HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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BY:

REGISTRATION UN
BILLS AND INDEX SERVIC!

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )

99
HOUSE BILL NoLOe3

Introduced by ANGKLA Party-list Representative JESULITO A. MANALO

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

Based on available records of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the
number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked abroad at anytime
middle of 2015 was estimated at 2.4 million, with at least 97.1 % possessed
with legal employment contracts. The apparent magnitude of our OFW
population has undeniably helped sustain the socio-economic development of
our nation.

Their mounting annual dollar remittances are considered significant
sources of human capital development, since the money goes straight to their
households and address various needs for their family’s sustenance such as
food, shelter and education. Further, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP
reported earlier this year that the total cash remittances sent via the formal
banking networks by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) summed to $25.76
Billion in 2015, up 4.6 percent from $24.63 billion in 2014

Verily, our OFWs remain the backbone of our economy, for which we
regard them us our modern day heroes.

It is a perceived notion of many Filipinos that working overseas offers better
opportunities for employment and higher source of income. Once in foreign soil
or in the high seas however, they become vulnerable to various sorts of perils.
Unfortunately, many of our migrant workers, both land-based and sea-based


based are either subject to abuses or ill-treatment by their employers or get
into accidents or illnesses. In the worst cases, they die, leaving families with
no sufficient source of livelihood, and their children unable to finish their
education.

This proposed measure seeks to establish an educational scholarship
program for the immediate dependents of OFWs who died or suffered total
and permanent disabilities while working abroad. As they dauntlessly risk
their lives and limbs to uplift the welfare of their families, and ultimately our
nation, such a scholarship program is but a small, but meaningful way of
giving back to them. Indeed, an institutionalized program, which would
assure OFW dependents of a state-funded educational support in case of their
death or permanent disability, would be a fitting recognition of their
invaluable contribution to our economy.



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )

HOUSE BILL NOLO2S

Introduced by ANGKLA Party-list Representative JESULITO A. MANALO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM FOR IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO
WORKERS (OFWs), BOTH SEA-BASED AND LAND-BASED, WHO DIED
OR SUFFERRED PERMANENT DISABILITIES WHILE WORKING
ABROAD OR OVERSEAS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the
“OFW Dependents Educational Scholarship Act of 2016.”

SEC. 2. 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.

SEC. 3. 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 states: “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.”


NV

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.”

:

Section 3, (2) of the same article which says: “The State shall defend: (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.”

-

. Section 2, (3) Article XIV of the Constitution provides: “The State shall:
(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.”

a

Article 149 of the Family Code refers to the family as a “basic social
institution which public policy cherishes and protects.”

2

. 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.”

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms
shall be defined as:

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.

©). “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:


1). 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

2). Registered by the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas
Filipinos Resource Center or by the Embassy.

Those who do not fall under the preceding paragraph are considered
undocumented OFWs or Migrant Workers.

e). “Undocumented Filipinos” refer to those:
1. who acquired their passports through = fraud or
misrepresentation;
who possess expired visas or permits to stay;
who have no travel document whatsoever;
who have valid but inappropriate visas;
who leave the country to work abroad without any
documentation from the POEA;
6. who initially have papers from the POEA but whose validity
expired.

PEN

SEC. 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.

SEC. 6. Appropriation. - 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.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is hereby tasked to implement
this Act and shall, in coordination with the Department of 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.


SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, rules and regulations which may be inconsistent with any of the
provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

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

Approved,