PH lawmaker proposes to withhold passport of ‘non-remitting’ OFWs

**BratPAQ** · March 5th, 2014 03:29 AM

PH lawmaker proposes to withhold passport of ?non-remitting? OFWs |

DUBAI–In a bid to address complaints about Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who refuse to support their legal dependents by not sending money to them, a lawmaker filed a proposed measure that would authorize Philippine embassy officials to withhold the renewal of an OFW passport found to be doing such.
Filed by OFW Family Partylist Representative Roy Seneres, House Bill 3576 was proposed in reference to several provisions in the Constitution and the Family code of the Philippines due to prevalence of non-remittance of earnings among land-based OFWs.
Land-based OFWs, who, unlike Filipino seamen employed abroad, are not bound by law or rules requiring them to remit part of their income to their families in the Philippines.
If passed into law, Filipinos working abroad are obliged to continue to observe and respect the Philippine laws, customs, traditions and practices.
“It shall be the obligation and duty of every OFW to continue to observe and respect the laws, customs, traditions and practices of the Philippines wherever they may be,” it said.
Section 2 of the bill also stated that: “It shall also be the obligation and duty of every OFW to provide material or financial and moral support to one’s family or dependent in the Philippines during the period of overseas employment.”
“Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether sea-based or land-based are required to remit regularly a portion of their foreign exchange earnings to their family or legal dependent recipient in the Philippines through the Philippine banking system or any authorized credit unions, money transfer operators or through the postal mail,” Section 1 of the bill stated.
In effect, proof of remittance–particularly confirmed bank (foreign) remittance receipt; Receipt of International Postal Money Order; or Sworn Statement from the dependent that said support has already been satisfied and/or settled–will be included among the requirements in passport renewals of OFWs.
It said Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chiefs of Mission or Charge d’ Affairs are authorized to withhold the renewal or approval of the passport of an erring Filipino worker.

parang sablay itong bill, or maybe because im not an OFW kaya di ko maintindihan. ano ba kaibahan ng passport ng OFW vs pinoy tourist? Eh kung wag mo sabahing OFW ka? Saka anong pake mo tongressman kung san dalhin/gamitin ng OFW ang pinaghirapan nya?

at any rate, source of corruption na naman ito.

**monty_GTV** · March 5th, 2014 04:05 AM

wala ng maisip mga lawmakers natin, basta lang masabi na may nai-file na bill

**macsd** · March 5th, 2014 08:44 AM

Our legislature is filled with Nincompoops with this Roy Seneres being an exemption. However he has crossed his line is his bill as stated “Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether sea-based or land-based are required to remit regularly..." as he cannot force anyone on what to do with his legally earned income, that is invasion of privacy. Now if his problem is on family matters, then those affected family here should file a case and only then DFA can implement what he intends to.

He cannot generalize the entire OFW and force then to remit. Besides, he needs to differentiate an OFW from an Expatriate.

**falken** · March 5th, 2014 10:02 AM

What if the OFW has no dependents? Withheld din ang passport because of non remittance? Stupid proposal.

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**joemarski** · March 5th, 2014 11:13 AM

nlol 'yang mambabatas na 'yan!!!

sabi nga ni sir macsd: He cannot generalize the entire OFW and force then to remit.
gumawa sila ng batas na hulihin ang mga naglu- lukong ofw's kaya hindi regular na makapag- padala
sa kanilang mga pamilya! huwag nilang idamay 'yung mga taong "parehas" maghanapbuhay.

karamihan sa mga tauhan/kasamahan ko sa middle east ay hindi makapag- padala ng regular sa
kani- kanilang mga pamilya. bakit???
- dahil destino sila sa mga remote areas na walang mga bangko o remmittance centers.
merong mga service vehicles, paano naman kung maubusan ka. mahal rin ang bayad sa taxi,
hahanap ka pa ng makaka- share sa bayaran. sayang naman kung solo ka lang.
gustuhin man nilang magpadala, hindi na rin sila makaka- abot sa banking hours.

- dahil 7 days/week ang trabaho and up to 6hrs ang ot (150 - 200% / hr of regular rate) per day,
sayang pa ang kikitain nila sa ot. malaking bagay 'yon para sa mga skilled workers lang na
kumpara sa 'pinas eh minimum rate lang ang kita.

lahat naman ng mga "irregular remmittances" na 'yan eh napagkasunduan na rin ng pami- pamilya nila.
malaking kalokohan talaga 'yan! naka- isip lang sila ng pagkaka- kuwartahan!!! :mad:

**funkeemunkee** · March 5th, 2014 11:37 AM

remit kayo ng piso. that would still be remittance.

**macsd** · March 5th, 2014 12:56 PM

Neophyte senator pushes bill reducing income tax rate | Inquirer Business

It's about time something opposite and beneficial to juan dela cruz comes up into a senator's mind. After patong-patong na mga taxes from VAT to Sin taxes etc...naka isip din ng makabuluhan panukala. Sana naman huwag lang matulog ang bill na ito sa kangkungan.

**badkuk** · March 5th, 2014 02:01 PM

so let me guess this straight: after decades of mishandling the governance of this country, resulting in poor education and unemployment, forcing hundreds of thousands of Pinoys to look for jobs overseas, quite a number of which go through tremendous abuse, from which he gets no support from our "embassies", now he *has* to remit his earnings?

Kapal ng mukha.

**confused shoes** · March 5th, 2014 02:04 PM

Ugok na congressman na 'to. Lalong paparamihin ang mga tamad.

Hindi ako mag OFW para pakainin ang mga tamad na kamag-anak.

**cardict** · March 5th, 2014 02:08 PM

Pani bagong diskarte na naman Ito para sa BIR,withholding passport for the sake of remittances will give the taxmen idea how much an OFW owes the government