SENATORS are backing two measures to help migrant workers, even as they are rushing the seafarers’ Magna Carta.
The first measure aims to stop the investment and online scammers from victimizing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by providing financial literacy training programs for them even before they fly to their host countries.
The second measure imposes stiffer penalties for online scammers preying on OFWs.
At a Senate committee hearing Tuesday, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-In-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac, together with the agency’s officials, expressed support for Senate Bill (SB) 2078 (OFWs Financial Literacy Enhancement Act) authored by Sen. Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo.
The DMW supported the proposed measure to stop the investment and online scammers from victimizing OFWs.
The proposed measure aims to provide financial literacy training programs for OFWs that is free of charge, as a pre-departure and post-arrival seminar in order to promote and develop financial responsibility.
Relatedly, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C.Padilla said at the same hearing presided over by Tulfo that it is high time the government cracked down on online scammers, especially those victimizing OFWs tagged as our modern-day heroes.
Padilla said: “Meron talaga tayong problema sa mga nanloloko sa mga OFW lalo sa social media. Sa (Facebook) page lang natin, may makita kayong sumusulpot talaga. [We really have a problem with those swindling our OFWs especially on social media. I have seen their posts on our Facebook page.]
He agreed with Tulfo that there should be heftier penalties against those behind the scams.
“Tama ang sinabi ninyo Senator, na magkaroon dapat tayo ng matinding parusa dito sa mga gumagawa nito, dahil tinatawag nating mga Bagong Bayani ito. Dapat ang mga nanloko sa kanila may mas mabigat na parusa,” he told Tulfo. [You are right, Senator, to call for heavier penalties against these scammers. They are victimizing our modern-day heroes.]
