Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday decried the “prison-like” living conditions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) housed in temporary accommodations in Metro Manila while awaiting their deployment abroad.

Tulfo slammed what he described as “horrifying” and “shocking” conditions after inspecting several OFW housing facilities earlier this week.

His first stop was the holding house of Mondial Overseas Corporation Private Employment Agency in Quezon City. Upon arrival, he was appalled by the cramped living spaces, where over 40 OFWs were squeezed into a small four-bedroom house, each room lacking double-deck beds.

He also noted the absence of fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and fire exits.

Tulfo found a similar situation at another facility in Zamboanga, Quezon City, where 40 OFWs shared a tight space with poor ventilation, no emergency exits, and a lack of bunk beds.

“The water dispenser was empty, and a notice was posted on the refrigerator door prohibiting OFWs from cooling water or storing food,” he lamented.

The senator stressed that OFWs should be well taken care of before their deployment and called for the establishment of a prayer room for both Catholic and non-Catholic OFWs — a request immediately supported by a Muslim OFW.

Tulfo also expressed outrage after inspecting four more accommodations operated by MEJA International Manpower Agency Inc. in Paco, Manila.

“OFWs were packed together like sardines. Worse, only one of these accommodations was registered with the DMW,” he said.

Among the complaints he cited were overcrowding, a lack of proper ventilation and electric fans, and the absence of tables and chairs, forcing OFWs to eat on the floor.

Temporary accommodations refer to housing facilities provided to OFWs by recruitment agencies or foreign employers before deployment.

Tulfo ordered the owners of these OFW accommodations to comply with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) guidelines within a month. He also urged the DMW to monitor and ensure compliance.