Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 
FOR IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS 
(OFWs), BOTH SEA-BASED AND LAND-BASED, WHO DIED OR 
SUFFERED PERMANENT DISABILITIES WHILE WORKING ABROAD OR 
OVERSEAS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish an educational scholarship program for OFW 
dependents who died or suffered permanent disabilities while working abroad or 
overseas. 
It is noteworthy that our unsung modern-day heroes have contributed greatly and 
continues to do so in the growth of our country’s economy. In fact, according to the 
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, personal cash remittances from our OFWs reached 
US$36.14 billion in 2022 which accounted for 8.9% of the Philippines’ gross domestic 
product. 
While we recognize our OFWs contribution, it is but timely to give back to them 
by giving their dependents a scholarship program in case the uncertainty of working 
abroad incapacitates them to provide for their families and dependents. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this proposed measure is highly 
recommended. 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
Representative 
MARINO Party-list 
May 31, 2023
4:12 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 
FOR IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS 
(OFWs), BOTH SEA-BASED AND LAND-BASED, WHO DIED OR 
SUFFERED PERMANENT DISABILITIES WHILE WORKING ABROAD OR 
OVERSEAS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “OFW Dependents Scholarship Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – This Act is in furtherance of the State Policies provisions 
of the Constitution, to wit:  
1) Section 12, Article II, of the Constitution state: “The State recognizes the sanctity of
family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social
institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of unborn from
conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth
for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of
the Government.”
2) Section 1, Article XV, of the Constitution provides: “The State recognizes the Filipino
family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and
actively promote its total development.”
3) Section 3, (2) of the same article which says: “The State shall defend: xxx (2) The right
of children to assistance, including, proper care and nutrition, and special protection
from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial
to their development.”
4) Section 2, (3) Article XIV of the Constitution provides: “The State shall: xxx (3)
Establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies,
and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and
private schools, especially to the underprivileged.”
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5) Article 149 of the Family Code refers to the family as a “basic social institution which 
public policy cherishes and protects.”  
 
6) Section 18, Article II, of the Labor Code states: “The State affirms labor as a primary 
social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.” 
 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the term:  
 
a) “Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW)” shall refer to a person, whether  documented or 
undocumented, who is to be engaged, is engaged or has  been engaged in a remunerated 
activity in a state of which he or she is  not a citizen, or on board a vessel navigating 
the foreign seas other than  a government ship used for military or non-commercial 
purposes, or on  an installation located offshore or on the high seas; to be 
used  interchangeably with migrant worker;  
 
b) “Immediate dependent” refers to the legitimate, legitimated or legally adopted, 
unmarried and not gainfully employed child of an Overseas Filipino Worker;  
 
c) “Total and permanent disability” if as a result of the injury or sickness the person is 
unable to perform any gainful occupation for a continuous period exceeding 120 days.  
 
d) “Documented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) or Migrant Workers” refer to those:  
 
i. 
who possess valid passports and visas, or permits to stay in the host country and 
whose contracts of employment have been processed by the POEA’ or  
ii. 
registered by the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipinos Resource 
Center or by the Embassy.  
iii. 
Those who do not fall under the preceding paragraph are considered 
undocumented OFWs or Migrant Workers.  
 
e) “Undocumented Filipinos” refer to those:  
i. 
who acquired their passports through fraud or misrepresentation;  
ii. 
who possess expired visas or permits to stay;  
iii. 
who have no travel document whatsoever;  
iv. 
who have valid but inappropriate visas;  
v. 
who leave the country to work abroad without any documentation from the 
POEA; 
vi. 
who initially have papers from the POEA but whose validity expired. 
  
Section 4. Coverage. – This Act shall cover immediate dependents of Overseas Filipino 
Workers (OFWs), whether documented or undocumented, who died or suffered total and 
permanent disabilities while working abroad.  The said immediate dependents are interested 
and qualified to pursue an educational course or training primarily in the field of science and 
technology.  
 
Section 5. Objective. – The paramount objective of this Act is to provide assistance to 
immediate dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers who died or suffered total and permanent 
disability while working abroad or overseas by providing educational scholarship programs as 
a form of recognition by the State of the OFWs’ significant contribution to the national 
economy.  


 
Section 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to effectively implement the provisions of 
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. However, for the initial 
budgetary requirements of this Act, the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos 
(P100,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the purpose. 
  
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of the  Department of 
Migrant Workers is hereby tasked to implement this Act and  shall, in coordination with the 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department Education (DepEd), the 
Philippine Overseas Employment  Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration  (OWWA), and other concerned government agencies, formulate the 
necessary  implementing rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of  this 
Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity. 
   
Section 8. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to diminish, 
impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, 
or specific sectors under existing laws. 
  
Section 9. Separability Clause. – If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
Section 10. Repealing Clause – All existing laws, orders, decrees, letters of instruction, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, 
modified, or repealed accordingly. 
 
Section 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,