THE OFW Party List held a policy dialogue today on the programs and services of the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Pag-IBIG Fund for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
OFW Party List Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino was joined by Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac during the policy dialogue.
OFWs constitute a significant portion of the members and contributors of these government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Pag-IBIG fund alone has 1.45 million OFW members.
As of 2023, SSS has 1.39 million OFW members while PhilHealth reported having 3.23 million OFW members as of 2023.
The policy dialogue sought to bridge the information dissemination regarding the available programs and services of the agencies for OFWs and to address the pressing need to establish service quality standards and benchmarks tailored to the dynamic requirements of our migrant workers.
“OFWs are one of the pillars of our nation’s progress, and it is imperative that we continually refine and adapt our programs and services for them. This policy dialogue serves as a platform to strengthen the collaboration between government agencies, the OFW Party List, and our OFW stakeholders to ensure that the services provided are not only comprehensive, but also reflective of the unique challenges faced by our modern-day heroes,” said” Magsino.
Each agency presented the programs and services that OFWs and their qualified dependents can avail. SSS presented the 7 benefits that can be availed by OFWs: Sickness, Maternity, Unemployment, Funeral, Retirement, Disability, and Death.
They also reported on the 15 Bilateral Social Security Agreements with other host countries and the 18 SSS Foreign Service Representative Offices in 12 countries to ensure the remittance of counterpart contributions of foreign employers of OFWs.
PhilHealth also enumerated its programs and services for OFWs. Discussions also centered on the mandatory contribution of OFWs under the Universal Healthcare Act.
Currently, PhilHealth imposed a moratorium on the rate increase for 2023 as provided by the law, and retained the rate to 4% of income. It also clarified that coverage extends overseas through a reimbursement system. Claims can be filed within 180 days from discharge of the OFW.
Meanwhile, membership in Pag-IBIG Fund is mandatory for OFWs with a contribution rate of 2% for income over P1,500. One of the crucial points of discussion is the withdrawal of savings, which DMW OIC Cacdac pointed out as a potential program for former OFWs.
The OFW members can withdraw their savings upon membership maturity after 20 years, upon reaching the optional retirement age of 60 or the mandatory retirement age of 65, upon separation from service due to health reasons, permanent departure from the Philippines, permanent and total disability and insanity, critical illness of the member or any immediate family member, or upon the member’s death in which case, the OFW’s legal heirs will receive the total savings.
DMW OIC Hans Cacdac also emphasized the need for entitlements and privileges for former OFWs who have fulfilled their financial obligations with SSS and Pag-IBIG Fund. He invited the agencies to work with DMW to craft a program for former OFWs to help with their reintegration.
OFW Party List Leaders also attended the dialogue and posed questions on behalf of their chapters. The dialogue was also live-streamed and questions were entertained from OFW netizens.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga opisyal ng SSS, Pag-Ibig Fund, at PhilHealth sa pagpapaliwanag ng kanilang mga programa at serbisyo, at pagtanggap ng mga suhestyon at reklamo ng ating mga OFWs. Kailangan talaga natin punuan ang kakulangan sa impormasyon dahil dito nagmumula ang dissastifaction ng ating OFWs; akala nila’y wala silang napapala sa kanilang mga membership contribution dahil hindi malinaw sa kanila ang mga benepisyong ibinibigay ng mga ahensya. Dagdag dito ang mahirap na proseso lalo na’t sila’y nasa abroad. Sa pamamagitan ng dayalogo natin, sana’y nakatulong tayong mahimay ang mga programa, maipaalam sa ating mga OFWs ang mga ito, at makatulong paigtingin ang serbisyong dapat ihatid ng SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund, at PhilHealth sa ating mga bagong bayani,” said Magsino.
