OWWA berated for overcharging OFWs in 2007

MANILA, Philippines - The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) on Wednesday got a tongue-lashing from a senior member of the House of Representatives for allegedly overcharging Filipino migrants on OWWA membership fee. During the public hearing of the House Committee on Overseas Filipino, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman scored OWWA, represented in the hearing by lawyer Venus Bravo, for not immediately adjusting the peso equivalent of the $25 OWWA membership fee when the dollar depreciated in 2007. Bravo admitted to the panel that OWWA had in effect overcharged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from January to December 2007 when the agency failed to implement the adjustment. She said the last time OWWA adjusted its rate on fee was in 2001. “When the peso depreciated to P56 to $1, the OWWA fee stayed at P51 conversion," Bravo told the panel. She said to avoid the recurrence of the problem, the OWWA board approved the automatic peso-dollar adjustment on the OWWA fee. She added that a memorandum has been send to regional offices about the overcharging. Lagman, however, refused to consider OWWA’s explanation as valid, saying the overcharging occurred because OWWA is “inefficient and indifferent" and has no concern with the welfare of OFWs. - GMANews.TV