OWWA reform bill pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The approval of a bill that seeks to strengthen government support to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families by introducing reforms to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is being pushed at the Senate.

The bill authored by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara aims to declare OWWA a national government agency which must be provided with an annual budget.

“The OWWA is not tasked to merely collect contributions from OFWs. It is mandated to ensure the safety and welfare of OFWs. That is why the Department of Budget and Management and the Governance Commission believe OWWA is a national government agency,” Angara said. 

Under the bill, the OWWA Fund can be used only to serve the welfare of member-OFWs and their families. It also ensures transparency in the utilization and management of the funds. 

Since 1980, OWWA is an independent financial agency that manages the OWWA Fund and operates through the contributions of its members.