Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._ 8614

Introduced by: CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since the 1980’s, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been hailed as our modern-day heroes
the Philippines afloat through remittances, which in 2019 reached USD 30 billion
(PHP 1.56 trillion), or about 8% of the Philippines’ USD 377 billion (PHP 19.52 trillion) economy.

‘And with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing a significant portion of the global economy to a halt,
‘more than half million OFWs were displaced while an estimated 1.1 million more were unable to
resume or start working overseas since January 2020.

This proposed bill aims to extend as much economic assistance as possible to our modern-day
heroes by providing them with FREE Covid-19 vaccination.

Thus, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BILL No, 8614

ONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS
FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Lingkod Libreng COVID-19 Vaccination
for our OF W-Modern-Day Heroes Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to protect the rights of
workers and promote their welfare.

Itis likewise the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that shall
ensuite prosperity, promote full employment, a rising standard of living and an improved quality
of life for all. In pursuit of this, the State shall endeavor to develop a program that will ensure that
all of its citizens will benefit and will secure access to covid-19 vaccines and protect their health
and welfare.

SECTION 3. Coverage of Program. Every OFWs around the world, whether displaced or not,
shall be entitled free access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
charged against current appropriations of the Department of Health and Department of Foreign
Affairs. Thereafter, such sums necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in.the General-Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the Department of Health and the Department of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with
the other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

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, decrees, orders, issuances or portion thereof, which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.

in two

SECTION 9. Effectivity. ThisAct shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publ
(2) newspapers of genera] efrculation.

Approved,