Senator Christopher Bong Go supported the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 1744, or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, on Monday, March 9.
Go, who is a co-author and co-sponsor of the measure, voted in favor of the bill, which seeks to prohibit and eliminate abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices while ensuring that legitimate lenders can still collect debts through lawful means.
The bill is consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 11765, which strengthens safeguards for consumers availing of financial services and products.
Under the bill, creditors, financing companies, and lending firms are prohibited from harassing or engaging in oppressive and abusive conduct in the course of collecting debts. The measure aims to curb unethical practices by some debt collectors who resort to intimidation, public shaming, or other forms of harassment against borrowers.
“Dapat protektado ang ating mga kababayan laban sa pang-aabuso at pananakot ng ilang mapagsamantalang debt collectors. Hindi tama na ginagamit ang harassment at kahihiyan,” Go said.
The measure also safeguards the acquisition of location information of debtors. It provides that any debt collector communicating with a person other than the debtor for the purpose of locating the debtor must ensure that the collection of personal data is done with proper safeguards and in accordance with the law.
“May karapatan ang bawat tao na tratuhin nang may respeto at dignidad. Hindi dapat sila ipahiya o guluhin ang kanilang pamilya, kaibigan, o katrabaho para lamang malaman ang kanilang kinaroroonan,” Go added.
At the same time, the bill recognizes the rights of creditors to collect legitimate debts. It states that debt collectors may use all reasonable means to collect amounts due them, provided that such actions remain within the bounds of the law.
Go noted that the measure aims to strike a balance between protecting borrowers and ensuring that lenders can lawfully recover debts.
“Hindi natin ipinagkakait sa mga debt collectors ang kanilang karapatang maningil. Ngunit dapat itong gawin sa maayos, makatao, at legal na paraan,” he said.
The bill also clarifies that the protections under the measure shall apply only to debtors acting in good faith.
On the same session day, Go voted in favor of the Amendments to the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act; and National Autism Care, Support and Inclusion bill that were also passed on third and final reading.
