Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  9290 
Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
First District, Bohol 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The exodus of migrant workers, due to limited employment opportunities in the 
country, has opened doors for capitalizing and scheming companies to take advantage of 
the vulnerability of Filipinos seeking employment abroad. Illegal recruitment has 
become a commonplace especially in the provinces. And when some of our overseas 
Filipino workers (OFWs) finally leave the country, they become an easy prey to 
exploitation and abuse including contract violations, sexual harassment, violence and 
discrimination. 
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) is the main arm of 
the government mandated to undertake a systematic program of promoting and 
monitoring the overseas employment of Filipino workers, including the regulation of 
private sector participation in the recruitment and overseas placement of workers, as 
well as protect their rights to fair and equitable employment practices. 
The main objective of this bill is the establishment of a POEA satellite office to be 
situated in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol to address the continuing problem of 
illegal recruitment in the province as well as to ensure that contractual terms and 
conditions work to the best benefit of the OFW. This satellite office will also make it 
expedient for the Boholanos to secure necessary clearance, permits and other 
documents for their employment overseas, check on the legality of the recruiting agency, 
decongest the regional office in Cebu City and improve the promotion and protection of 
prospective and presently employed OFWs. 
The cliché, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, 
and you feed him for a lifetime,” when referring to workers, is passé. The new thrust in 
today’s seamless world, with respect to migrant workers, is, “It’s not only teaching them 
to fish but making sure that they are safe when fishing.” 
For the above considerations, the passage of this law is earnestly sought. 
REP. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
September 22, 2023
3:53 pm


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  9290 
Introduced by HON. EDGAR M. CHATTO 
First District, Bohol 
“AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT 
ADMINISTRATION (POEA) SATELLITE OFFICE IN THE CITY OF 
TAGBILARAN, PROVINCE OF BOHOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment – There shall be a satellite office of the Philippine 
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in the City of Tagbilaran, Province of 
Bohol. 
SECTION 2. Appropriation – The amount necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act shall initially come from the savings of the POEA. Thereafter, such 
sum as may be necessary for the effective operation and maintenance of said office shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations – The Secretary of the Department of 
Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Administrator of the POEA shall formulate and 
issue the necessary guidelines for the proper implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette. 
Approved,