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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez
EXPLANATORY NOTE

"The money that entertainers and other working migrants send home is extraordinary.
Young teachers in the Philppines make an average of US$150 a month compared
with entertainers’ US$500. The transfer of funds from migrants to their home
countries, if lumped together, is one of the largest single movements of money in the
world,

In the Philippines it is estimated eight billion dollars a year, almost three times the
amount the Philippines receives in foreign aid. None of the workers had signed papers
saying they were going to return a single penny. Yet they did send home a vast
amount of money, whole national defense budgets’ worth of money, because of
LOVE."

- Michael Parfit, "Human Migration," National Geographic, October 1998,

The Migrant Workers Act of 1995 (R.A. No. 8042) was passed during the Ramos Administration in
the midst of public outrage over rampant stories of cruelty and degradation inflicted upon our Overseas
Filipino Workers (OFW), most significantly, Flor Contemplacion and Delia Maga. The law thus redefined the
government's policy as regards overseas employment, stating that ‘while recognizing the significant
Contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the national economy through their foreign exchange
remittances, the State does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth
and achieve national development.” This change in policy was accompanied by strong, responsive
measures to protect the welfare of OFWs.

Today, the role of OFWs in promoting the national economy and keeping the national income afloat
is indubitable. Because of the reality that our local economy cannot adequately sustain our population
growth, we have found ourselves in the position of having a comparative advantage in the export of labor. It
is a comparative advantage that must be hamessed fully to expand our national wealth. The term “export
labor” should not be considered as dehumanizing - what we are in fact exporting is the skill and ingenuity
Of the Filipino worker in support of the national economy.


We are also exporting Philippine culture, thus, contributing ‘o the enhancement and strengthening
of the culture of the host country, in addition to enhancing their economic strength

This Act amends the Migrant Workers Act by clafifying tne State's policy as regards overseas
employment. By virtue of this Act, the Stale shall actively promote overseas employment to achieve
national development. The Department of Labor and Employment will likewise be directed to pursue
programs and policies that simply the requirements for overseas employment

Passage of this Bilis earnestly requested.
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iN] ROILO GOLEZ



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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Qc
House BillNo.__ <<

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez

ANACT

LIBERALIZING AND ACCELERATING THE PROCESSING AND DEPLOYMENT OF OVERSEAS
FILIPINO CONTRACT WORKERS, AND APPROPRIATING THE NECESSARY FUNDS THEREFOR

Section 1 Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the “OFW Liberalization Act of 2010.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. In recognition of the significant contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers
(OFWs) to the national economy, itis hereby declared the policy of the State to encourage and actively
promote the export of labor as a means of employment generation and increasing the national income.

Sec. 3. Section 2, Paragraph (0) of Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the “Migrant Workers and
Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995" is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 2.

XXX

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Declaration of Policies ~
XXX XXX

The State recognizes the significant contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the
national economy through their foreign exchange remittances. Hence, the State
shall promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic growth and
achieve national development. The existence of the overseas employment
program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and fundamental human
Tights and freedoms of the Filipino citizens shall not, at any time, be compromised
or violated. The State therefore, shall continuously create local employment
opportunities and promote the equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of
development.

Sec. 4. The Department of Labor and Employment shall promulgate implementing rules and
regulations consistent with the objectives of liberalizing access to employment opportunities abroad. Said
Department shall minimize the inconvenience bome by prospective OFWs transacting with their offices or
agencies in securing overseas employment,


Sec. 6. Nothing in this Act shall detract from the responsibilty of the State and its enforcement
agencies to protect the rights and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the same shall
not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions not affected thereby.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
accordingly,

Seo. 8 Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication two national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,