DATE O4

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ty
Quezon City, Metro Manila SQINOES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1 1027

hs, Tawe 4° 5PM

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

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

For decades, Overseas Filipino Workers (OF Ws) have been considered as our modern-
day heroes. They are a critical force in boosting the national economy through their remittances.
Despite their sacrifices of being in a foreign land away from their family, they provide for their
families and contribute to the economic stability of the country. However, many OFWs face

dangerous working conditions in foreign lands. Some OF Ws have met their untimely death or

permanent disabilities due to these conditions.

This bill seeks to provide educational scholarships to the immediate dependents of
OFWs who have died or suffered total and permanent disabilities while working abroad or
overseas. By ensuring that these dependents have access to education, we are ensuring that the

affected families are empowered with the knowledge necessary for personal and professional

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growth. This measure will ensure that the children who are left behind can secure a better future

through education.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

CRISPIN DIEGO “PII

” D. REMULLA


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila.

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

11027

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR
IMMEDIATE DEPENDENTS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OF Ws),
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.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — This Act is in furtherance of the State policies of the
Constitution, to wit:

a) Section 12, Article I, of the Constitution, states that 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 the 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;


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1)

Section 1, Article XV, of the Constitution, provides that 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 states that the State shall defend 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;

d

Section 2, (3) Article XIV of the Constitution provides that the State shall 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;

e

Article 149 of the Family Code refers to the family as a basic social institution
which public policy cherishes and protects; and
f) Section 18, Article II of the Labor Code states that the State affirms labor as a
primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote
their welfare.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
a) Overseas Filipino Workers (OF Ws) shall refer to a person, whether documented or
undocumented, who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a
renumerated 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, o 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;


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c) Total and permanent disability is 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 Department

of Migrant Workers; or

Registered by the Migrant Workers and Other Overseas Filipino Resource
Center or by the Embassy.

Those who do not fall under the preceding paragraph are considered

undocumented OF Ws or Migrant Workers; and

e) Undocumented Filipinos refer to those:

iii.

vi.

Who acquired their passports through fraud or misrepresentation;
Who possess expired visas or permits to stay;

Who have no travel documents whatsoever;

Who have valid but inappropriate visas;

Who leave the country to work abroad without any documentation from the
POEA; and

Who initially have papers from the POEA but whose validity expired.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 5. Objective. — The paramount objective of this Act is to provide assistance to

immediate dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers who died or suffered a total and


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permanent disability while working abroad or overseas by providing educational scholarship
programs as a form of recognition by the State of the OFW’s significant contribution to the
national economy.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to effectively implement the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 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), the Department of Education (DepEd), the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA), and other concerned agencies, formulate the necessary
implementing rules and regulation to effectively implement the provisions of this Act within
ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or parts

thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any major newspaper of general circulation in the

Philippines.

Approved,