Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has proposed that a portion of the government’s housing projects be set aside for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), emphasizing that they deserve the opportunity to own homes after years of working abroad.
Speaking at a gathering of OFWs in Singapore, Abalos shared that he suggested the plan to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), advocating for an installment-based payment system tailored for OFWs.
“You are the country’s heroes, continuously sending remittances. But when you return home, do you have a house to call your own?” Abalos said in a GMA News Online report, stressing the need for OFWs to be included in existing housing initiatives.
Abalos, who is running for senator in the 2025 elections, also highlighted other legislative priorities, including his push to remove the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity to help lower power costs.
He urged closer coordination between the Philippine Embassy in Singapore and the Filipino community to ensure that the housing initiative reaches those who need it most. “We need to make sure OFWs are included in these programs, not just those living in the Philippines,” he said.
