Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 126

Tntroduced by Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay, DIWA Party-list

EXPLANATORY NOTE

there are no concrete resources allotted to their implementation. As such, in line with House Bills
no. 1243 and 5331, this bill aims to create a Special Assistance Fund for Overseas Filipino
Workers in Distress, to ensure that our overseas countrymen who are most in need shall be
Provided with, not just the cold comfort of intangible promises, but the financial aid necessary to
ensure their freedom and good health.

They certainly deserve no less

Banta fy TB
EMMELINE Y,. AGLIPAY

Representative, DIWA Party-list



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No 126

Introduced by Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay, DIWA Party-list

AN ACT

PROVIDING AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS
IN DISTRESS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Distressed OFW Assistance
Act of 2013,”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State that full
protection must be accorded to overseas workers, particularly those who are forced to seek
employment abroad in order to provide for their families at home. Furthermore, this
assistance to overseas Filipino worker must be without distinction, covering both
documented and undocumented migrant workers.

SECTION 3. Creation of Fund. - A Special Assistance Fund for Overseas Filipino
Workers in Distress, in the amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is hereby
created. The fund shall be utilized for the following purposes:

(a) Repatriation;
(6) Medical expenses, hospitalization and purchase of medicine in the form of
vouchers for six (6) months from arrival;

(©) Migration fees for overstaying Filipinos;

() Legal assistance including litigation expenses, legal fees, payment of
translation fees, attendance in court hearings;

(©) _ Basic necessities of OFWs caught in emergencies or are detained.

Provided, That at least thirty percent (30 %) of the total fund shall be allotted to provide
monetary support, in the form of a lump sum payment not in excess of Fifty Thousand
Pesos (PHP 50,000.00) for each recipient, to be given to overseas workers who have been


the victims of abuse from their employers, or those who have been repatriated from host
countries due to natural or man-made calamities.

SECTION 4. Transparency. - In the utilization of the Fund, the principles of
accountability and transparency must be fully observed. As such, every Filipino citizen has
a right to, and shall, on request, be given access to any information pertinent to this law,
when such information is under the control or in the possession of any government agency
involved in the implementation of this law. Government agencies involved in the
implementation of this law shall maintain appropriate records of their actions under this
Jaw, particularly with regard to the disbursements of funds and the identity of recipients.

SECTION 5. Implementing Agencies and Rules. - The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) is hereby tasked to implement this Act, and shall coordinate with
and be supported by the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of
Foreign Affairs. The abovementioned agencies, in consultation with the Department of
Budget and Management and representatives of the private sector, and recognized overseas
labor organizations, shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The fund needed to initially implement the provisions of
this Act must be sourced primarily from the General Appropriations Act. The
appropriation allotted to the Assistance to Nationals and Legal Assistance Fund in the
Department of Foreign Affairs, and to the OWWA, shall serve as core fund for the
program. Thereafter the yearly PHP 1 Billion appropriation shall be sourced from the
earnings of the Bureau of Immigration, Duty- Free Philippines, passport processing fees of
the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other
relevant offices or agencies as may be recommended and identified in the implementing
rules and regulations.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved.