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Republie of the Philippi ve, 21 JUL 2013
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No._208

Introduced by Honorable SALVACION S. PONCE ENRILE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There are around 8.6 million to 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide or 11% of the
total population of the Philippines.

About 3,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are in prison throughout the world for
various offenses, 70 percent of whom are facing immigration-related charges according to
the Department of Foreign Affairs. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
or PDEA, there are 630 Filipinos who are in prison worldwide for allegedly acting as drug
mules of high profile international syndicates. Further, there are those who were supposed to
have been released after being pardoned for serving their sentences but who still languish in
jail without repatriation proceedings being commenced.

A total of 330 OF Ws who hav ntences or have been pardoned remain in
jails in Saudi Arabia, Africa, Uni , Syria, Malaysia, Kuwait, Iran, Hong
Kong, Thailand and Bangkok. The OFWs were jailed for crimes including theft, possession
of illegal drugs and other drug related cases, selling liquor, immorality, illegal fishin;
forgery, prostitution and human trafficking.

There are around 32 countries with significant OFW populations. Remittances sent by
OFWs to the Philippines contribute to the country's economy, with a value of more
USS$10 billion in 2005. This makes the country the fourth largest recipient of remittances
with India, China, and Mexico in the top list. OFW remittances represent 13.5% of the
country's GDP, the largest in proportion to the domestic economy among the four countries
above-mentioned. In 2008, overseas Filipinos sent USS15.9 billion worth of remittances to

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the Philippines, up from the US$14.4 billion in 2007, and US$13 billion in 2006. In 2009,
about US$17.348 billion in remittances were sent to the Philippines by overseas Filipinos,
higher than in previous years.

To date, our embassies and consulates are unable to provide legal
and by the time they do so, some are already on death row. Thus, it is essential that legal
desks in every embassy and consulate office of the Philippines be established.

‘This measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7157 by providing a legal desk and a
legal hotline in every embassy and consulate of the Republic of the Philippines. Assistance
shall be given to all Filipinos abroad, whether documented or not.

Immediate passage of this measure is respectfully requested.

SALVACION S. PONCE ENRILE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, ROB

Introduced by Honorable SALVACION S. PONCE ENRILE

AN ACT

AMENDING THE PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991 BY
PROVIDING A LEGAL AID DESK AND A LEGAL SERVICE HOTLINE IN ALL,
EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. A Legal Aid Desk is hereby created in all existing embassies and consulates of
the Philippines abroad.

SEC. 2. A Legal Aid Hotline shall likewise be installed in all embassies and consulates
where a predominance of the overseas Filipino workers are working, to operate 24-hours
every day of the week, including holiday

SEC. 3. The Legal Aid Desk and the operations of the Legal Aid Hotline shall be under
the supervision of the Legal Assistant for Migrant Affairs created under Republic Act (R.A.)
No. 8042,

SEC. 4. The President shall not decrease the Legal Assistance Fund created under R.A.
No. 8042 without the concurrence of Congress.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Secretary of F
consultation with the departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of
R.A. No. 8042 shall, within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation,



SEC. 6. Repealing Clause ~ All laws, decrees or executive issuances and any rules and
regulations or any part thereof, which may be inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
‘Act, are hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,