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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2718
Introduced by Representatives Bryan B. Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla, and Ramon 
Jolo B. Revilla III 
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) make tremendous sacrifices to support their 
families and contribute to the nation’s economy. Unfortunately, some lose their lives 
or suffer permanent disabilities while working abroad, leaving their families in hardship. 
This bill seeks to provide educational scholarships to the immediate dependents of 
OFWs—both land-based and sea-based—who died or became permanently disabled 
while working overseas. It aims to help these families by ensuring access to quality 
education for their children or dependents. 
By institutionalizing this support, the government recognizes the heroism of OFWs and 
helps secure a better future for the loved ones they left behind. 
     REP. BRYAN B. REVILLA 
 
REP. LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
Representative, AGIMAT Partylist  
 Representative, 2nd District of Cavite  
REP. RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
Representative, 1st District of Cavite
July 30, 2025
5:00 pm


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2718 
Introduced by Representatives Bryan B. Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla, and Ramon 
Jolo B. Revilla III 
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 following state 
policies as declared the Constitution, to wit: 
1. Section 12, Article II, of the Constitution states: “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 the 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 Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (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;


 
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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 (Php 100,000,000.00) 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,