If elected as a senator, ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo has made a strong commitment to improving the protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). He believes that many OFWs face serious risks of abuse and need stronger safeguards.
During a meeting with Filipinos in Paris, France, Tulfo announced his plan to file a new law once Congress resumes in June. His goal is to strengthen the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) and improve how government agencies like the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine embassies handle cases involving OFWs.
Stronger Protection for OFWs
Tulfo emphasized that the government cannot just trust foreign employers to follow the rules. He wants the DMW and other related agencies to be more aggressive in making sure employment contracts are strictly followed.
“We can’t just sit back and hope that foreign employers will always comply with pre-deployment requirements. Our government agencies must work three times harder to ensure that OFWs are treated fairly, no matter what it takes,” Tulfo said.
He stressed that protecting OFWs is more than just about their salaries—it is about their safety and survival.
“We should not settle for the bare minimum when it comes to OFWs’ rights and welfare. This is not just about their jobs—this is a matter of life and death,” he added.
Cashless Toll Collection Issues
Meanwhile, fellow Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas candidate and current Senator Lito Lapid is calling for a suspension of the full cashless toll collection system in expressways.
Lapid observed that the RFID system used for toll payments often does not work properly. Some sensors fail to read RFID stickers, while many motorists face issues with insufficient balance because they are unaware of how much money they have left when exiting tollways.
“Based on our observation, RFID stickers do not always match, and toll gate sensors often fail to read them. Many motorists also run out of balance without knowing it,” Lapid explained.
He proposed that all tollways use a single, unified RFID system to make travel faster and more convenient for everyone.
“It’s time to modernize our system. Having just one RFID for all tollways will make the process smoother and prevent problems at toll gates,” he added.
Tulfo and Lapid are both part of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas, a political group supporting the current administration. They hope their proposed measures will make life better for Filipinos—both those working abroad and those traveling locally.
