Sen. Raffy Tulfo during a plenary session Monday, November 13, 2023. Senate PRIB Photos/File

MANILA -- Senator Raffy Tulfo slammed the conditions of accommodation houses of some recruitment agencies during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers on Monday. 

Tulfo said he recently conducted a surprise inspection of a couple of accommodation houses and discovered that Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or would-be OFWs were crammed in a room, such as the 18 to 20 people who shared a small living space in one house he visited.  

"Parang mga sardinas. Daig pa 'yung nasa city jail. Totoo 'yan, I was there, I saw it with my own two eyes," Tulfo said. 

"Ang masaklap pa, every single night kinakandado yung gate at 'yung susi hawak-hawak ng may-ari ng agency na nakatira sa ibang bahay. so pagka nagkasunog, matutusta ang mga OFW or would-be OFWs," he added. 

Tulfo showed photos of crammed sleeping quarters, shabby comfort rooms and empty first aid kits.

The Senator said some accommodation houses also do not have fire extinguishers and fire escapes.

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said they have delisted 27 accommodation facilities due to violation of standards; only six remain registered with the department. 

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"We are conducting a nationwide survey, lalo na sa domestic worker recruitment kung meron silang, kasi the mere fact na may accommodation sila na 'di nakarehistro, penalty, offense kaaagad 'yun," Cacdac stated. 

DMW Undersecretary meanwhile Bernard Olalia assured that they inspect an accommodation house before it is allowed to operate. 

Of the 807 active land based recruitment agencies in the country, Cacdac said about half recruit for domestic work. 

He said they are looking at Singapore's standards of accommodation houses, where 12 people live in a room which measures 3.6 square meters. Cacdac said they will also require accommodation houses to have isolation rooms. 

The DMW committed to do an accounting and inspection of the said houses and report back to the Senate Committee. 

Tulfo also asked the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) whether it properly inspected accommodation houses. 

Fire Chief Superintendent Alma Abacahin, Director for Fire Safety Enforcement of BFP NHQ said recruitment agencies apply for fire safety inspection certificates for their offices, but not for accommodation houses.

"If certain business establishments will not apply for permits in our office, then we cannot inspect them outright or we cannot monitor," Abacahin said. 

Tulfo did not accept this reasoning and ordered the BFP to go to recruitment agencies and ask if they have accommodation houses, and inspect these.