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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House arino, 3719

Introduced by
OFW Family Party-List Representative ROY V. SENERES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to promote the welfare and well-being of overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) in furtherance of the constitutionally mandated recognition that
labor is a primary social economic force (Section 18, Article 11, 1987
Constitution).

A question comes to mind: “Why do Filipino workers seek employment
overseas?” And, “What drive Filipinos to go to foreign countries of totally different
cultures, religion, and forms of government?" The answers to these questions
could be varied. Say, for instance, we do not have enough and/or sufficient
employment opportunities in the country. Indeed, our Filipino workers are
‘motivated to give their families and loved ones the amenities of good and quality
life. In the process, our OFWs made personal sacrifices of endangering their
personal safety against unscrupulous foreign employers.

Equally significant is the emotional aspect of working overseas will have to
be confronted by the overseas Filipino workers, such as, loneliness,
homesickness, culture-shocks experience, living away from loved ones back home
for a long period of time, to name a few. Accordingly, we need something to
enliven their spirit. We need to bring joy and merriment to our OFWs by staging
musical and comedy shows with the participation of Filipino singers, movie stars,
comedians, and other Filipino entertainers free of charge, Hence, the staging of
live shows, at least every year, will be in the following four (4) regions: Middle
East, Europe, Asia and the Americas, where a sizeable number of OFWs are
concentrated and/or located. This is what we call ~ ‘HATID SAYA’,

Verily, the passage of this measure is of pars
honoring our modern-day heroes.

mount significance in

In view of the foregoing, the immedia/ fF this bill is~éarnestly

sought.


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

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3719

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Ke
OFW Family Party-List Representative ROY V. SENERES

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ‘HATID SAYA’ FOR OVERSEAS
FILIPINO WORKERS EVERY SIX (6) MONTHS 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 “Hatid Saya for
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Act of 2013.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the declared policy of
this Act to promote the welfare and well-being of Overseas Filipino
Workers (OFWs) in furtherance of the constitutionally mandated
recognition that labor is a primary social economic force (Section 18,
Article 11, 1987 Constitution).

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act, the following
terms shall be defined to mean as:
(a) “Overseas Filipino Worker" shall refer to a person who is to
be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a
remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a
legal resident. A person “to be engaged in a remunerated
activity” refers to an applicant worker who has been
promised or assured employment overseas and acting on
such promise or assurance sustains damage and/or injury.


The term “Overseas Filipino Worker” shall be used
interchangeable with “Migrant worker”.

(b) “Overseas Filipinos” shall refer to migrant workers, other
Filipino nationals and their dependents abroad.

(c) “Legal Resident” shall refer to a person who has obtained
permanent residency status in accordance with the law of the
host country.

(d) “Host Country” shall refer to a country or State where
overseas Filipinos are located or found.

(e) “Hatid Saya” shall refer to bringing joy and merriment to
OFWs in their host countries by staging musical and comedy
shows with the participation of Filipino singers, movie stars,
comedians, and other Filipino entertainers, The Hatid Saya is
intended to relieve OFWs of their loneliness, anxiety,
homesickness, culture-shocks experience, and living away
from loved ones back home.

(f) “DOLE” shall refer to the Department of Labor and
Employment.

(9) “DFA” shall refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

(h) “POEA" shall refer to the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration

(i) “OWWA" shall refer to the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration.

SEC. 4. Hatid Saya Program. - The ‘Hatid Saya’ for OFWs is
hereby institutionalized under this Act. Accordingly, the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) shall be the lead agencies, in coordination with the Philippine
Embassies, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), in institutionalizing
and undertaking a permanent program of HATID SAYA to OFWs at least
once every year in each of the following four (4) regions: Middle East,
Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of.
Fifty Million Pesos (Php50,000,000.00) to fund the initial budgetary


requirements of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary to implement
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the budget of the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) in coordination with the Administrator of the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the
Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA),
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions
not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly:

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,