Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XV, provides: 
Section 1. The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. 
Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development. 
Despite the economic benefits brought by overseas employment, there are attendant 
costs in terms of family displacement. OFW reports link social problems, such as 
broken marriages, drug addiction, sexual immorality, crime, suicide or psychological 
breakdowns to the long separations between spouses and children.   
The bill seeks to protect and strengthen the Filipino family by establishing OFW Family 
Centers that shall provide welfare assistance and counseling services to the families 
of OFW. It also seeks to direct the DMW to develop a comprehensive re-unification, 
reintegration and re-placement plan for returning OFWs. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
August 3, 2023
2:05 pm
8753


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A WELFARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO 
FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND BY OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS 
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 “Left-Behind Households 
of OFWs Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of State Policy. – It is declared policy of the State to strengthen 
the solidarity of the family and actively promote its total development.  The State 
recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.   
Towards this end, the Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to, to the 
maximum extent practicable, sustain harmony of the family and prepare families for 
future reintegration of OFWs. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A)
“Center” means the Overseas Filipino Workers Family Center.
(B)
“Left-Behind Household” means families left behind by Overseas Filipino
Workers to work abroad.
(C)
“Overseas Filipino Worker” or “OFW” means any Filipino citizen who is
temporarily working in any country outside the Philippines.
(D)
“Administration” means the Department of Migrant Workers or “DMW.”
8753


 
(E)  
“Secretary” means the Secretary of DMW. 
 
Sec. 4. OFW Family Centers. – 
(A)  
Centers. – The Secretary shall establish OFW Family Centers nationwide, 
using the facilities of its regional offices, or any of the regional offices of the 
Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Social and Welfare 
Development. The purposes of each Center are – 
(1) 
To provide welfare assistance and counseling services to the families of 
OFWs;  
(2) 
To serve as coordinating office to non-government organizations and 
associations that cater to the plight of OFWs;  
(3) 
To serve as a link of left-behind households to various services and/or 
agencies of the government on overseas employment.  
(B)  
Location of Centers. – Each Center shall be strategically located in every 
municipality where there is a large population of families who have relatives 
working abroad. 
(C)  
Jurisdiction. – The responsibilities of each Center shall be centered on the 
welfare of left-behind families of OFWs.   
 
Sec. 5. Left-Behind Household Organizations. – DMW shall facilitate the 
establishment of organizations or support groups of families left behind by migrant 
workers.  It shall also provide a venue for the interaction of members of families of 
migrant workers.   
 
Sec. 6. Report to Congress. – Three years from the passage of the provisions of this 
Act, the DMW shall report to Congress the number of cases brought to the various 
Centers and the intervention provided. A yearly statistical report shall be submitted to 
the Department of Labor and Employment and other concerned agencies.   
 
 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such sums as may 
be necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
 


 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause.  – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,