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| It's been 3 years since the OWWA Law providing for rebates was passed |
More than three years since it was mandated by law,
the Rebate Program of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for longtime
members is now being implemented.
From Sept 1, the OWWA Rebate Portal was opened to enable
longtime members to check how much they are entitled to. Those qualified for
rebate should have (1) worked abroad for at least years; (2) paid at least 5
membership contributions; (3) should have not availed of any OWWA program or
benefit.
But most of those who eagerly checked how much they were
entitled to were disappointed, even shocked, to see how much their contribution
was valued.
Liezl Mercado who said she religiously contributed to the
OWWA Fund during the 17 years that she worked as a domestic helper in Hong Kong , shared a picture of the Rebate Portal showing
she was entitled to only P1,129.50.
Her friends invariably took up the joking tone, with one
saying, “Ayos ah, pwedeng pang negosyo. Pambili ng kotse ang sobra.”
Another said: “I donate mo na lang sa kanila”
But a bigger surprise awaited one of Mercado’s friends. Jo Campos, who worked in Hong
Kong for 31 years, was shocked to see that she was entitled only
to the same amount of P1,129.50 that Mercado is getting.
But OWWA
welfare officer Marivic Clarin said the amount of rebate given to each longtime
member has been arrived at through an actuarial study.
“Pwede kang
30 years na OFW but nakapagbayad ka (lang) ng OWWA membership for 5 years
lang,” she said.
Clarin shared
a press release issued on Aug 31 that said the actuarial study commissioned by
OWWA determined the capability of the OWWA Fund “to implement the rebate
program without negatively affecting the regular programs and services of the
agency.”
Based on this
study, the sum of Php1 billion was set aside to pay rebates to 556,000 entitled
members as shown by the OWWA data base.
The press
release also said rebates of between Php941.25 to Php13,177.50 will be paid to
qualified beneficiaries.
Clarin said
inquiries about the rebates could be made directly with OWWA because it is "not hiding anything.” She said OWWA’s financial records are open to the public
because it is a government institution and reports to the Department of Budget
and Management and the Commission on Audit.
Dolores
Balladares-Pelaez, chair of United Filipinos – Migrante Hong Kong, is not
appeased, and called the rebate program “kalokohan” after learning about the
piddly sums being paid to longtime OFWs.
“Okay sana
But possibly anticipating that OFWs will opt out of collecting a sum that may not even cover the cost of their transportation and other expenses, the OWWA press release urged them to consider donating their rebate to the scholarship program for OFW children, or use it to pay for their OWWA membership if they are still working abroad.
The Rebate Portal can be accessed via the OWWA website owwa.gov.ph. For further questions about the Rebate Program, OFWs may visit the nearest OWWA Regional Welfare Office in their area or call the OWWA Hotline 1348.
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