OFW Party List Representative Marissa ‘Del Mar’ Magsino proposed to Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to revisit the guidelines of the AKSYON Fund for its utilization to cover debts of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) under certain and strict conditions.
During the session break, Magsino did not waste time and went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, as well as Asian countries where migrant Filipinos work.
In her official visits, the Representative’s attention was called on some cases where the OFWs are unable to return home or be voluntarily repatriated for reason of serious medical condition, or upon rescue from abusive employers, or contract termination, due to lack of exit visa as a consequence of existing unpaid debts, personal or otherwise.
“I personally heard their pleas to help them. I researched and found that we can help them through the DMW’s AKSYON Fund. These OFWs are forced to fend for themselves in various shelters and elsewhere, suffering from their afflictions and dismal living conditions, and on the run from local authorities, uncertain as to when their ordeal would end. We want to help them through the AKSYON Fund if their circumstances fall under certain conditions only,” Magsino said.
Magsino explained that under Republic Act No. 11641, the AKSYON Fund was established to provide legal, medical, financial, and other forms of assistance to OFWs, including repatriation, shipment of remains, evacuation, rescue and other help or intervention to protect the rights of the Filipino nationals. It can can also provide humanitarian assistance to protect the rights, interests and welfare of the workers in distress at the host country.
Upon her return, the OFW Party List Representative did not waste time and wrote DMW Secretary Cacdac to propose the utilization of the AKSYON Fund to cover the unpaid debts of OFWs, personal or otherwise, for the purpose of securing exit visas in favor of debtor-OFWs as humanitarian and financial assistance under the following circumstances: the OFW has a pending/unpaid debt due to which he or she is not issued an exit visa; the OFW-debtor has passed away whose remains cannot be repatriated until payment of debt; or the OFW-debtor is due to return home or for repatriation for reason of grave or serious illness, other medical emergencies, or permanent disability, which hampers the income opportunities of the OFW.
“Nakausap natin si Secretary Cacdac at nagsabi siyang bukas siya sa ating proposal pati sa pagkonsidera sa pagtaas ng halaga ng mga financial assistance. Natutuwa tayo na bukas ang pagtanggap ni Secretary Cacdac sa ating policy proposal dahil marami itong matutulungan. Mayroon tayong mga OFWs sa Saudi Arabia na namatay na pero ang labi ay hindi maiuwi dahil sa utang. Patay na nga, hindi pa mabibigyan katahimikan. Ganito ang mga kasong nais natin maisama sa ating proposal sa DMW,” said Magsino.
