SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) etic stot
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) ‘Otte ofthe Gieretary
Second Regular Session )
"1B MAY 24 AQ 21
SENATE

COMMITTEE REPORT No._390 —

Submitted jointly by the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources

Development; Foreign Relations; and Finance on MAY 2 4 2018.

Re: Senate BillNo.__ 1819

Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill No. 968.

Sponsor: Senator Villanueva

MR. PRESIDENT:

The Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development; Foreign
Relations; and Finance to which was referred Senate Bill No. 968, introduced by Senator Joel
Villanueva, entitled:

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SOCIAL WELFARE ATTACHES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

have considered the same and have the honor to report it back to the Senate with the
recommendation that the attached Senate Bill No. 1819 entitled:

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE ATTACHE, AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

be approved in substitution of Senate Bill No. 968, with Senators Villanueva and Legarda as
authors thereof.



Respectfully submitted:

CHAIRPERSONS:

LOREN LEGARDA
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development

Commitffe on Labor, Employment and
HumanlResources Development

Vice Chair, Committee on Foreign Relations
Member, Committee on Finance

VICE CHAIRPERSONS:

EI D. PACQUIAO
Committee on Foreign Relations

Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development

CYNT! A. VILLAR,

Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
‘and Human Resources Development

PAN) ‘LACSON
Commkteg/on Finance

Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development

SONNY ANGARA
Committee on Labor, Employment and
Human Resources Development
Committee on Finance

Member, Committee on Foreign Relations

¢ PAOLO BENIGNO AQUINO IV

Committee on Finance

Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development
Member, Committee on Foreign Relations

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO
Committee on Finance

Member, Committee on Foreign Relations
Member, Committee on Labor, Employment
and Human Resources Development

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RICHARD J. GORDON
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

GRACE POE
Coffmitiee on Finance

ROR ROS

Committee on Labor, Employment and
Human Resources Development
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

ERS:

ub Cerrar esfancr S. BINAY

Committee on Labor, Employment and
Human Resources Development
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

WIN GATCHALIAN

Committee on Labor, Employment and
Human Resources Development
Committee on Finance

FRANCIS SCUDERO
Committee on Labor, Employment and
‘Human Resources Development
Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Finance

ANTONIO “SONNY” F, TRILLANES IV
Committee on Labor, Employment and
Human Resources Development

Committee on Foreign Relations

Committee on Finance

Committee on Finance

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EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:

RALPH G,

[GUEL “MIGZ” F, ZUBIRI
President frofempore

ON

finority Leader

Hon. VICENTE C. SOTTO DI
President

‘Senate of the Philippines

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

tarp

18 MAY 24 A921
SENATE
Re &
S.B.No.__1819 _

Prepared by the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development;
Foreign Relations; and Finance with Senators Joel Villanueva and Loren B. Legarda as
authors

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE
ATTACHE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND
OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 2, paragraph (b) of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“(b) The State shail afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized
and unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment
opportunities for all. Towards this end, the State shall provide adequate and timely
social, economic and legal services to Filipino Migrant Workers, ESPECIALLY SINCE
THESE WORKERS ARE VULNERABLE TO EXTREME PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS.”

SEC 2. A new paragraph (e) is hereby inserted in Section 23 of Republic Act
No. 8042, as amended, to read as follows:

“(E) DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT — THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SHALL DEPLOY
SOCIAL WELFARE ATTACHES TO MANAGE CASES OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO:
WORKERS NEEDING PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
IN DISTRESS, SUCH AS VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING, ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT,
SEXUALLY-ABUSED, MALTREATED/MISTREATED OVERSEAS _ FILIPINOS,
ABANDONED/NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE SECTORS IN
COORDINATION WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTRY TEAM AND PREPARE
SOCIAL WELFARE SITUATIONER OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN THE POST.”


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SEC 3. Interpretation in favor of the welfare of overseas Filipino workers,
their families and trafficking victims. - In the interpretation of any provision of this
Act or any rules or regulations issued as a result thereof, the interpretation, which is
most favorable to ensure the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, their families and
trafficking victims shall be controlling. Furthermore, nothing in this Act shall be
interpreted to diminish any right or privilege currently being enjoyed or provided to
OFWs, their families and victims of trafficking.

SEC 4. Funding. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Social
Welfare and Development, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs,
Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Commission
on Filipino Overseas and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate and issue the
implementing rules and regulations for this Act within sixty (60) days after the effectivity
of this Act. The Department of Social Welfare and Development shall also provide the
criteria for determining the selection of Diplomatic Posts to which Social Welfare
Attaches will be deployed and the minimum qualifications and attributes of the Social
Welfare Attachés.

SEC 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section or provision of
this bill is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or provisions hereof shall
remain in force.

SEC 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules,
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days after publication ina
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,