Our OFWs are the modern day unsung heroes. All of them go through rigorous paperwork just to prove that they got what it takes to make a living abroad. After that, they have to go through the heartbreaking process of saying farewell to their loved ones for the time being, promising to come back after a year or two, with the hope of providing financial assistance back at home. Yes, we’ve heard this story countless times, with many success stories of families having bountiful lives thereafter and their patriarch or matriarch coming home safely to their families, yet, there are also those who do not come back unscathed, suffering low pay and abuse from their foreign employers. As sad and heartbreaking as these stories may be, our fellow Filipinos are not intimidated by the risks, still strengthening themselves for the tough job prospect ahead in order to give their loved ones a good, bountiful life. This is further supported by recent data gathered by the PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority), with the number of OFWs reaching an all high estimate of 2.3 million during and between the periods of April to September 2018. Take note that the data was gathered back in 2018, more than a year has passed, hence, the number may have grown by then. In such case, you can imagine the amount remitted by our beloved OFWs, reaching millions every month, thus further contributing to the economy. After all, the money sent to their loved ones are utilized to avail their daily needs, and these needs contain the usual taxes, hence, they go straight to the government, which would then use these funds to provide a much improved economy to the people. No wonder our OFWs are known as one of the unsung heroes.
With that being said, there is no doubt that they contribute more to the country than most of us could possibly know. There is a common misconception that these remittances helps nobody but their loved ones, but that cannot be any further from the truth. Remember, every time that their family would spend these remittances, they include taxes which the government can use to provide us with helpful economic programs. Even tuition fees have a particular amount dedicated to tax, so there is no way that these remittances are only helping an OFW’s family members. Now, you may say, “Okay, since these remittances are important to the economy, then it would only be reasonable enough that the remittance process itself should be well-secured and trustworthy.” Well, you are definitely correct. The thing about most remittance centers is that they are convenient to interact with, yet, have countless loopholes, in terms of their security and privacy. You may have heard stories of an OFW’s family back at home not being able to receive any amount, as the money has been swindled out of their reach. This isn’t a new thing, as this has been happening for decades. The good news is that, with the enhancements in technology, the remittance process has been made more secure than ever, with thieves only ever getting away with the money due to human error on the part of the receivers.
In certain cases, the error isn’t even on the part of the receiver, but on the one who is sending the money back at home. Take note that when we say “human error,” this usually means not being careful when it comes to sending or receiving the money. There are proper procedures when undergoing the remittance process, and once these procedures aren’t met or followed, people who do not have your best interest in mind may take advantage. But don’t worry, we had prepared a few tips for you to follow just in case you are unsure of what to do:
a. Transacting with unauthorized agents and unverified remittance centers.
The rule of thumb for OFWs would be to validate whether or not they are dealing with trustworthy individuals. Do not give your amount to any person claiming to be a representative of a remittance company outside of the main establishment. Be sure that you are within the premises of the remittance center, and that they are behind the transaction counter, complete in uniform and valid work ID. Remember, there will always be those who do not have our best interest in mind, and being a wise and cautious sender would be the best way to avoid them. Also, take note of the main establishment, and whether or not they are verified remittance partners. If not, it would be best to avoid them and to search for a much trusted option. This same rule goes towards the ones receiving the remitted amount. Only speak with authorized personnel, and not those who are claiming to “ease up the transaction process.” The common term for these types of people would be “fixers.”
b. Sending the wrong control number.
For the usual money remittance process, your loved ones at home should have a few valid IDs and the control number ready. While valid IDs are an easy thing to have around, regardless of transaction types, the control number should be a 100% correct. You will be given the control number from your end, after which, you should immediately send it to your loved ones, either by text or online message. Make sure that every digit is sequenced correctly or your family would not be allowed to receive the amount. Of course, the authorized remittance personnel are only doing their job in making sure that the right person would receive the secured amount, hence why utmost care should be taken when sending and receiving the control number. If you are the receiver of the financial assistance, never give your control number to anyone, let alone share it with strangers or post it on Social Media.
c. Providing the wrong details.
Understandably, everyone goes through rigid stress every once in a while. That usually causes loss of focus and concentration. If you happen to be experiencing that while trying to remit or receive money, take time to settle down and gather your mind. You function better when taking deep breaths. Double-check the details that you’re going to provide for the remittance transaction. Check if the names are correctly spelled, make sure that they can be easily read by the remittance agent, and that the contact numbers are in place. For OFWs, your recipients would have a hard time receiving the cash, especially if there are spelling errors, as the remittance agents from their end would usually require a valid ID for verification, and if the spellings don’t match, then they will refuse to release the amount to your loved ones.
Remember these short tips and you’re all set to complete the remittance process, whether you’re the one sending the money or you’re the one receiving it. Of course, you still need to look for a well-trusted option, in order to ensure the smooth processing of the transaction. Speaking of a much trusted option, you may be ready to send your hard-earned money to your family back at home; however, you are still undecided as to which remitting center you should transact with. Well no need to look any further. With Cebuana Lhuillier’s Pera Padala Service, you are ensured an easy, quick, and safe way to send and receive money. With 2,500branches nationwide and 1.5 million global touchpoints, this money transfer service is made available to clients within and outside the Philippines. All transactions are real time, which enables clients to claim the money as soon as the sender completes the sending process in the branch. So for our beloved OFW patrons, feel free to visit any of our international partners – we assure a fast, easy and secure transaction.