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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to recognize the invaluable help to economic growth and nation 
building by granting them certain rights and privileges. 
It has been told that if all Overseas Filipino Workers will go on strike for a day, 
the whole world may not be able to function. Imagine the Europeans without 
our nurses, doctors and nannies; or the Singaporeans and Chinese without our 
domestic helpers; or the Arabs without our engineers and construction workers; 
or the Canadians without our caregivers; or the Americans without our IT 
professionals, and yes, the international maritime industry without our 
seafarers. 
Indeed, the Filipino worker has contributed much to the country’s as well as 
the world’s progress. These men and women are truly our modern day heroes 
who kept the Philippines afloat with pride and with their remittances. 
In view of the above, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
n 
MANU 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO RECOGNIZE AND REWARD THE CONTRIBUTION OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO 
WORKERS TO NATION BUILDING, GRANT THEM BENEFITS AND SPECIAL 
PRMLEGESANDFOROTHERPURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policies and Objectives. - Pursuant to Article 11, 
Section 18 of the Constitution, it is the duty of the State to promote the welfare of the 
Overseas Filipino Workers taking into consideration their invaluable help to the 
Philippine economy. Consonant with this constitutional principle, the following are the 
declared policies of this Act: 
a. To motivate and encourage overseas Filipino workers to contribute to 
economic prosperity and nation building; 
b. To encourage them and their families and the communities they live in to 
reaffirm the valued Filipino tradition of "Bayanihan" by rewarding their 
invaluable contribution to Philippine economy with certain rights and 
privileges 
In accordance with these policies, this Act aims to: 
a. Establish mechanisms whereby the contributions of the overseas Filipino 
workers are maximized; 
b. Adopt measures whereby our overseas Filipino workers are assisted and 
appreciated by the community as a whole; 
c. Establish a program beneficial to the overseas Filipino workers, their 
families and the rest of the community that they serve; and 
d. Promote a sustained economic growth by encouraging our overseas Filipino 
workers to invest in the local market thereby further enhancing domestic 
employment and increase of the gross national product. 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term "overseas 
Filipino workers" shall mean any Filipino who is employed overseas, whether 
permanent or contractual, and those who are working in the Philippine Foreign 
Service posted abroad regardless of income and year of service. 


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The term "dependent" shall mean the lawful spouse or parents of the overseas 
Filipino worker who are dependent on him for support; Provided, that dependent shall 
not be entitled to avail of the benefits under this Act if he has already availed of the 
benefits provided under R.A. No. 7432 otherwise known as tile "Senior Citizen Law." 
'SECTION 3. Privileges for the Overseas Filipino Workers. - The overseas Filipino 
workers shall be entitled to the following: 
a. 
The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount from all establishments 
relative to utilization of transportation services, hotels and similar 
lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers and purchases 
of cell cards or credits for mobile phone, medicine and family residence 
anywhere in the country and payment for tuition fee for college education 
of children; 
A minimum of twenty percent (20%) discount on admission fees charged 
by theaters. cinema houses arid concert halls, circuses, carnivals and 
other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement; 
A minimum of fifty percent (50%) discount from payment of boarding 
pass to airline; 
Exemption from training fees for socio-economic programs; and 
Free medical and dental services in government establishment anywhere 
in the country, subject to guidelines to be issued by the Department of 
b. 
c. 
d. 
e. 
Health. 
SECTION 4. Dependent Privileges. - The State shall provide the following 
assistance to the dependents of the overseas Filipino workers: 
a. The grant of ten percent (10%) discount from all establishments 
relative to utilization of transportation services, hotels and similar 
lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers and 
purchases of medicine and cell cards or credits for mobile phone 
anywhere in the country; 
b. A minimum of ten percent (10%) discount on admission fees charged 
by theaters. cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals and 
other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement; 
c. A minimum of thirty percent (30%) discount from payment of 
boarding pass to airline; 
d. Exemption from training fees for socio-economic programs; and 
e. Free medical and dental services in government establishment 
anywhere in the country, subject to guidelines to be issued by the 
Department of Health. 


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SECTION 5. Tax Credit. - The private establishment that provided the privileges 
or discount set forth under Sections 3 and 4 hereof shall be entitled to claim the grant 
of privileges or discount as tax credit. 
SECTION 6. The Office for Overseas Filipino Workers Affairs (OFFWA). There 
shall be established in every municipality and OOFWA and for this purpose the Social 
Worker of the Department of Social Welfare Development in every municipality shall 
be deputized as head of OFFWA. The functions of this office are: 
a. Maintain a register of overseas contract workers and their dependents in the 
municipality; 
b. Regularly update on a quarterly basis the list of overseas Filipino workers 
and to issue nationally uniform individual identification cards which shall 
be valid anywhere in the country; 
c. Implement and monitor yearly work programs pursuant to the objectives of 
this Act; 
d. Service as a general information and liaison center to serve the needs of the 
overseas Filipino workers and dependents. 
SECTION 7. Penalties. - Violation of any provision of this Act for which no 
penalty is specifically provided under any other law shall be punished by 
imprisonment not exceeding one (1) year or a fine not exceeding Five thousand pesos 
(P5,OOO.OO) or both. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Labor and 
Employment through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and Philippine 
Overseas Employment Administration, jointly, with the Department of Finance, 
Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government and the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations to fully carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SECTION 9. Appropriation. - The National Government shall appropriate such 
amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, 
including rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/ or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be 
held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 


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SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall lake effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,