EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
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'19 
DEC 12 
P12 -02
RcCbi;. 0
S.B. No. 1233
(In Substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 230 and 872)
Prepared by the Committees on Labor, Employment and Human Resources 
Development; and Foreign Relations with Senators Dela Rosa, Binay and 
Villanueva as authors thereof
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE USE OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, 
AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND 
OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995
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SECTION 1. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the "Migrant
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Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," as amended by Republic Act No. 10022,
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is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SEC. 26. Uses of the Legal Assistance Fund. - The Legal Assistance 
Fund created under the preceding section shall be used exclusively to 
provide legal services to migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in 
distress in accordance with the guidelines, criteria and procedures 
promulgated in accordance with Section 24(a) hereof. The expenditures 
to be charged against the Fund shall include the fees for foreign lawyers 
to 
be 
hired 
by 
the 
[Legal 
Assistant] 
OFFICE 
OF 
THE 
UNDERSECRETARY for Migrant Workers Affairs to represent migrant 
workers facing charges or in filing cases against erring or abusive 
employers AND OTHER OFFENDERS abroad, IN OBTAINING bail 
bonds to secure the temporary release OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND 
OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN DISTRESS, AND OTHER KINDS OF 
BONDS REQUIRED BY THE FOREIGN COURT, AGENCY OR
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TRIBUNAL WHERE THE CASE IS PENDING, and other litigation 
expenses.
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IN ADDITION, EXPENDITURES FOR THE HIRING OF PARALEGALS 
IN ALL FOREIGN POSTS MAY ALSO BE CHARGED AGAINST THE 
FUND. 
SUCH 
PARALEGALS 
SHALL 
PROVIDE 
PARALEGAL 
SUPPORT, LANGUAGE TRANSLATION AND OTHER SERVICES TO 
OVERSEAS FILIPINOS AND MIGRANT WORKERS IN DISTRESS: 
PROVIDED, THAT SAID PARALEGAL SHALL BE PROFICIENT IN 
LOCAL LAWS, RULES AND PROCEDURES, AND HAVE EXTENSIVE 
KNOWLEDGE ON THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF THE 
FOREIGN COUNTRY WHERE SUCH PARALEGAL IS ASSIGNED 
AND/OR HIRED. THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND SHALL, AT ALL 
TIMES, BE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE TO ALL MIGRANT WORKERS 
AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN DISTRESS WHO INITIATE OR WHO 
IS IMPLEADED IN ANY TYPE OF CASE INITIATED IN THE FOREIGN 
POST, FROM THE TIME OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE 
COMPLAINT, ACTION OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING, AND IN ALL 
STAGES OF THE PROCEEDING UNTIL PROMULGATION AND 
EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT AND AT ALL LEVELS OF APPEAL.
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[Provided, That] At the end of every year, the Department of Foreign 
Affairs shall include in its report to Congress, as provided for under 
Section 33 of this Act, the status of the Legal Assistance Fund, including 
the expenditures from the said fund duly audited by the Commission on 
Audit (COA): Provided, further. That the hiring of foreign legal counsels, 
when circumstances warrant urgent action, shall be exempt from the 
coverage of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Act."
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SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the
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approval of this Act, the Department of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with the
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Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration,


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Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Commission on Filipino Overseas,
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and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the
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implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions
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of this Act, and to ensure that the Legal Assistance Fund is immediately and at all
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times available to all migrant workers and Overseas Filipinos in distress in accordance
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with this Act. If practicable, the implementing rules and regulations may also authorize
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the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to delegate the authority to approve an expenditure
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chargeable to the Fund to the head of Post, subject to existing rules and regulations
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of the Commission on Audit (COA).
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SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
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part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended
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or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
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circulation.
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Approved,