Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by Rep. Roseller L. Barinaga

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed measure seeks mandate the establishment of POEA Regional Offices in all
regions of the country. The enactment of this measure will certainly enhance the
effectiveness and efficiency of the POEA in responding to changing market and economic
conditions and to the call of the national development plan for the strengthening of the
worker protection and regulation components of the overseas employment program.

As stipulated in Executive Order No. 247 which reorganized the POEA, it is envisioned that
the operations of the POEA will eventually be systematized, its functions rationalized, with
its structure and organization becoming more efficient in undertaking its principal function of
formulating and implementing systematic programs for promoting and monitoring the
employment of OFWs and for protecting their rights to fair and equitable employment
practices.

While there is a clamor to decentralize the operation of the POEA to make things easier for
hundreds and thousands of OFWs who ere coming from the provinces, mandating the
establishment of regional offices for the POEA enable to the agency to bring public service to
the local level. In this way, the POEA would be able to respond more effectively to the new
demands of more meaningful welfare services to OFWs, better protection of their rights,
more efficient adjudication of their cases and more efficient manpower delivery system.

The bill is consistent with the constitutional provision which promotes “full employment and
equality of employment opportunities for all”. (Section 3, Article XIII of the Philippine
Constitution of 1987) The same also affirms Section 9, Article I of the same Charter which
‘mandate the State to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity
and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
Provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an
improved quality of life for all.”

Withytiie aforementioned premises, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

(d/; .
fA peeae,

Representative
2 District, Zamboanga del Norte


Congress ofthe Philippines)
Thirteenth Congress )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

382

Introduced by Rep. Roseller L. Barinaga

AN ACT
TO MANDATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POEA REGIONAL OFFICES,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 247, ENTITLED
“REORGANIZING THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT
ADMINISTRATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

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

SECTION 1. Section 5 of the same Executive Order is further amended to read es
follow:

“Sec. 5. Regional (Extension Units] OFFICES. - The [Administration]
POA is hereby [authorized] MANDATED to set up regional [extension units
in such regions] OFFICES IN ALL REGION NATIONWIDE [es the
Governing Board may determine to be necessary] to promote efficient and
economic delivery of its services. The Regional (extension units] OFFICES
shall be under the [Administrator's] ADMINISTRATION AND supervision of
the [Labor] DOLE Regional DirectorS. It shall have, among others, the
following functions:

“1. Executes the policies, plans and programs of the [Administration]
POEA in [the] EACH REGION [regions outside of the Metro Manila
area];”

SEC. 2. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are contrary to
or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


‘SEC. 3. Tfany part or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining
Parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen days from its publication in two national
newspapers of general circulation after its approval by the President.

Approved.