The House of Representatives has approved the proposed Free OFW Financial Education Act on its third and final reading, with 179 lawmakers voting in favor of the measure.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez described the bill as a “landmark legislation” aimed at equipping overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families with the knowledge and skills to secure their financial future.
“This initiative integrates mandatory financial literacy training into pre-departure and post-arrival seminars while providing online resources for OFW families. It aims to help maximize OFW earnings and safeguard them from financial scams,” Romualdez said.
House Bill 10914 mandates continuous financial education as part of Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) and Post-Arrival Training Seminars (PATS). Filipino seafarers will have the option to attend these seminars at their points-of-hire or upon their return to the Philippines.
The proposed measure also emphasizes providing financial education to OFW families through online seminars and other accessible methods.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) will lead the implementation of PDOS and PATS, in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Finance (DOF), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), barangays, and accredited providers. Seminars may also be conducted through embassies and consulates in host countries.
