MANILA, Philippines—The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that protects the remittances of over two million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from "sudden and unilateral" fees. Sen. Joel Villanueva said Senate Bill (SB) 1917 or the proposed Overseas Filipino Workers' Remittance Protection Act overhauls the country's remittance system for OFWs. The senator said the measure, which he authored, addresses long-standing abuses that have "quietly eaten into the earnings of millions of migrant workers and their families." "Many OFWs remain trapped in an outdated remittance system — one that quietly chips away at their hard-earned income through excessive fees, hidden charges, and unclear foreign exchange practices," Villanueva said. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions, and Currencies, said the bill "is not intended to target the industry." "This bill is not anti-business. It advances a balanced system — one that allows fair returns for service providers, while ensuring strong protection for those whose only capital is their labor, time, and sacrifice," Villanueva said. It seeks to streamline remittance charges and requires full disclosure of fee structures, and mandate stakeholder consultations before any adjustments to fees are made, he added.