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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 1826

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The exodus of migrant workers, due to limited employment opportunities in the
country, has opened doors for capitalizing and scheming companies to take advantage of
the vulnerability of Filipinos seeking employment abroad. Illegal recruitment has
become a commonplace especially in the provinces. And when some of our overseas
Filipino workers (OFWs) finally leave the country, they become an easy prey to
exploitation and abuse including contract violations, sexual harassment, violence and
discrimination.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is the main arm of
the government mandated to undertake a systematic program of promoting and
monitoring the overseas employment of Filipino workers, including the regulation of
private sector participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers, as
well as protect their rights to fair and equitable employment practices.

The main objective of this bill is the establishment of a POEA satellite office to be
situated in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol to address the continuing problem of
illegal recruitment in the province as well as to ensure that contractual terms and
conditions work to the best benefit of the OFW. This satellite office will also make it
expedient for the Boholanos to secure necessary clearance, permits and other
documents for their employment overseas, check on the legality of the recruiting agency,
decongest the regional office in Cebu City and improve the promotion and protection of
prospective and presently employed OFWs.

The cliché, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish,
and you feed him for a lifetime,” when referring to workers, is passé. The new thrust in
today’s seamless world, with respect to migrant workers, is, “It’s not only teaching them
to fish but making sure that they are safe when fishing.”

For the above considerations, the passage of this law is earnestly sought.

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REP. EDGAR M. CHATTO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ___1826

Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO
First District, Bohol

“AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATION (POEA) SATELLITE OFFICE IN THE CITY OF
TAGBILARAN, PROVINCE OF BOHOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”

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

SECTION 1. Establishment ~ There shall be a satellite office of the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in the City of Tagbilaran, Province of
Bohol.

SECTION 2. Appropriation — The amount necessary to implement the
provisions of this Act shall initially come from the savings of the POEA. Thereafter, such
sum as may be necessary for the effective operation and maintenance of said office shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations — The Secretary of the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Administrator of the POEA shall formulate and
issue the necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,