Living on OFWs' blood and sweat

A report on benefits of OWWA employees by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that each employee receives nearly P100,000 monetary benefits annually.

In a report presented by the DBM to the members of the OWWA board of trustees, employees of OWWA are found to be receiving too much benefits compared to other government employees. Based on the study, each worker gets P20,000 anniversary bonus, P25,000 gift check, P8,000 medical insurance, P7,200 staple food allowance, uniform allowance amounting to P4,000, rice subsidy and 13th month pay. Apart from the financial benefits, OWWA workers are also getting other incentives such as longevity fee which is equivalent to one percent of the annual salary; productivity incentive worth P2,500; Program on Awards and Incentive Service Excellence (Praise).

Moreover, while most OFWs do not even receive a 13th month pay, OWWA employees are getting a 14th month and provident fund, more than what most other employees in the Philippines receive.

The study also led to the suspension of some of the benefits being enjoyed by the employees since these benefits were found to be illegal. Among the financial benefits suspended by the board of trustees include the P25,000 gift check, P7,200 staple food allowance, provident fund and the 14th month pay since the issuance of this monetary packages has no legal basis.
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****OPINION******
Actually, the POEA and OWWA might have functions that CATER to the SAME CLIENTELE (OFW's) but they have different functions.

POEA: More on EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS- negotiation with Host Countries; DOCUMENTS-PROCESSING of a Filipino who wants to become an OFW; and OVERSIGHT on all RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

OWWA: Directed more on OWWA-Member Benefits- Seminars; Trainings; Re-Integration Programs; Services and Benefits of OFW's who might have encounter HEALTH or who DIED abroad

Now, it would be better if both AGENCIES would be COMBINED in order to TRIM DOWN and STREAMLINE the BUREAUCRACY. Then again, how can people make MILKING COWS of Government Agencies if we make them EFFICIENT... he VOLUNTARY SYSTEM might be the ANSWER to a lot of COMPLAINTS when it comes to Membership Payments at OWWA. There are a lot of Filipino who COMPLAIN a lot- they don't want to pay DUES but they want to have BENEFITS which is plain ILLOGICAL...

For those who OPT to VOLUNTARILY PAY- they will be assured of the BENEFITS that they would get from OWWA
For those who OPT NOT TO PAY - they will receive nothing from OWWA

Besides, the OWWA should be made EFFICIENT and not BLOATED...

I think that would simplify things. As to the issue on why certain GOVERNMENT AGENCIES have a lot of PERKS - this is because it is being allowed and a lot of people BENEFIT FROM IT (especially the corrupt ones). I don't know what happened to the OVERSIGHT POWERS of Congress on the different Agencies - it might be the Senators and Congressmen are also benefiting DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY by turning a blind eye.

There's a lot of Government Agencies which have Sky-High perks - the GSIS; the POEA; the OWWA; the BSP; the different GOCC's to name a few...