SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodrigue? and > -~
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3804

EXPLANATORY NOTE

International labor mobility is increasing, as a matter of policy and a matter of fact.
Today, the number of Overseas Filipino workers has increased almost 26-fold over the past
20 years, with nearly 1.2 million registered deployments to over 190 countries in 2006 alone.
Although government policy initially focused on exporting professionals, OFW occupations
abroad have diversified over time to include factory workers, construction workers, and
service workers, such as care givers and domestic helpers.

In 2006, a total of 91,411 domestic helpers and other household workers were
deployed overseas. Of this number, 98 percent or nearly 90,000 are female. Most of them
were deployed to the following areas: Hong Kong (19,632), Kuwait (19,097), Saudi Arabia
(11,898), United Arab Emirates (11,844), Lebanon (7,710), Qatar (6,524), Jordan (4,359),
Singapore (3,162), Oman (2,068), Cyprus (1,178) and Bahrain (1,343). In 2007, the
Philippines deployed a total of 49,431 workers to Singapore, part of the 1.08 million
who went overseas for work that year.

In 2012, statistics from the Department of Labor show that 2,111,000 Overseas
Contract Workers were deployed to different countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and
North and South America.

There are numerous reports of maltreatment and exploitation suffered by our OFWs.
Henee, there is a need to protect and ensure the welfare of our migrant workers. This bill
seeks to provide compulsory welfare insurance for our overseas contract workers.

In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought.

RUFUS'B. RODRIGUEZ

woah JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

3801

House Bill No.

AN ACT
PROVIDING COMPULSORY WELFARE INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL OVERSEAS
CONTRACT WORKERS

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Overseas Contract Workers Insurance

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared a policy of the State to ensure the
welfare of our overseas contract workers by providing insurance program without cost on
their part.

SEC. 3. Benefits under the Insurance Program. ~ All overseas contract workers shall be
covered by a welfare insurance program in addition to benefits being provided by Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration. They shall be entitled to the following benefits:

a.) Accidental Death Benefit of up to US$15,000;

b.) Survivor's Benefit, in case of Natural Death, of up to S$10,000;

c.) Permanent Total Disablement of up to US$7,500;

d.) Repatriation of Bodily Remains, including burial, of up to US$15,000;

e) Repatriation due to Emergency Evacuation and legitimate causes of up to
USsi,000;

1.) Subsistence Allowance of US$100 per month for six months totaling US$600;
and

4g) Legitimate Monetary Claims for Unpaid/Rightful and Just Wages of up to
US$4,500.

SEC. 4. Insurance Premium. ~ All recruitment agencies shall pay a premium of USS 3.00
per month to Overseas Workers Welfare Administration for the insurance coverage of
overseas contract workers.

SEC. 5. Penalty. - In case of failure to pay the premium on time, the recruitment agency
shall be liable to pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum. Refusal fo pay premium for at
least three consecutive months shall be a ground for the suspension or revocation of the
recruitment agency's license.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — The Department of Labor and
Employment shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of the
provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
deciared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones,
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

— a
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3802

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our overseas workers (OFWs) could be affected by the US-led global financial crisis.
Arrecession in the United States, Europe and Japan would cause many of our OFWs to lose
their jobs, Besides Singapore, France, Ireland and New Zealand are now officially in
recession. The Philippines is vulnerable to the present crisis because of its overseas
workers. There are around eight milion Filipinos overseas or nearly one-tenth of the
Philippine population,

In 2006, a total of 91,411 domestic helpers and other household workers were
deployed overseas. Of this number, 98 percent or nearly 90,000 are female. Most of them
were deployed to the following areas: Hong Kong (19,532), Kuwait (19,097), Saudi Arabia
(11,898), United Arab Emirates (11,844), Lebanon (7,710), Qatar (6,524), Jordan (4,359),
Singapore (3,162), Oman (2,068), Cyprus (1,178) and Bahrain (1,343).

in 2007, the Philippines deployed a total of 49,431 workers to Singapore, part of the
1.08 million Filipinos who went overseas for work that year.

In 2012, the Philippines deployed around 2,220,000 Overseas Filipino Workers many
of whom went to the Middle East, including Lebanon and Jordan; and in Asia

Another problem is the large numbers of migrant workers without proper documents
in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, In times of an economic
slump, the first thing that governments do is crack down on undocumented workers because
they are seen as a burden on the economy and a problem to society. More than 53 million
migrant workers from Asia employed worldwide, mostly in the Gulf countries and the Middle
East. Many are low and middle skilled laborers.

‘The government should be ready for the influx of jobless OFWs from the crisis-ridden
countries. This bill seeks. to provide loans to returning OFWs.

Ih view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought.

RUFYS B. RODI EZ

wate ore JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, 3802

AN ACT
PROVIDING CREDIT ASSISTANCE TO RETURNING OVERSEAS WORKERS
AFFECTED BY CURRENT GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Returning Overseas Workers Credit
Assistance Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to ensure the
welfare of returning overseas workers affected by the current global financial crisis by
providing them access to credit facilities

SEC. 3. Loan. - A returning overseas contract worker affected by the current global financial
crisis may avail of a loan of not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) from the
Overseas Workers and Welfare Administration (OWWA).

SEC. 4. Payment of Loan. - The loan shall be paid in twelve (12) equal monthly
installments at a preferred interest rate not to exceed six percent (6%) per annum.

SEC. 5. Appropriation. — The amount of P1,000,000.00 from the sale of government's
shares in Petron Corporation is hereby appropriated to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - The OWWA shall promulgate the rules
and regulations for the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones,
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

3803

EXPLANATORY NOTE

House Bill No.

The Philippines has been hit by a numerous maritime tragedies that claimed
‘over 4,000 lives in the past 25 years. On December 20, 1987, MV Dona Paz collided
with MT Vector. The disaster was considered the deadliest ferry disaster in maritime
history with more than 4,000 people died. Recently, the country experienced a series
of maritime tragedies with the sinking of MV Catalyn B on December 24, 2009, and
MV Baleno 9 on December 26, 2009

Other sea mishaps include the sinking of MV Dona Marilyn on October 24,
1988; MV Princess of the Orient on September 18, 1998; and MV Princess of the
Stars on June 21, 2008. On May 23, 2009, a small passenger boat Commando 6
capsized,

‘And just last August 16, 2013, the MV St. Thomas Aquinas sank after colliding
with a cargo ship, MV Sulpicio Express Siete claiming 114 lives.

‘Alarmed by the successive maritime tragedies, there is an immediate need to
investigate these maritime accidents, determine the probable or root cause(s)
thereof, issue recommendations for maritime safety measures, and a thorough
evaluation of the effectiveness of government agencies involved in maritime
transportation.

The Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) is an ad-hoc body created to investigate
these maritime accidents but it seems that it has been inept in performing its
functions. The composition of the BMI is made up of people from MARINA and the
PCG. This could lead to a conflict of interests as what the BMI are investigating are
maritime accidents which, more often than not, involve the MARINA and the PCG.

The bill therefore seeks for the creation of an independent National Marine
Transportation Safety Board that would effectively address these maritime issues
and prevent the recurrence of these sea tragedies.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly requested.

RUFWS B. RODRI

MAXI . RODRIGUEZ, JR.


‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr.

House Bill No. 3803

AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL MARINE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
(NMTSB) OF THE PHILIPPINES

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

Section 1. Declaration of Policy - The State shall create an independent agency
known as the National Marine Transportation Safety Board of the Philippines
dedicated to promoting marine safety, investigating sea disasters and pointing
responsibility where such is warranted.

Section 2. Objective - The Safety Board shall be mandated by Congress to
investigate marine transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the
marine accidents, issue safety recommendations, study marine transportation safety
issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in
marine transportation,

The Safety Board shall also be mandated to make public its actions and
decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports,
safety recommendations, and statistical reviews

Section 3. Coverage - The Safety Board shall determine the probable cause of:
‘a, major marine accidents and any marine accident involving @ public
and a nonpublic vessel; and
b. marine transportation accidents that involve problems of a recurring
nature or are catastrophic.

Section 4. Jurisdiction and Authority - The Safety Board shall have the authority to
a. conduct special studies on marine safety problems;
b. maintain official Philippine census of maritime accidents,
¢. review appeals from merchant seamen whose certificates have
been revoked or suspended; and
d. evaluate the effectiveness of emergency responses to maritime
accidents.

Section 5. Subpoena Powers - The Safety Board shall have the power to:
a. issue a subpoena requiring the attendance of any person before the
Safety Board and for the production of any document or record relevant to the
investigation; and
. to cause any person contemptuous of any such subpoena to be
prosecuted before a competent Court.

Section 6. Composition - The Safety Board shall be composed of five (5) Members
who are appointed for five-year terms by the President, from a list of recommendees