Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bint No. _7813

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is truly a reflection on our collective attitude towards our fellow Filipinos who work
overseas that while we consider them as modem-day heroes, not much is being done to advance
and promote their welfare. Indeed, while there are government agencies under the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE), particularly the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), these
government agencies are based in Metro Manila. In cases where there are field offices, it is a set
up wherein these agencies are sharing space with a major government agency like the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the DOLE, creating an impression that services
rendered by the POEA and the OWWA are token services to make the OFWs in the country
believe we all value them.

For while line agencies of the government do have regional and provincial offices which
are regularly appropriated with funds for personnel services, capital outlay and miscellaneous and
other operating expenses, the OFWs rarely have near access to field offices of the OWWA and
POEA which are both based in the national capital region. The OFWs and their families thus have
to go to these offices at great expense and effort to be able to transact business. To think that
collectively, our OFWs contribute no less than $20 billion in remittances which help the Philippine
economy remain afloat

Truth be told, the other line agencies will pale in comparison to the OWWA and the POEA
in terms of significance to our toiling OFWS. And in every town, city and province throughout the
Philippine islands, we have pockets of communities of OFWs and their dependents who need
assistance in terms of overseas employment and economic well-being.

There is then an urgent need to establish, provincial and regional offices of the OWWA
most particularly, complete with a personnel complement and operational budgets which would
act as frontline offices for the OFWs in the areas they are most needed.

Approval of this bill is then earnestly sought.

“DV” B. Savellano
District, locos Sur

Hon. Deogracia
Representati


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

7913
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING OWWA OFW CENTERS IN EVERY PROVINCE AND REGION OF
THE COUNTRY PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFRORE AND OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. There is hereby established, in every province and region, of the country am
OWWA OFW Center.

Section 2. The Secretary pf Labor and Employment shall immediately include in the
department's programs, the operationalization of the OWWA-OFW's Centers in provinces
and cities throughout the Philippines, the funding of which shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

Section 3. Implementation. The Administrator of the OWWA shall issue rules and
regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

Section 4: Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after its publication in at least two (2)
newspaper of general circulation

Approved,