i CUS" OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines IVED
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ¥A78.0
Quezon City, Metro Manila Twes I Pap
ay

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESY BY :
First Regular Session

i
!

REGIST) >> -

House Bill No, 873 BILLS AND INDEX s.-.<

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay — Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It has consistently been a matter of government policy to provide every possible
manner of aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters who toil overseas. But even the best
policies must fail if there are no conerete resources allotted to their implementation. As such,
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.

heart %. Unllar
EMMELINE Y. AGLIPAY ~ VILLAR
Representative, DIWA Party-list

Page 1 of 4


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Emmeline Y. Aglipay ~ Villar

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 OF W
Assistance Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis 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 forthe following purposes:

(a) Repatriation;

©) 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
ies of OF Ws caught in emergencies or are detained.

court hearings;

©

Page 2 of 4


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. Goverment agencies involved in the
implementation of this law shall maintain appropriate records of their actions under this
law, 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.

Page 3 of 4


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,

Page 4 of 4