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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

No. 2025

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY:

REPRESENTATIVE MARISSA “DEL MAR” P. MAGSIN
ONE FILIPINOS WORLDWIDE (OFW) PARTYLIST

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is one of the principal
agencies of the State mandated by law, particularly Republic Act No. 10801, otherwise
known as the “Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Act”, to serve and promote the
rights, interest and welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families.

It is vested with special functions to protect the interest and promote the welfare
of member-OFWs in all phases of overseas employment, to facilitate the implementation
of the provisions of the Labor Coded of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442, as
amended) and the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995 (Republic Act No.
8042, as amended, to provide social and welfare programs and services to member-
OFWs, including social assistance, education and training, cultural services, financial
management, reintegration and entrepreneurial development services, to provide
prompt and appropriate response to global emergencies or crisis situation affecting
OFWs and their families, to ensure the efficiency of collections and viability and
sustainability of the OWWA Fund through sound, judicious, and transparent investment
and management policies, to undertake studies and researches for the enhancement of
the social, economic, and cultural well-being of member OFWs and their families, to
develop, support and finance specific projects for the welfare of member OFWs and
their families, and to ensure implementation of all laws and ratified international
conventions within its jurisdiction.

‘The OWWA is directed and controlled by a Board of Trustees which acts as its
policy-making body. The Board is presently composed of thirteen (13) members, to wit:


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Secretary of Labor and Employment, as Chairperson;

OWWA Administrator, as Vice Chairperson;

Secretary of Foreign Affairs;

Secretary of Finance;

Secretary of Budget and Management;

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator;

Two (2) representatives from the land-based OFWs who are nominated
and appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No.
8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

Two (2) representatives from the sea-based OFWs who are nominated
and appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No.
8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

One (1) representative from the women sector who is nominated and
appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as
amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

One (1) representative from the land-based recruitment sector who is
selected from among the various associations of registered overseas
placement and recruitment agencies based in the Philippines; and

One (1) representative from the sea-based manning sector who is selected
from among the various associations of registered overseas placement
‘and recruitment agencies based in the Philippines.

The specific responsibilities and powers of the Board of the Trustees are as

follows:
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To define the thrusts of the OWWA and adopt policy guidelines to ensure
their implementation;

To approve programs, projects, and the organizational structure of the
OWWA Secretariat;

To preserve the integrity of the OWWA Fund;

To modify or adjust the membership contribution and other necessary
charges based on periodic reviews and actuarial studies, subject to due
consultation with OFWs or nongovernment organizations (NGOs)
advocating the protection of the rights and welfare of OFWs and their
families;

To formulate rules and regulations governing financial transactions and
prepare the annual and supplemental budget of the Secretariat for
submission to the DBM;

To formulate rules and regulations governing the conduct and discipline
of OWWA officials and employees in accordance with civil service rules;
To ensure the efficiency of collection and the viability and sustainability
of the fund through sound and judicious investment and fund
management policies;


(h) To receive and appropriate all sums to carry out the purposes and
functions of the OWWA;

(i) To authorize the construction or repair of its buildings, machinery,
equipment and other facilities, the purchase and acquisition of real and
personal properties, including the necessary supplies, materials and
equipment;

@ To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal
property of all kinds, and to administer and dispose the same when
necessary for the benefit of the OWWA general membership and subject
to the instructions of the donor, if any;

(kK) To delegate any of its powers to the Chairperson of the Board or to the
Administrator of the OWWA Secretariat in case of any national
emergency that affects the rights and welfare of its member-OFWs and
their families;

(To prescribe such general policies, rules and regulations, not contrary to
law, consistent with the purposes of the OWWA subject to due
consultation with OFWs or NGOs advocating the protection of the rights
and welfare of OFWs and their families; and

(m) To exercised such, powers as may be proper and necessary to carry out
the objectives of the Act.

Hence, the direct significance of the functions of the Board relative to the
promotion of the rights, interest and welfare of the OFWs and their families cannot be
understated.

In recognizing thereof, Republic Act No. 8042, or the “Migrant Workers and
Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995”, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022, declared as one
of its policies to recognize and guarantee the right of Filipino migrant workers and all
overseas Filipinos to participate in the democratic decision-making processes of the
State and to be represented in institutions relevant to overseas employment. Thus, it
mandated for additional members of the OWWaA’s Board who shall come from the sea-
based and land-based OFWs and the women sectors, to be selected and nominated
openly by the general membership of the sectors being represented.

To promote greater participation in decision-making, this bill seeks to further add
to the membership of the land-based and sea-based OFW sector in the OWWA’s Board
of Trustees from two (2) to three (3) each, thereby increasing the total membership of
the Board from thirteen (13) to fifteen (15). This will help towards creating policies and
designing services reflective of the real needs and circumstances of the sector, enriched
with their additional experience and expertise.

Representation is at the core of democratic processes and is the link between the
representatives and the sectors or interests represented in ensuring that their true


sentiments and preferences are adopted in the decision-making process. In the context
of the doctrine of the ‘rule of the majority’, an increase in the membership of a particular
sector in a multi-sectoral governing body enhances the chances of its position being
considered and taken. It will also facilitate the generation of more valuable inputs from
additional competent and motivated minds representing the sector. For after all, the
rights, interest and welfare of the sector concerned are the primary reasons for the
existence of the established governing body.

Foregoing disquisitions considered, the immediate consideration and approval of

the foregoing measure is earnestly urged.
UPd Mo! ,

MARIS$A “DEL MAR” P. MAGSIN‘


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

26

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY:

REPRESENTATIVE MARISSA “DEL MAR” P. MAGSINO
ONE FILIPINOS WORLDWIDE (OFW) PARTYLIST

AN ACT
INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS
(OFW) SECTORAL REPRESENTATIVES IN THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION (OWWA),
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10801,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION ACT’

SECTION 1. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 10801, otherwise known as the ‘Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration Act’, is hereby amended to read as follows :

Section 20. The OWWA Board of Trustees. —To carry out the purposes of this
‘Act, the OWWA shall be directed and controlled by a Board of Trustees which
shall act as its policy-making body. It shall be composed of the following
members:

(a) Secretary of Labor and Employment, as Chairperson;

(b) OWWA Administrator, as Vice Chairperson;

(©) Secretary of Foreign Affairs;

(d) Secretary of Finance;


(e) Secretary of Budget and Management;
() POEA Administrator;

(g) THREE (3) representatives from the land-based OFWs who are
nominated and appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act
No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

(h) THREE (3) representatives from the sea-based OFWs who are
nominated and appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act
No. 8042, as amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

(i) One (1) representative from the women sector who is nominated and
appointed in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as
amended by Republic Act No. 10022;

One (1) representative from the land-based recruitment sector who is
selected from among the various associations of registered overseas
placement and recruitment agencies based in the Philippines, who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines to serve a single term of three
(3) years; and

(kK) One (1) representative from the sea-based manning sector, who is selected
from among the various associations of registered overseas placement and
manning agencies based in the Philippines, who shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines to serve a single term of three (3) years.

The Trustees holding office as members of the OWWA Board at the time of
the effectivity of this Act shall continue to serve until the expiration of their
term of appointments.

In case of vacancy in any of the appointive positions in the OWWA Board, the
vacancy shall be filled by the subsequent nomination of the respective sector
concerned, in the same manner as the selection of the predecessor. Such
successor shall hold office for the unexpired term.

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.