po ay tulong para mabigyan sila ng education tungkol sa pagse-save ng pera nila while working abroad para pagbalik nila ng Pilipinas ay hindi po sila walang-wala (This is not ayuda (aid). This is assistance to provide them with education on how to save their money while working abroad so that when they return to the Philippines, they will not have nothing),” he said.
“Tulad ng iba, when they come back to the Philippines, wala sila kahit na single centavo, bankrupt sila becuase while they were there, naubos ang pera nila (Like others, when they come back to the Philippines, they don’t even have a single centavo—they’re bankrupt because while they were there, all their money was spent), Tulfo added.
Under said measure, all OFWs shall undergo mandatory and continuously updated financial education or literacy training seminars, which shall form an integral part of the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) of departing OFWs.
Likewise, Post-Arrival Training Seminars (PATS) on financial education or literacy shall also be required of OFWs within a reasonable time upon arrival in their respective countries of destination on their first employment contract or those who transfer from one place to another without stopping by the Philippines.
In the proposed bill, overseas Filipino seafarers shall have the option of attending these continuously updated financial education or literacy seminars at their respective points of hire or within a reasonable time after their return to the Philippines.
The bill also noted that families or dependents of OFWs throughout the Philippines shall be equipped with financial education and knowledge through online seminars and other effective means.