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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No, 8574

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Ithas consistently been a matter of government policy to provide every possible manner
of aid and assistance to our brothers and sisters who toil overseas. But even the best Policies
must fail if there are no concrete resources allotted to their implementation. As such, this bill
aims to create a Special Assistance Fund for Overseas Filipino Workers in Distress, to
ensure that our overseas countrymen who are most in need shall be provided with not just
the cold comfort of intangible promises, but the financial aid necessary to ensure their freedom
and good health.

They certainly deserveno less.

PEPYTO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Party-list

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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8574

House Bill No.

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT
PROVIDING AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO
WORKERS IN DISTRESS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1.Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Distressed OFW
Assistance Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis hereby declared a policy of the State
that full protection must be accorded to overseas workers, particularly those who are forced
to seek employment abroad in order to provide for their families at home. Furthermore,
this assistance to overseas Filipino worker must be without distinction, covering both
documented and undocumented migrant workers.

SECTION 3. Creation of Fund. - A Special Assistance Fund for Overseas
Filipino Workers in Distress, in the amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is
hereby created. The fund shall be utilized forthe following purposes:

(a) Repatriation;

(b) Medical expenses, hospitalization and purchase of medicine in the form of
vouchers for six (6) months from arrival;

(©) Migration fees for overstaying Filipinos;

(a) Legal assistance including litigation expenses, legal fees, payment of
translation fees, attendance in court hearings;

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(©) Basic necessities of OFWs caught in emergencies or are detained.

Provided, That at least thirty percent (30%) of the total fund shall be allotted to provide
monetary support, in the form of a lump sum payment not in excess of Fifty Thousand
pesos (PHP 50,000.00) for each recipient, to be given to overseas workers who have been
the victims of abuse from their employers, or those who have been repatriated from host
countries due to natural or man-made calamities.

SECTION 4, Transparency. - In the utilization of the Fund, the principles of
accountability and transparency must be fully observed. Assuch, every Filipino citizen has a
right to, and shall, on request, be given access to any information pertinent to this law, when
such information is under the control or in the possession of any government agency involved
in the implementation of this law. Government agencies involved in the implementation of
this law shall maintain appropriate records of their actions under this law, particularly with
regard to the disbursements of funds and the identity of recipients.

SECTION 5. Implementing Agencies and Rules. - The Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) is hereby tasked to implement this Act, and shall coordinate with and
be supported by the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Foreign
Affairs. The abovementioned agencies, in consultation with the Department of. Budget and
Management and representatives of the private sector, and recognized overseas labor
organizations, shall issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement
the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. - The fund needed to initially implement the provisions
of this Act must be sourced primarily from the General Appropriations Act. The
appropriation allotted to the Assistance to Nationals and Legal Assistance Fund in the
Department of Foreign Affairs, and to the OWWA, shall serve as core fund for the program.
Thereafter the yearly PHP 1 Billion appropriation shall be sourced from the earnings of
the Bureau of Immigration, Duty- Free Philippines, passport processing fees of the Department
of Foreign Affairs, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and other relevant offices or
agencies as may be recommended and identified in the implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from

its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,

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