Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 9589
Inttoduced by HONORABLE JUAN JOHNNY R,REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill proposes to establish a Global Identification System that would identify overseas
workers as legitimate Overseas Filipino Workers

There is currently an estimated 10 million Overseas Filipino Workers across many countries in
the world. These OF Ws have contributed immensely to the economic and financial development of our
country through their foreign remittances that saved the Philippines from financial crisis in previous
years. They are now regarded as present-day heroes for their great sacrifice of being separated from
their families to be able to ear decent income to provide their loved-ones and also support our
economy,

In recognition therefore of the valuable contributions of our OFWs in sustaining our country’s
financial stability, they should be protected from unnecessary abuse and exploitation for the duration of
their employment overseas. This bill then obligates the issuance of an OFW Card that will serve as the
primary and only identification card for all Overseas Filipino Workers as well as the linkage to various
government agencies where the OFW can access their services

Considering the importance of this bitt;immediate passage is earnest]

HON. JUAN JOHNNY R. REVILLA
OFW Family Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 5589

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN JOHNNY R. REVILLA

ANACT
ESTABLISHING AN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW) GLOBAL IDENTIFICATION
SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY LEGITIMATE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS.

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

SECTION 1. The Philippine Government, through the participation of several government agencies
shall institute an Identification System covering all Overseas Filipino Workers employed abroad. The OFW ID
System shall produce an OFW Card which will serve as the primary and only identification card for all Overseas
Filipino Workers.

SEC. 2. The OFW Card shall contain the following:

Workers Name

Date of Birth

Workers latest Photo

OFW Card Number

Validity Dates of OFW Card

Philippine Passport Number and Expiration Date
Worker's Type of Work Visa

Validity Date and Expiration Date of Work Visa
Country of Employment

Employer's Name

trem mene ce

SEC. 3. The machine readable OFW Card shall be issued in the Philippines through the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) for all new OFWs prior to departure to country of employment.
Currently employed OFWs shall be issued the Card by the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the country of
employment

SEC. 4, The OFW Card will also contain electronically the following information

a. Social Security Number,
b. PAG-IBIG member number and
¢. PhilHealth membership number,

SEC. 5. The POEA shall work closely with the following government agencies deemed significant
partners in implementing the OF W Card

a, Department of Labor and Employment through its Philippine Overseas Labor Offices
b, Department of Foreign Affairs through its Migrant Affairs Office
©. Philippine Statistics Authority


d. Social Security System
¢. PAG-IBIG Fund
f PhilHealth

SEC. 6, The OFW card shall be linked with the Social Security System and will provide access to the
member OF Ws contribution summary, Similarly, the OFW Card will be linked with the PAG-IBIG Fund’s
system so that the member OFW may be able to access his/her contribution summary through the agency's
website, The OFW Card will likewise be linked to the PhilHealth’s system allowing the member OFW to view
his/her premium payments,

‘The OFW shall continue to make payments to the authorized collection centers of the Social Security
System, PAG-IBIG and PhilHealth,

SEC. 7. The Department of Foreign Aflairs through its Embassies and Consular Offices across the world
shall coordinate and communicate with the Employment Country’s Immigration Department, Ministry of Interior
and Ministry of Home Affairs, Police Agencies or their equivalent government offices, to recognize the OF W
Card as an official and valid Identification Card of the Overseas Worker during the period of employment.

SEC. 8. The OFW Card shall likewise allow the Worker to prepay the Overseas Employment Certificate
requirements for the term of employment.

SEC. 9. The lead agency in the implementation of this Act shall be the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration (POEA). It shall determine, define and disseminate information regarding the requirements of
this Act. The POEA shall also be responsible for the monitoring compliance with this Act.

SEC. 10. The POEA shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act not later than three (3) months from the effectivity of this law.

SEC. 11. This Act Shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,