Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 
Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO, RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, and 
EDVICG. YAP 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A FREE FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND 
THEIR FAMILIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our Overseas Filipino Workers, hailed as modern-day heroes. contribute 
immensely to our nation's economic stability through their remittances that reached a 
staggering $36.14 billion in 2022, accounting for nearly 9% of our Gross Domestic 
Product (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 2023). Yet, despite their significant financial 
contributions, many OFWs and their families remain vulnerable to poor financial 
decisions, predatory lending practices, and investment scams due to inadequate 
financial knowledge. 
The "Free OFW Financial Education Act• seeks to bridge this critical gap by 
institutionalizing comprehensive financial literacy programs for all OFWs and their 
families. This landmark legislation recognizes that financial education is not a privilege 
but a fundamental right for our modern-day heroes who sacrifice so much for our 
nation's prosperity. 
This proposed measure establishes mandatory financial education as an integral 
component of both Pre-Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) and Post-Arrival 
Training Seminars (PATS), ensuring continuous financial learning throughout our OFWs' 
employment journey. The Department of Migrant Workers, in coordination with key 
agencies including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Department of Finance, will 
develop specialized modules covering essential financial topics: 
1. Debt management and protection against usurious lending practices
2. Investment literacy covering stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
3. Property protection and mortgage management
4. Identification and avoidance of financial scams and fraudulent schemes
5. Responsible use of remittances for sustainable family development
A groundbreaking feature of this bill is its inclusion of OFW families in financial 
education programs through accessible online platforms and community-based 
July 31, 2025
3:24 pm
2832




Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representatives JOCELYN P. TULFO, RALPH WENDEL P. TULFO, and 
EDVIC G. YAP 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR A FREE FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title.  
1 
This Act shall be known as the “Free OFW Financial Education Act”. 
2 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
3 
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to afford full protection to labor - local 
4 
and overseas - and promote full employment and equality of employment 
5 
opportunities for all. 
6 
The State shall have the continuous duty to acknowledge the valuable contribution 
7 
of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to our economy through their remittances. In 
8 
doing so, the State shall adopt measures that will take care of the welfare and 
9 
benefits of OFWs and their families, like the provision for a free financial education 
10 
or literacy training to equip them with enough knowledge for a proper and wise use 
11 
of their hard-earned money. 
12 
SECTION 3. Coverage. 
13 
This Act shall cover all OFWs, either land-based or sea-based, documented or 
14 
otherwise, and their families. 
15 
SECTION 4. Mandatory Financial Education Seminar. 
16 
All OFWs shall undergo mandatory and continuously updated financial education 
17 
or literacy training seminars which shall become an integral part of the Pre-
18 
Departure Orientation Seminars (PDOS) of departing OFWs. Moreover, Post-
19 
Arrival Training Seminars (PATS) on financial education or literacy shall likewise be 
20 
required of OFWs within a reasonable time upon arrival in their respective countries 
21 
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of destination on their first employment contract, or those who transfer from one 
1 
place of work to another without stopping by the Philippines. Overseas Filipino 
2 
Seafarers shall have the option of attending these continuously updated financial 
3 
education or literacy training seminars at their respective points-of-hire, or within a 
4 
reasonable time, after their return to the Philippines. 
5 
Families of OFWs throughout the Philippines shall likewise be equipped with 
6 
financial education and knowledge through on-line seminars and other feasible and 
7 
effective means. 
8 
SECTION 5. Participating Agencies.  
9 
The PDOS and PATS shall be primarily conducted by the Department of Migrant 
10 
Workers (DMW), as the lead agency, in coordination with the Overseas Workers 
11 
Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Bangko 
12 
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
13 
(DILG) and all the barangays under it, and the accredited PDOS providers across 
14 
the country, including the embassies or consulates, whichever may be available, in 
15 
the countries of destination. 
16 
As the lead agency, the DMW is tasked to formulate training modules on financial 
17 
education or literacy, initiate and conduct training programs on financial 
18 
management and responsibility; apprise OFWs on financial opportunities and 
19 
pitfalls, among others; ensure the accessibility of qualified online financial and 
20 
economic advisors and/or counselors; and disseminate knowledge-expanding 
21 
activities that promote financial education or literacy among OFWs and their 
22 
dependents. 
23 
SECTION 6. Free Financial Education Programs.  
24 
Financial education or literacy training programs undertaken under this Act shall be 
25 
free-of-charge. 
26 
The DMW shall, in coordination with the OWWA, the DOF, and the BSP, educate 
27 
the OFWs and their families on the following financial subjects, issues or programs: 
28 
Consumer Protection, Protection on Mortgaged or Collateralized Properties, 
29 
Avoidance of Exorbitant Interests on Loans or Debts, and Credit Information on 
30 
Micro- and Small-Scale Enterprises to prospective lenders. 
31 
Financial education shall also include information on Obligations and Contracts, 
32 
Credit Transactions, Interests, Pledges, Mortgages, Guarantees, and Knowledge 
33 
on Financial Products such as stocks, bonds, insurance, and mutual funds, which 
34 
are available in the market. 
35 
The DMW shall regularly coordinate with the Department of Information and 
36 
Communications Technology and social media companies to disallow posts and 
37 
messages that are meant to confuse, mislead, victimize, defraud or entice OFWs 
38 
and their families to engage in gambling and other similar activities, including on-
39 
line scams, pyramiding schemes, and the like. 
40 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations.  
41 
Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the DMW 
42 
shall, in consultation with the Administrator of the OWWA, the Secretary of the DOF, 
43 
the Governor of the BSP, and the Secretary of the DILG, promulgate the necessary 
44 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
45 


SECTION 8. Repealing Clause.  
1 
All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations which may be 
2 
inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby deemed repealed, 
3 
amended or modified accordingly. 
4 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause.  
5 
If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not 
6 
affect other provisions not affected thereby. 
7 
SECTION 10. Effectivity.  
8 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette 
9 
or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
10 
Approved, 
11