20% discount for OFWs....with unrealistic conditions

**rangeles** · August 7th, 2012 09:00 AM

From abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker, who was earlier criticized as anti-OFW, is now proposing to give a 20% discount for former overseas Filipino workers.

Manila Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David filed House Bill 6323, which would give a 20% discount to all Filipinos who have worked in a foreign country under employment contracts for a period not less than ten years. These include professionals, seamen, entertainers, domestic helpers.

Bonoan-David was earlier criticized for being anti-OFW when she filed a bill requiring departing OFWs to pay $50 as contribution to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration fund. After much criticism, she withdrew the bill.*

In HB 6323, Bonoan-David described OFWs as "modern heroes" who have helped prop up the Philippine economy.

"It is but timely to express our debt of gratitude to our former OFWs in the form of discounts, medical assistance, enjoyment of benefits granted by the respective social service systems and even housing programs," she said.

Bonoan-David's new bill will only cover OFWs who are at least 50 years old, previously certified by the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for overseas employment purposes and has an income of not more than P60,000 a year.

HB 6323 would give former OFWs a 20 percent discount from all establishments relative to utilization of transportation services, hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers and for the purchase of medicines.

These ex-OFWs will also receive free medical and dental consultations in private or public hospitals and medical insurance from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.*

**ghosthunter** · August 7th, 2012 09:45 AM

This is pointless. They should just amend the senior citizens law because it basically covers the same thing.

**yebo** · August 7th, 2012 11:26 AM

i am an OFW pero sa tutuo lang against ako sa ano mang law that will favor anyone (except senior citizens and the disabled). dapat pantay-pantay lahat. when you favor someone that means you are also depriving somebody of a fair deal. where will the 20% come from? e di sa business owners di ba. or sa tax, which inevitably means less services to others.

tama na yung tax free ang income earned abroad. everything else should be the same, fair and square.

**niky** · August 7th, 2012 01:12 PM

So they get discounts even if they're still working? That doesn't seem fair to the rest of us who stay here, pay taxes and suffer local conditions while contributing to domestic consumption.

Aynaku naman tong si Bonoan Bangus...

**crazy_boy** · August 7th, 2012 01:16 PM

Less than P60,000 a year ang earning? Sira ba ulo niya? Kahit minimum wage earner dito sa atin mas mataas sa P60k a year ang earnings

**yebo** · August 7th, 2012 02:05 PM

pag nasa pinas na daw, so that means wala na sa abroad, retired ofw na. kaya nga di na needed ang law kasi meron naman senior citizens law.

**yebo** · August 7th, 2012 02:07 PM

isa pang fault ng bill e it starts at age 50. para bang ine-encourage mo na maging tamad na ang isang tao pag dating ng age 50. while in some european countries they are contemplating delaying the retirement age to 70.