Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ABIGAIL FAYE C. FERRIOL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been hailed as the country's modern day
heroes.

Millions of our countrymen have gone abroad with the hopes of seeking greener
pastures. They have made huge sacrifices in pursuing a risky if not dangerous undertaking for
the chance of improving their families’ plight. We are all familiar with their life stories consisting
of leaving behind loved ones, missing the childhood of their children and incurring huge debts —
all for the opportunity to provide for their families and kin, and escape poverty.

In the Filipinos’ collective pursuit of a better life for themselves and their families, the
country's economy became an unwitting beneficiary. There is no doubt that the remittance of
OFWs is an important and valuable component of our economy. The money lovingly sent by the
OFWs have the OFWs' families and the country as direct and indirect beneficiaries respectively.

Notwithstanding the important role of OFWs, they remain victims of abuse and
corruption, especially in the course of their travel. Unscrupulous airport personnel subject them
to harassment and extortion, exploiting the procedures and process in place. One of the recent
woes of OFWs is the offloading at the airport terminals. This practice has not spared even those
with legitimate and complete travel documents.

It is the aim of this measure to curb the injustice experienced by the OFWs at the
country's airports. By establishing help desks manned by advocates of OFWs' rights, it is hoped
that instances of abuse and harrassment will be minimized. It is imperative that OFWs have
access to immediate assistance and redress in the course of their travel. Providing OFWs with
an efficient service during their travel is one of the ways we could repay our modern day heroes
for their sacrifices.

ABI FE
Representative

Kalinga Party list



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. =

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ABIGAIL FAYE C. FERRIOL

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT
WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED, CREATING OFW
ADVOCATES HELP DESK IN AIRPORT TERMINALS

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

SECTION 1. A new Section 14-A. of Republic Act No, 8042, as amended, is hereby
added to read as follows:

Section 14-A. OFW Advocates Help Desk. - It is the right of OFWs to be
protected from abuse and harassment in the course of their travel. The OFW
Advocates Help Desk is tasked to provide immediate assistance to OFWs in
enforcing their rights and seeking redress in cases of abuse and maltreatment.
The establishment and operations of the help desk shall be a joint undertaking of
various government agencies including, but not limited to, the Department of
Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, Commission on Filipinos
Overseas, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, as well as representatives of sectoral groups
representing OFWs. A help desk shall be placed in each terminal of the country's
airports that offers international flights. The help desk shall be open for twenty-
four (24) hours daily including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and shall be
staffed by the selected personnel of the aforementioned agencies and sectoral
groups. These personnel must be equipped with the knowledge on the rights of
OFWs contained in international conventions, treaties and domestic laws. They
should also be up-to-date with the existing rules, procedures and poli
involving travel and immigration

SEC 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The departments and agencies
charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act, in consultation with the Senate Committee
‘on Labor and Employment and the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers
Affairs, shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary rules
and regulations for its effective implementation.

SEC. 3. Funding. - The departments, agencies, instrumentalities, bureaus, offices and
government-owned and controlled corporations charged with carrying out the provisions of this
Act shall include in their respective programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of


which shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC 4, Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act is,
declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions thereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect thirty (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,