Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

1521

House Bill No._

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are now being dubbed as
“Overseas Filipino Investor’ (OF) for their undeniable immense contribution in our
economy through their remittances, property acquisition and business ventures.
According to Commission on Population (POPCOM), an estimated of ten percent
(10%) of the country's population or about eight (8) million Filipinos are migrant
workers distributed in 182 countries. More and more Filipinos are leaving the
country in search of more lucrative jobs abroad. However, before they leave the
country, applicants have to undergo a difficult application process, comply a lot of
requirements, endure long lines as well as attend to various trainings and
seminars.

In the interest of promoting the welfare of our migrant workers, this
proposed measure seeks to liberalize ‘and accelerate the processing and
deployment of the OFWs. The bill proposes to lessen the processing time of all the
necessary documents as well as reduce in half the fees being collected by the
government. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership
with the local government units shall set OFW kiosks in their localities with the
objective of providing current information to their constituents on all the processes
and aspects of overseas employment. Also the DOLE with the assistance of the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Health (DOH) shall
interact and negotiate with the receiving countries regarding their medical, dental,
psychological or physical examination requirements to ensure that a large number
of medical clinics for OFWs, including government hospitals or clinics from all over
the country are accredited and recognized to provide such examinations to OFWs.

With the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.
2” District, Province of lloilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1521

House Bill No._

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Overseas
Filipino Worker (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, it is 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. Liberalization and Acceleration of Deployment of OFWs. —
Consistent with the declaration of policy, the government shall implement the
following actions to liberalize and accelerate the processing of documents of
OFWs

(a) The processing period of all documents needed by OFWs shall be
reduced to a maximum of six (6) weeks. The database of all
government agencies and offices catering to the documentary
requirements of OFWs shall be fully computerized and
interconnected to facilitate the fast release and authentication of
documents needed by OFWs. Modern information and
communications technology, such as the internet, shall be
pursued to simplify and facilitate the processing of documents;

(b) The fees being collected from the OFWs shall at all times be
reasonable. Upon the effectivity of this Act, the fees being
collected by government agencies from the OFWs shall, as far as
practicable, be cut in half;

(c) The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall enter into
partnership with the local government units regarding the setting
up of OFW kiosks in their localities with the objective of providing
current information to their constituents on all the processes and
aspects of overseas employment. Such kiosks shall be fully
computerized and shall be linked to the database of all concerned
government agencies, particularly the Philippine Overseas


Employment Administration (POEA), for its updated list of
overseas job orders and licensed recruitment agencies; and

(d) The DOLE, with the assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs
(DFA) and the Department of Health (DOH), shall, immediately
upon the effectivity of this Act, interact and negotiate with the
receiving countries regarding their medical, dental, psychological
or physical examination requirements to ensure that a large
number of medical clinics for OFWs, including government
hospitals or clinics from all over the country are accredited and
recognized to provide such examinations to OFWs. Monopoly of
a few medical clinics and the decking practice in whatever form
shall not be allowed.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOLE, in coordination
with all government agencies catering to the documentary requirements of OFWs
for overseas employment such as, but not limited to, the DFA, the DOH, the
POEA, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority, the National Bureau of Investigation, the
National Statistics Office and the Maritime Industry Authority, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 5. Nothing in this Act shall detract from the responsibility of the State
and its enforcement agencies to protect the rights and welfare of OFWs.

SEC. 6. Funding. - The DOLE shall include in its program the
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act

SEC. 7. 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. 8. 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.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,