Dollar Remittance in the Philippines - An Open Letter to Sen. Mar Roxas
Dear Senator Mar Roxas,
Ako po si WILLIAM C. MATIAS, isang OFW sa Qatar at Miyembro ng MIGRANTE INTERNATIONAL, at ang nasa ibaba ay ang mga pamamahayag tungkol sa kahilingan ko bilang isang indibidwal na Pilipino at ng iba pang OFWs na tanggalin ang DST at iba pang remittance charges:
Scrapping the charges and taxes - OFW families will have immediate relief from escalating food and oil prices.
The government directly benefits from the remittances of OFWs through taxes, such as the 0.15% documentary stamp tax collected in every transaction. For every billion dollars remitted monthly, the government earns $1.5M or P62M. This is aside from other fees charged to the OFWs before leaving the country.
Banks and private business also rake in gargantuan profits. For every $200 remittance sent monthly, $15-$22 is charged as service fee. For 10 million OFWs sending remittances, banks earn a staggering $1B every month.
The Arroyo administration is neglecting the plight of OFWs while government and big business benefit from our remittances.
Thousands of OFWs experience oppressive working conditions and human rights abuses abroad, thousands are stranded in different countries and many are in death row. While we are being proclaimed as 'bagong bayani' (modern day heroes), the Arroyo government continues to neglect our plights.
Remittances are not an indicator that we, OFWs, have more money to provide for our families.
In fact, we have to tighten our belts abroad so that we do not need to lessen the $200 we send to our families at home. But due to skyrocketing prices in the Philippines, this amount is simply not enough.
Sample Calculations Based on the Average Salary of OFW – US$200.00:
Western Union Bank to Bank
US$1 = PHP45.00
Amount Sent to Philippines: PHP 9,000.00 PHP9,000.00
Less: 0.15% Tax Remittance 13.50 13.50
Net Amount to be Received PHP 8,986.50 PHP 8,986.50
Less: Provincial Bank Charge: 0.00 105.00* (*Conservative Average Rate)
Final Amount to be Received PHP 8,986.50 PHP 8,881.50
Remittance Charges in QATAR QAR 35.00 QAR 15.00
Every peso saved can make a big difference for the average Filipino family. Removing the DST from OFW remittances can enable our families to buy additional food or save this amount for other purposes.
Remittance/Exchange Companies in Qatar
Al Fardan Exchange
Al Sadd Exchange
Al Zaman Exchange – UAE Exchange
Al Mana Exchange
City Exchange
Doha Exchange
Eastern Exchange
Future Exchange
Global Exchange
Gulf Exchange
Gulf Finance and Exchange Co.
Habib Qatar International Exchange
Islamic Exchange
National Exchange
Trust Exchange
Union Exchange
nagbayad kami ng remittance charges sa Qatar pagdating sa pinas may bank charges pa rin at babawasan pa padala mo dahil sa 0.15% tax remittance na inaprubahan ni gloria macapagal arroyo para makabawi sa mga dole outs or yung mga pinakawalang pera ng gobyerno sa subsidies sa bigas at kuryente.
binabawi ni GMA sa mga OFWs. !!!
dagdagan mo pa ang baba ng palitan ng dolyar sa piso, mataas na presyo ng mga bilihin at renta dito sa Qatar at sa Pilipinas dahil sa E-VAT (12%). Pati pamasahe sa pilipinas at qatar nagtaas na rin.
kaming mga ofws hirap na nga sa pagtatrabaho dito sa ibang bansa, tinitipid ang sarili para malaki ang maipadala sa pinas pagkatapos ang perang ipapadala natin hindi pa man nakakarating sa kamay ng ating mahal sa buhay ay bawas na bawas na pala !
The prices of basic commodities have increased significantly, with chicken already at P120 per kilo, beef brisket at P180 per kilo, pork liempo at P170 per kilo, and bangus and tilapia at P80-P90 per kilo, all of which have increased by an average of P10 compared to the prices in 2007.
As if high prices of oil and rice were not enough, even the currency that we, the OFWs earn in has diminished in value, sana po Senator Mar Roxas, you should fight for the support that we need and deserve bilang pagkilala sa aming great contribution to Philippine economy.
Maraming Salamat at MABUHAY KA!
