Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR 
IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs), 
BOTH SEA-BASED AND LAND-BASED, WHO DIED OR SUFFERED 
PERMANENT DISABILITIES WHILE WORKING ABROAD OR OVERSEAS, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have contributed greatly to nation-
building and economic development in the country. In 2018, the Bangko 
Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have noted that personal remittances was a major 
driver of domestic consumption making up 9.7 percent of our gross domestic 
product (GDP), and 8.1 percent of our gross national income (GNI). 
As a sign of our gratitude, we have called our OFWs our "Modern 
Day Heroes". Despite the significant value they bring in to the economy, 
they continue to face problems while in the line of duty abroad. In cases 
of death or permanent disability, the State should be able to support their 
immediate dependents especially with regard to their education. 
This bill seeks to establish an educational scholarship program for 
immediate dependents of OFWs, both sea-based and land-based, who died 
or suffered permanent disabilities while working abroad or overseas. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
September 6, 2022
11:09 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR 
IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs), 
BOTH SEA-BASED AND LAND-BASED, WHO DIED OR SUFFERED 
PERMANENT DISABILITIES WHILE WORKING ABROAD OR OVERSEAS, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “OFW Dependents 
Scholarship Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – This Act is in furtherance of the State 
Policies provisions of the Constitution, to wit: 
1. Section 12, Article II, of the Constitution state: “The State recognizes
the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as
a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of
the mother and the life of unborn from conception. The natural and
primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic
efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the
support of the Government.”
2. Section 1, Article XV, of the Constitution provides: “The State recognizes
the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall
strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.”
3. Section 3, (2) of the same article which says: “The State shall defend:
(2) The right of children to assistance, including, proper care and
nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse,
cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their
development.”
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4. Section 2, (3) Article XIV of the Constitution provides: “The State shall: 
(3) Establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan 
programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to 
deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the 
underprivileged.” 
 
5. Article 149 of the Family Code refers to the family as a “basic social 
institution which public policy cherishes and protects.” 
 
6. Section 18, Article II, of the Labor Code states: “The State affirms labor 
as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers 
and promote their welfare.” 
 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the term: 
(a) “Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)” shall refer to a person, whether 
documented or undocumented, who is to be engaged, is engaged or has 
been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is 
not a citizen, or on board a vessel navigating the foreign seas other than 
a government ship used for military or non-commercial purposes, or on 
an installation located offshore or on the high seas; to be used 
interchangeably with migrant worker; 
 
(b) “Immediate dependent” refers to the legitimate, legitimated or legally 
adopted, unmarried and not gainfully employed child of an Overseas 
Filipino Worker; 
 
(c) “Total and permanent disability” if as a result of the injury or sickness 
the person is unable to perform any gainful occupation for a continuous 
period exceeding 120 days. 
 
(d) “Documented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) or Migrant Workers” refer 
to those: 
i. 
who possess valid passports and visas, or permits to stay in 
the host country and whose contracts of employment have 
been processed by the POEA’ or 
ii. registered by the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas 
Filipinos Resource Center or by the Embassy. 
Those who do not fall under the preceding paragraph are 
considered undocumented OFWs or Migrant Workers. 
 
(e) “Undocumented Filipinos” refer to those: 
i. 
who 
acquired 
their 
passports 
through 
fraud 
or 
misrepresentation; 
ii. who possess expired visas or permits to stay: 
iii. who have no travel document whatsoever; 
iv. who have valid but inappropriate visas; 
v. who leave the country to work abroad without any 
documentation from the POEA; 


 
vi. who  initially have papers from the POEA but whose validity 
expired. 
 
SECTION 4. Coverage. – This Act shall cover immediate dependents of 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether documented or undocumented, 
who died or suffered total and permanent disabilities while working abroad. 
The said immediate dependents are interested and qualified to pursue an 
educational course or training primarily in the field of science and technology. 
 
SECTION 5. Objective. – The paramount objective of this Act is to provide 
assistance to immediate dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers who died or 
suffered total and permanent disability while working abroad or overseas by 
providing educational scholarship programs as a form of recognition by the 
State of the OFWs’ significant contribution to the national economy. 
 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to effectively 
implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. However, for the initial budgetary requirements of this 
Act, the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) is hereby 
appropriated for the purpose. 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of the 
Department of Migrant Workers is hereby tasked to implement this Act and 
shall, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
Department Education (DepEd), the Philippine Overseas Employment 
Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 
(OWWA), and other concerned government agencies, formulate the necessary 
implementing rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of 
this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.  
 
SECTION 8. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or 
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or 
repealed accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,