FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2804

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our overseas workers (OFWs) could be affected by the US-led global
financial crisis. A recession in the United States, Europe and Japan would
cause many of our OFWs to lose their jobs. Besides Singapore, France, Ireland
and New Zealand are now officially in recession. The Philippines is vulnerable
to the present crisis because of its overseas workers. There are around eight
million Filipinos overseas or nearly one-tenth of the Philippine population.

In 2006, a total of 91,411 domestic helpers and other household workers
were deployed overseas. Of this number, 98 percent or nearly 90,000 are
female. Most of them were deployed to the following areas: Hong Kong
(19,532), Kuwait (19,097), Saudi Arabia (11,898), United Arab Emirates
(11:84), Lebanon (7,710), Qatar (6,524), Jordan (4,359), Singapore (3,162),
‘Oman (2,068), Cyprus (1,178) and Bahrain (1,343).

In 2007, the Philippines deployed a total of 49,431 workers to Singapore,
part of the 1.08 million Filipinos who went overseas for work that year.

‘Another problem is the large numbers of migrant workers without proper
documents in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. In
times of an economic slump, the first thing that governments do is crack down
on undocumented workers because they are seen as a burden on the economy
and a problem to society. More than 53 million migrant workers from Asia
employed worldwide, mostly in the Gulf countries and the Middle East. Many
are low and middle skilled laborers.

The government should be ready for the influx of jobless OFWs from the
crisis-ridden countries. This bill seeks to provide loans to returning OFWs.

In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought.

MAXIMO ’B. RODRIGEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No__2804

AN ACT
PROVIDING CREDIT ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING OVERSEAS
WORKERS AFFECTED BY CURRENT GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Returning Overseas
Workers Credit Assistance Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared a policy of the State to
ensure the welfare of returning overseas workers affected by the current global
financial crisis by providing them access to credit facilities

SEC. 3. Loan. — A retuming overseas contract worker affected by the current
global financial crisis may avail of a loan of not more than Fifty Thousand
Pesos (P50,000.00) from the Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration
cowwa).

SEC. 4. Payment of Loan. — The loan shall be paid in twelve (12) equal
monthly installments at a preferred interest rate not to exceed six percent (6%)
per annum.

SEC. 5. Appropriation. - The amount of P1,000,000.00 from the sale of
government's shares in Petron Corporation is hereby appropriated to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The OWWA shall
promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the
Provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any part
thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable
from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.


SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All iaws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. —This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
‘complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,