AGIMAT Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla on Tuesday convened the first 2026 hearing of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, pushing for stronger legislative safeguards for Overseas Filipino Workers.

As committee chairperson, Revilla advanced key measures addressing financial security, legal protection and anti-syndicate enforcement amid evolving challenges faced by migrant workers.

Central to the legislative package is House Bill No. 275, or the Overseas Filipino Workers Remittance Protection Act, which seeks to safeguard the earnings of OFWs from excessive fees and hidden charges.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that OFW cash remittances reached $35.63 billion in 2025, equivalent to about 7.3 percent of gross domestic product. In December alone, remittances hit an all-time high of $3.52 billion.

Revilla said that while these figures reflect the deep sacrifices of OFWs, their remittances remain vulnerable to financial deductions.

“Sa likod ng bawat padala ay may kapalit: gabing nangungulila sa yakap ng mahal sa buhay, pagkakataong hindi nakadalo sa mahahalagang okasyon, at kalam ng sikmura na tinitiis para lang mas malaki ang maipadalang kita sa naiwang pamilya,” Revilla said.

“What our OFWs send home is more than just money. They represent the blood, sweat, and tears on which their families’ dreams are built,” he added.

The proposed measure seeks to regulate transfer fees, mandate transparency in exchange rates and penalize abusive practices by financial institutions. It also includes mandatory financial education for OFWs and their families.

“Panahon na po para baguhin ang sistemang ito,” Revilla stressed.

“Every percentage lost to unnecessary and excessive fees is a meal taken off the table. Every hidden charge is a page torn from a child’s education. Every unjust deduction is a dream deferred.”

The bill aims to cover all OFW remittances and establish standardized rules for banks and non-bank financial intermediaries to create a more predictable and fair system.

Beyond financial safeguards, Revilla also underscored the need for faster government intervention during crises. House Bill No. 2719 proposes expanding the allowable use of the Legal Assistance Fund and the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund to ensure quicker legal and emergency assistance.

He said the proposal seeks to streamline procurement processes for the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs to enable prompt delivery of aid.

“If they invest their labor and courage to keep our nation moving, then it is our duty to meet that same level of commitment, providing steadfast care abroad where their vulnerabilities are magnified,” he said.

The legislative package also includes House Bill No. 2721, which targets organized recruitment scams. The Department of Migrant Workers reported a 320 percent increase in illegal recruitment cases in 2025.

The bill seeks to redefine syndicated illegal recruitment by lowering the required number of conspirators from three to two, easing prosecution of organized criminal groups.

Revilla said the measures are designed to function as a unified framework, complementing House Bill No. 6643, or the Bagong Balikbayan Act, which focuses on reintegration of returning OFWs.

“Ang layunin natin ay malinaw: walang OFW na maiiwan, at ang tulong ay dapat komprehensibo,” Revilla said. “From the protection of their income, to legal assistance abroad, to dignified reintegration at home, dapat buo ang sistema ng suporta.”

He assured stakeholders that the committee will continue working toward durable safeguards that protect the dignity and financial stability of the country’s “modern-day heroes.”