SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1858 
j,etllltr 
leu,;,.f tI!,~rrr't .. ~ 
'13 
OCT 16 
A11 :07 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It has consistently been a matter of government policy to provide every 
possible manner of aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters who toil 
overseas. But even the best policies must fail if there are no concrete resources 
allotted to their implementation. As such, in line with House Bills no. 1243 and 
5331, this bill aims to create a Special Assistance Fund for Overseas Filipino 
Workers in Distress, to ensure that our overseas countrymen who are most in 
need shall be provided with, not just the cold comfort of intangible promises, 
but the financial aid necessary to ensure their freedom and good health. 
They certainly deserve no less. 
\ 
<5 C:J-=-
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
1 


SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
) 
) 
£'cnai!: 
(~fft;f"! 111' _i!,mt"'~ 
First Regular Session 
'13 
OCT 16 All :07 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
1858 
Introduced by SENATOR JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING AN 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO 
WORKERS IN DISTRESS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSgS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title.-
This Act shall be known as the 
"Distressed OFW Assistance Act of 2013." 
SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy 
of the State that full protection must be accorded to overseas workers, 
particularly those who are forced to seek employment abroad in order to 
provide for their families at home. Furthermore, this assistance to 
overseas Filipino worker must be without distinction, covering both 
documented and undocumented migrant workers. 
SECTION 3. Creation of Fund. - A Special Assistance Fund for 
Overseas Filipino Workers in Distress, in the amount of One Billion Pesos 
(Pl,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby created. The fund shall be utilized for the 
following purposes: 
(a) 
Repatriation; 
(b) 
Medical expenses, hospitalization and purchase of medicine in 
the form of vouchers for six (6) months from arrival; 
(c) 
Migration fees for overstaying Filipinos; 
(d) 
Legal assistance including litigation expenses, legal fees, 
payment of translation fees, attendance in court hearings; 
(e) 
Basic necessities of OFWs caught in emergencies or are 
detained. 
Provided, That at least thirty percent (30 %) of the total fund shall be 
allotted to provide monetary support, in the form of a lump sum payment 
2 


not in excess of Fifty Thousand pesos (PHP 50,000.00) for each recipient, 
to be given to overseas workers who have been the victims of abuse from 
". their employers, or those who have been repatriated from host countries 
due to natural or man-made calamities. 
SECTION 4. Transparency. - In the utilization of the Fund, the 
principles of accountability and transparency must be fully observed. As 
such, every Filipino citizen has a right to, and shall, on request, be given 
access to any infofmation pertinent to this law, when such information is 
under the control or in the possession of any government agency involved 
in the implementation of this law. Government agencies involved in the 
implementation of this law shall maintain appropriate records of their 
actions under this law, particularly with regard to the disbursements of 
funds and the identity of recipients. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Agencies and Rules. - The Overseas 
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is hereby tasked to implement 
this Act, and shall coordinate with and be supported by the Department of 
Labor and Employment, and the Department of Foreign Affairs. The 
abovementioned agencies, in consultation with the Department of Budget 
and Management and representatives of the private sector, and recognized 
overseas labor organizations, shall issue the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) 
days after its effectivity. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. -
The fund needed to initially 
implement the provisions of this Act must be sourced primarily from the 
General Appropriations Act. The appropriation allotted to the Assistance 
to Nationals and Legal Assistance Fund in the Department of Foreign 
Affairs, and to the OWWA, shall serve as core fund for the program. 
Thereafter the yearly PHP 1 Billion appropriation shall be sourced from 
the earnings of the Bureau of Immigration, Duty- Free Philippines, 
passport processing fees of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine 
Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other relevant offices or agencies as may 
be recommended and identified in the implementing rules and 
regulations. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. -. If any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and 
effectivity of the other provisions hereof. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, 
presidential decrees, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
3 


SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen 
(15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
4