Senator Erwin Tulfo is seeking to change the narrative of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) returning home — from those who often come back with empty savings to those who retire with financial stability.
Speaking before Filipino communities during the Bagong Bayani ng Mundo – OFW Serbisyo Caravan in Milan, Italy, on October 16, Tulfo introduced Senate Bill No. 252, also known as the OFW Pension Act.
“If you are a caretaker, a house cleaner, a domestic helper, a driver, or a gardener — as long as you are an OFW currently working, you are covered,” said Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers. “It means that when you decide to return home to the Philippines, you will receive a pension, on top of what you get from the SSS.”
The Caravan, now on its 11th leg, was organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) with the participation of 12 government agencies and one NGO. The initiative aims to bring government services directly to Filipinos abroad.
DMW Undersecretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay said the Caravan demonstrates the government’s recognition of OFWs’ sacrifices and their vital contribution to the Philippine economy under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Agimat Party-List Representative Bryan Revilla, who chairs the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, reaffirmed the commitment to continue supporting the Caravan so that assistance can reach Filipinos wherever they are in the world.
OWWA Administrator Atty. Patricia Yvonne “PY” Caunan also assured that the agency will further expand its services, including the establishment of more OFW Lounges at airports, as part of its mission to deliver inclusive public service to all Filipinos.
