Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4251 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE USE OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND AND THE 
AGARANG  KALINGA AT SAKLOLO PARA SA MGA OFWS NA 
NANGANGAILANGAN (AKSYON) FUND, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 26 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE “MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS 
ACT OF 1995”, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 14 OF REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 11641, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT OF 
MIGRANT WORKERS ACT” 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine government recognizes the invaluable contributions of 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and affirms its constitutional mandate to 
afford full protection to labor, local and overseas. Despite their critical role in 
sustaining the national economy, OFWs often face legal and judicial challenges 
abroad—ranging 
from 
investigation, 
detention, 
arrest, 
indictment, 
to 
prosecution—often without the benefit of immediate legal assistance or 
representation. 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrines the State’s commitment to 
afford full protection to labor, local and overseas. In line with this policy, the 
Philippine government continues to pursue measures that safeguard the rights and 
welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), who remain vulnerable to legal, 
labor, and criminal challenges abroad. 
September 1, 2025
3:49 pm


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This bill seeks to institutionalize and strengthen the availability of the 
Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) and the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga 
OFW na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund, ensuring that they are accessible 
to OFWs from the moment of investigation, detention, arrest, or indictment, 
through trial and at all levels of appeal. Legal representation during these critical 
stages is vital in protecting the rights of OFWs, particularly in jurisdictions where 
they face systemic disadvantages. 
Significantly, this proposed measure expands the coverage of the LAF to 
include the filing of labor complaints against abusive or erring employers, as well 
as criminal actions against other individuals in receiving countries. This broader 
scope reflects the evolving nature of threats faced by OFWs—not just from 
foreign legal systems, but also from exploitative employment conditions and 
third-party actors. 
Moreover, this measure seeks to clearly delineate the mandates of the 
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers 
(DMW) in providing legal assistance to overseas Filipinos. While the primary 
function of legal representation remains with the DFA, consistent with existing 
law, the DMW is tasked with coordinating and ensuring timely and effective 
delivery of such assistance, pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 
11641. This delineation promotes efficient inter-agency collaboration and avoids 
duplication of efforts in assisting distressed OFWs. 
This bill was previously filed by Representative Christian Tell A. Yap, 
Rep. Teodorico T. Haresco, Jr., and Rep. Ron P. Salo in the Nineteenth Congress, 
where it was primarily referred to the Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs 
and was approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A.  ACIDRE 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4251 
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Yedda 
Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE USE OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND AND THE 
AGARANG  KALINGA AT SAKLOLO PARA SA MGA OFWS NA 
NANGANGAILANGAN (AKSYON) FUND, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 26 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS 
ACT OF 1995," AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 14 OF REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 11641, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “DEPARTMENT OF 
MIGRANT WORKERS ACT” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress  assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as 
the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," as amended, is 
hereby further amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 26. Uses of the Legal Assistance Fund. – The Legal 
Assistance Fund created under the preceding section, WHICH HAS 
BEEN RETAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS (DFA) PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 OF REPUBLIC 


2 
 
ACT 
NO. 
11641, 
OTHERWISE 
KNOWN 
AS 
THE 
“DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS ACT”, shall be 
used 
[exclusively] 
to 
provide 
legal 
AND 
CONSULAR 
ASSISTANCE services to [migrant workers and] OTHER overseas 
Filipinos [in distress] in accordance with the guidelines, criteria and 
procedures TO BE promulgated BY THE DFA [in accordance with 
Section 24 (a) hereof]. The expenditures to be charged against the 
LEGAL ASSISTANCE Fund shall include the fees for the foreign 
lawyers to be hired [by the Legal Assistant for Migrant Workers 
Affairs] to represent [migrant workers] OVERSEAS FILIPINOS 
facing charges, EXPENSES FOR THE [or in] filing OF LABOR 
AND/OR CRIMINAL cases against erring or abusive employers OR 
OTHER PERSONS abroad, bail bonds to secure the temporary 
releases and other litigation expenses: PROVIDED, THAT THE 
LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND SHALL, AT ALL TIMES, BE 
MADE 
AVAILABLE 
FROM 
THE 
TIME 
OF 
THE 
INVESTIGATION, DETENTION, ARREST OR INDICTMENT 
OF THE OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ALL THE WAY TO THE 
TRIAL PROPER, AND AT ALL LEVELS OF APPEAL 
THEREAFTER: Provided, FURTHER, That at the end of every 
year, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall include in its report to 
Congress, as provided for under Section 33 of this Act, the status of 
the Legal Assistance Fund, including the expenditures from the said 
fund duly audited by the Commission on Audit (COA): Provided, 
furtherMORE, That the hiring of foreign legal counsels AND 
OTHER RELEASES OF FUNDS FOR OTHER EXPENSES 
RELATED TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, when 
circumstances warrant urgent action, shall be exempt from the 


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coverage of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement 
Act. 
 
THE 
ABOVEMENTIONED 
PROVISION 
SHALL 
SIMILARLY APPLY TO THE UTILIZATION OF THE 
AGARANG KALINGA AT SAKLOLO PARA SA MGA OFWS 
NA NANGANGAILANGAN (AKSYON) FUND BY THE 
DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS FOR CASES 
REQUIRING LEGAL ASSISTANCE, IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11641. 
 
IN COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES WHERE THERE 
ARE NO MIGRANT WORKERS OFFICES YET, THE DFA 
SHALL EXTEND LEGAL AND OTHER FORMS OF 
ASSISTANCE TO OFWS LOCATED IN SAID AREAS.” 
 
SECTION 2.  Section 14 of Republic Act No. 11641, otherwise known as 
the “Department of Migrant Workers Act," is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 14.  Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na 
Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund. – The Agarang Kalinga at 
Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (AKSYON) Fund is 
hereby established to provide legal and other forms of assistance to 
OFWs, separate from the funds managed by the DFA. The DFA shall 
retain ATN and Legal Assistance Funds for the benefit of other 
Filipinos overseas and for consular assistance services. An 
appropriate amount shall initially be provided for the AKSYON Fund 
in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment 


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into law and an appropriate amount for every year thereafter to 
provide assistance to OFWs at Foreign Service Posts where MWO 
have been established and staffed.  
 
“THE EXPENDITURES TO BE CHARGED AGAINST 
THE AKSYON FUND SHALL INCLUDE THE FEES FOR THE 
FOREIGN LAWYERS TO BE HIRED TO REPRESENT OFWS 
FACING CHARGES, EXPENSES FOR THE FILING OF 
LABOR AND/OR CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST ERRING OR 
ABUSIVE EMPLOYERS OR OTHER PERSONS ABROAD, 
BAIL BONDS TO SECURE THE TEMPORARY RELEASES 
AND OTHER LITIGATION EXPENSES: PROVIDED, THAT 
THE AKSYON FUND SHALL, AT ALL TIMES, BE MADE 
AVAILABLE FROM THE TIME OF THE INVESTIGATION, 
DETENTION, ARREST OR INDICTMENT OF THE OFWS 
ALL THE WAY TO THE TRIAL PROPER, AND AT ALL 
LEVELS 
OF 
APPEAL 
THEREAFTER: 
PROVIDED, 
FURTHER, THAT AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR, THE 
DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS  SHALL REPORT 
TO THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE 
CREATED UNDER SECTION 25 OF THIS ACT THE STATUS 
OF 
THE 
AKSYON 
FUND, 
INCLUDING 
THE 
EXPENDITURES FROM THE SAID FUND DULY AUDITED 
BY THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT (COA): PROVIDED, 
FURTHERMORE, THAT THE HIRING OF FOREIGN LEGAL 
COUNSELS AND OTHER RELEASES OF FUNDS FOR 
OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PROVISIONS OF 
THIS SECTION, WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT 


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URGENT ACTION, SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE 
COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9184 OR THE 
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT REFORM ACT.” 
 
Within thirty (30) days from the promulgation of this Act, the 
Secretary, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue the 
necessary guidelines regarding the use of the AKSYON Fund.  
 
A sufficient sum shall be appropriated to the DFA to perform 
functions of the MWO in Foreign Service Posts where there is yet no 
such office.” 
 
SECTION 3. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of 
Migrant Workers shall, in consultation with the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration and other stakeholders, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity 
of this Act, formulate the necessary rules and regulations for its effective 
implementation. 
 
SECTION 4. All laws, presidential decrees, orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,