Thursday, September 20, 2007
Bill - Hon. Jay-ar T. Ampongan
Republic of the Philippines
YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE JAY-AR T. AMPONGAN
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) is been one of the huge factor why our economy as what some economist or political economist stated “is at its best performance in the recent years”.
Easily referred to as the modern day heroes, this Filipino workers are forced by the situation to cross the sea just to try their luck on other countries even though the fact that they will be get separated to their love ones. With one common goal, and that is to earn dollar for them to give their family a better life that they can’t give while their working here in this homeland. But with this kind of idea, these workers don’t know that they are as well helping the country in boasting its economy with their remittances.
According to the preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Authority, the total number of deployed workers rose by 1.6% to 660,726, meaning more remittances for our country.
Remittances from OFWs last year exceed the targets. It was reported that it reached $12 Billion. Way above earlier forecast of almost $ 10.3 B. This upward trend will likely to continue every year, so Pinoy workers will again be the saving grace of the Philippine economy.
OFW continue to do our country a huge favor through their dollar remittances which continue to be the saving grace of this economy, if not for their remittances, our economy would be adversely affected.
With the magnitude of contribution of the OFW to country’s economy, it is fair to recognize this contribution by granting them some benefits and special privileges to those OFW who decided to retire from working overseas. Because every OFW is expected to return back home after his contract expires. There are some who return to settle some reasons like emergency situations in his/her family member, unbearable homesickness or abuse.
Also, a study conducted by non-government organizations also showed that a vast majority or around 75% of the OFW still lack enough savings for their future after long years of hardworking in abroad. And many come home to realities that remain unchanged, including the dependence on dole-outs by their own families and relatives and an economy that is suffering from high unemployment rate and cannot accommodate them. With a labor market that gives priority to younger applicants due to their advanced age.
This bill seeks to address those issues, thus, the urgent need for the government to create the best and viable measures toward the reintegration program for the returning OFWs.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.
Jay-ar T. Ampongan
Republic of the Philippines
YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City
AN ACT THAT PROVIDES SPECIAL PRIVILAGES AND BENEFITS TO RETIRED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS THAT WORKED OVERSEAS FOR NOT LESS THAN 10 YEARS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as the “Special Privileges and Benefits for Former OFW.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies and Objectives – According to Article XIII Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution, it stated there that the State adopts a policy of giving full protection to labor. In addition, Section 18 in the Declaration of Principles and State Policies provides: “The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force.” In line to these constitutional principles, the following are the declared policies of this act.
To motivate the Overseas Filipino Workers to continue in contributing in nation building.
To recognize the huge contribution of the Overseas Filipino Workers to our country’s economy whose lonely sacrifices in foreign lands bring in a considerable amount of foreign exchange.
Consonant with those policies, this act aims to grant the retired overseas workers with some special benefits and privileges.
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms –
Retired OFW – any person who had worked previously in foreign lands. They must be certified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) for overseas employment purposes.
Agency – these refers to the Retired Overseas Filipino Workers Agency (ROFWA) that will check and maintain what is provided in this Act.
SECTION 4. Qualifications – To ensure that the Government will give the right privileges and benefits to those retired OFW, these are the basic qualifications which must set by the agency.
Any resident of the Philippines and at least fifty (50) years old.
Previously certified by the DOLE, POEA.
Have worked in a foreign country under employment contracts for a period of not less than 10 years, including but not limited to professionals, seaman, entertainers, domestic helpers, regardless of their employment status in the foreign country.
An income of not more than sixty thousand pesos (P60,000.00) per annum subject to review by the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) every three (3) years.
SECTION 5. Privileges – any former OFW who passed the qualifications set by the agency shall be entitled to the following:
the grant of twenty-five percent (25%) discount from all establishments relative to utilization of transportation services, hotels and similar lodging establishment, restaurants and recreation centers and purchase of medicine anywhere in the country: Provided, That private establishments may claim the cost as tax credit;
a minimum of ten percent (10%) discount on admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, carnivals and other similar places of culture, leisure, and amusement;
exemption from the payment of individual income taxes: Provided, That their annual taxable income does not exceed the income level as determined by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for that year;
a college scholarship grant in any State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s) to the child of the retired OFW or any relative, but must be limited up two (2) person. Provided that they will past the entrance examination set by the Universities
free medical and dental consultations in private or public hospitals and similar establishments anywhere in the country and medical insurance program to be provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC);
to the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and PAG-IBIG, as the case may be, as are enjoyed by those in actual service;
Priority in national housing programs, affordable "pabahay" loans and other housing opportunities subject to the guidelines and qualifications set by the National Housing Authority (NHA) or the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF).
SECTION 6. Retired Overseas Filipino Workers Agency (ROFWA) -There shall be established in the Office of the Mayor an ROWFA to be headed by the Vice Mayor and assisted by the Community Development Officer in coordination with the Department of Labor and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The functions of this office are:
to maintain and regularly update on a quarterly basis the list of former OFWs and to issue nationally uniform individual identification cards which shall be valid anywhere in the country.
To service as a general information and liaison center to serve the needs of the former OFWs.
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, jointly with the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Finance, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Interior and Local Government shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act. Also the municipality through the mayor is responsible to ensure that the provisions of this Act are implemented to its fullest.
SECTION 8. Penalties. - Violation of any provision of this Act for which no penalty is specifically provided under any other law, shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) months or a fine not exceeding five thousand pesos (P5 ,000.00) or both.
SECTION 9. Appropriation. - The necessary appropriation for the operation and maintenance of the ROFWA shall be appropriated and approved by the local government units concerned. The National Government shall appropriate such amount, as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act.
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, and decrees, including rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly.
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in one (1) national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,Labels: labor
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