Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

964

HOUSE BILL NO.

introduced by Honorable AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The increasing rate of globalization in the twenty-first century brought about by
revolutionary technological advances has witnessed the transformation of relationships
among countries and peoples. Physical distance between nations has been significantly
reduced, and people have acquired greater access to goods, services, capital, and
information. These conditions have allowed an increasing number of people to live and
work in countries other than their own.

The creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW) is hereby
proposed to promote and advance the complete development of our Overseas Filipino
Workers’ (OFWs) interests and well being. As the State affirms the OFWs’ needs for
suitable consciousness and awareness, it shall provide proper and immediate action to
address these needs.

It has become apparent that the movement not only of goods and basic services
to our people should be safeguarded by the State, but more so of its people. As the
patterns of migrant labor continue to become more complex and amalgamated,
globalization and borderless economies will further blur geographical boundaries and
facilitate the movement of labor between countries

As hundreds of thousands of Filipino men and women work with sweat and blood
in foreign lands to assure a better life for their families back home, the creation of a
DOFW will be a gift to our modern-day heroes. It will finally give them the security and
confidence that their welfare and interests are being safeguarded.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

2

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AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO
2” District, Province of Iloilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 964

Introduced by Honorable AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO

AN ACT
CREATING THE DEPARTMENT OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (DOFW),
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
promote and advance the complete development of the Overseas Filipino Workers’
(OFWs) interests and well being. The State affirms the OFWs' needs for suitable
consciousness and awareness, and shall provide proper and immediate action to
address these needs.

SECTION 2. Statement of Objectives. ~ This Act seeks to establish at the seat of
government a department whose task will be to properly address the needs of the
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for a suitable, adequate and efficient service.

SECTION 3. Creation of the Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW).
— There is hereby created a department to be known as the Department of Overseas
Filipino Workers (DOFW) (hereinafter referred to as the Department), at the head of
which shall be a Secretary of DOFW (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary).

SECTION 4. Powers and Responsibilities of the Department. ~ The Department
shall have the following powers and responsibilities which shall be exercised by its
offices:

1. Enforce legislations on OFW to protect their rights and welfare;

2. Promote specific government objectives regarding OFW activities and
programs, welfare and interests, and programs for the attainment of the
same;

3. Formulate and issue national guidelines and policies on OFW activities and
programs, welfare and interests;

4. Promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of its guidelines and
policies and related laws


5. Advance and implement OFW programs and plans from other government
and non-government agencies that provides readily available OFW-related
services;

6. Build a strong and harmonious partnership with the private sectors in the
formulation of strategies and implementation of projects concerning OFWs;

7. Conduct for a, symposia, consultations and seminars on effective OFW-
felated programs and plans to achieve its objectives to the fullest;

8. To tap the services of personnel, foreign and local, with expertise on the
formulation of strategies and plans concerning OFW activities if needed;

9. Recommend legislation needed to advance the government's OFW-related
objectives;

10.Administer, accept, hold and utilize property, both personal and real, subject
to constraints by existing laws, for the purpose of assisting of expediting the
work of the Department;

11. To perform such other functions as maybe needed to achieve its goals and
objectives to the fullest and as maybe provided by law.

SECTION 5. Department Hierarchy. - The Department shall be administered
under the control and supervision of the Secretary, who shall be appointed by the
President of the Republic of the Philippines with confirmation from the Commission on
Appointments.

There shall also be in the Department two (2) Assistant Secretaries to be
recommended by the Secretary to the President for appointment. The Undersecretaries
shall aid the Secretary in the performance of his operational duties, and shall perform
such other functions as maybe directed by the Secretary

There shall also be in the Department two (2) Assistant Secretaries to be
recommended by the Secretary to the President for appointment. One Assistant
Secretary shall be tasked to overlook the Policy, Planning and Monitoring activities of
the Department, while the other Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for Support
Staff Services. Both Assistant Secretaries shall perform such other functions and duties
as maybe directed by the Secretary from time to time.

All the other officers and employees of the Department shall be appointed by the
Secretary in accordance with existing laws governing such

SECTION 6. Structure of the Department. - The organizational structure and
staffing pattern of the Department shall be determined by the Secretary; Provided that
there shall be established Department of Overseas Filipino Workers (DOFW) offices in
every region and all cities with a population of not less than two hundred fifty thousand
(250,000); and Provided further, that the regional offices shall be established in
accordance with the regional pattern as provided by existing laws governing such.

The Secretary shall, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act and in
accordance with the guidelines set forth herein prescribe and approve the
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Department.


SECTION 7. City and Regional Offices. - The city and regional offices
established pursuant to the immediately preceding section shall, within their respective
administrative jurisdictions, exercise the following duties and functions:

1. Implement the Department's plans and programs, and enforce its rules and
regulations;

2. Provide technical expertise and know-how and information to provide OFW
efficient services;

3. Coordinate closely with local government units in consolidating and
integrating OFW programs;

4. Coordinate with the regional offices of government agencies as maybe
needed in the effective implementation of its Department's objectives;

5. Perform such other duties and responsibilities as the Secretary may assign
from time to time.

SECTION 8. Reduction of Paperwork Volume. -- The Department shall, in
accordance with laws governing the conduct of Overseas Filipino Workers! (OFW)
activities, use in their respective programs consolidated and simplified forms,
particularly those that adjure identical or nearly identical information from one person in
the conduct of two or more OFW programs.

The Department shall formulate rules and regulations to allow systematic flow of
paperwork to eliminate the processing of forms that solicit or near identical information
from the same person.

SECTION 9. Abolition of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). -- The Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) is hereby abolished and its duties, powers, functions, records,
property, remaining appropriations and such personnel as maybe necessary and
determined by the Secretary, transferred to the Department.

The Department shall succeed to all rights and assume all obligations and
responsibilities of the POEA and OWWA.

SECTION 10. Department Personnel. -- In filling department positions, the
Secretary shall give preference to former personnel of POEA and OWWA; Provided,
that such individuals are by demonstrating ability, eligibility, background, training and
experience, especially fit to help in fulfilling the objectives of the Department.

SECTION 11. Appointments and Promotions. - Appointments to positions
in the Department shall be made only according to merit and fitness. Promotions, on the
other hand, shall be made with due regard to the efficiency and potential for positions.
No partisan political test or qualification shall be required for appointment of promotion.

SECTION 12. Personnel Compensation. - The Secretary shall prescribe
the compensation and position qualifications of Deparment employees, in consultation
with the Civil Service Commission and in accordance with compensation
standardization laws.

SECTION 13. Appropriation. -- The appropriations alloted for the Philippine
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Overseas Workers Welfare


Administration shall be used for the initial implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such
sums as maybe necessary for the operation of maintenance of the Department shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. -- All laws, orders, decrees, rules and
regulations, issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - !f any part of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
completion of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

APPROVED,