EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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*19 JUL -2 All -40
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SENATE
S. B. NO.
150
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE INSURANCE FOR COVERED APPLICANTS 
OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are around 2.3 Million 
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)1 who worked abroad at any time during the period April 
to September 2018, excluding Filipino migrant workers who are permanent residents or 
citizens of another country. Meanwhile, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA), there are only about 1,315,584 members as of 2018. This 
means that there around 1 Million OFWs who are unaccounted for by OWWA.
For example, in 2018, news of Filipino truck drivers stationed at Padborg, Denmark 
surfaced.2 During the Senate hearing on this issue, the POEA admitted that the truck 
drivers were undocumented, unmonitored and were only given attention by the Embassy 
after media outlets informed the Embassy of their situation.3
Thus, there is a need to incentivize OFWs who do not go through the procedures 
as prescribed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA), or who have 
ceased to register their membership with the OWWA after their initial deployment, or who 
have transferred to another country by way of third-country recruitment, to register with 
the POEA or with the Philippine Embassy abroad and get their corresponding overseas 
employment certificates (OECs). 
This step will help the government in properly
1 Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.3 Million (Results from the 2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos. Philippine 
Statistics Authority. 2019. Retrieved from: httiib /Znsa ciuv Dh/stalistics/burvey/liilx ir-fi» i h/si if-imifJK rrintp la<;f 
accessed: June 30, 2019)
22 2018, October 31.22 Pinoy truck drivers rescued from ‘deplorable conditions' in Denmark: DFA. Retrieved from:
.hl.t.ps://newb abs-c:bn:(;pm/uyerMeas/U)/31/18/v2-fiiiiuv-tiuck-(lrivers-rebCued-fr()m-ilHiil(ifalilH-( iiriitiiinn<-in-H..n.i<-.4rL- 
dfa (date last accessed: June 30, 2019)
3 November 2 6 ,201 8 Senate Labor Committee Flearing Transcripts, at p. 118.


monitoring OFWs abroad, and to ensure that they are protected from human trafficking 
and abuses.
To this end, this bill seeks to give free insurance coverage to covered OFWs that 
apply for an overseas employment certificate. 
This bill incentivizing undocumented 
Filipino workers to acquire proper documentation in order to receive the benefits and 
protection guaranteed to them by the State, and to devise a system for the State to 
monitor its workers abroad, to ensure that the Filipino people would not have to grieve 
over another loved one who chose the risk to work abroad.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOP/j/OEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. NO. 
150
■«ai y  'S.'firt of th E ^^rrrrfirij
■19 JUL -2 All :40
Kr.< i:iv iul) {i\.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE INSURANCE FOR COVERED 
APPLICANTS OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress of the 
Philippines assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policies. -  The State shall afford full protection to labor, 
local and overseas, organized and unorganized. Towards this end, the State shall 
provide adequate and timely social, legal and economic services to overseas 
Filipinos workers. Pursuant to this, the State shall ensure that all overseas Filipino 
workers are properly monitored and accounted for with due regard for their 
protection and welfare, and that overseas Filipino workers are incentivized to 
make themselves known to Philippine autt)orities abroad.
SEC. 2. Coverage. -  The benefits under this Act shall apply to applicants of 
overseas employment certificates (OECs); Provided, That the applicant-migrant 
worker is abroad; Provided further, That he/she has no prior record with the 
Philippine Overseas Employment Authority (POEA), or if he/she has a prior record, 
is working in a vulnerable sector, as may be determined by the POEA iri 
consultation with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders.
SEC. 3. Benefits. -  Covered migrant workers shall, upon securing an overseas 
employment certificate from the POEA or the Philippine Embassy or consular 
offices abroad shall be given a free one-year insurance with the same or similar 
coverage as required under Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, otherwise known 
as the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.”
SEC. 4. Funding. -  The payment for the premium of the insurance provided under this 
Act shall be funded partly by the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) 
earmarked for the Assistance to Nationals and partly by the appropriations in the General


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Appropriations Act as included in the budget of the POEA. For the first year of the 
implementation of this Act, an initial amount of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000.000.00) is 
hereby appropriated. Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued implementation 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE). DFA, POEA, OWWA. Insurance Commission and other 
relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rule and regulations of this Act 
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.
To ensure the proper implementation of this Act. DOLE. POEA and DFA shall 
establish a system that shall facilitate the processing and issuance of OECs 
abroad.
SEC. 6. Separability Clause. -  If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provision hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with any 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 8. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved.