House bill seeks benefits, privileges for ex-OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — Former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) may get added benefits and privileges if a bill pending in the House of Representatives is passed into law. House Bill 4912 seeks to give a 20% discount to former OFWs in hotels, inns, lodging houses and similar business establishments. "Our Filipino migrant workers who made all these possible have yet to be recognized and rewarded for a job well done at the global arena of manpower. And together with this, domestic business enterprises who share in facilitating the growth and development of Filipino migrant workers should be given tax incentives since their continued operation will provide jobs and will improve the overall picture of the economy," Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto, who authored the bill, said in a statement on the House of Representatives website (www.congress.gov.ph). Also covered by the bill are dining places such as restaurants, eateries, cafes; admission fees to recreation centers such as theaters, cinemas and the like; and on the purchase of medicines from drug stores. The bill also aims to give fiscal incentives in terms of tax credits to participating business enterprises that would give discount privileges to former OFWs. It also seeks their exemption from payment of individual income taxes, provided that their annual taxable income does not exceed the income level as determined by the National Economic Development Authority(NEDA) for that year. Also, former migrant workers would also be entitled to free medical and dental consultations in private and public hospitals and similar establishments, a free medical insurance program to be provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-IBIG as enjoyed by those in actual service. The bill also provides that they be given priority in existing livelihood programs undertaken by various government agencies and in national housing programs, affordable “pabahay" loans and other housing opportunities. However, this will be subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by the implementing agency and those set by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). The bill also set penalties such as six months' imprisonment or a P50,000 fine for any person who violates any provision of this act. - GMANews.TV