HouseBillNo.3576 Author:Hon.Seeres,RoySr.V.

ANACTAUTHORIZINGAMBASSADORS,CONSULGENERALS,CHIEFSOF MISSIONSORCHARGEDAFFAIRSTOORDERANDDIRECTANOVERSEAS FILIPINOWORKER(OFW)TOSENDSUPPORTTOHISORHERLEGAL DEPENDENTSASREQUIREDBYEXISTINGLAWS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Remittance of Foreign Exchange Earnings. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), whether seabased or landbased are required to remit regularly a portion of their foreign exchange earnings to their family or legal dependent recipient in the Philippines through the Philippine banking system or any authorized credit unions, money transfer operators or through the postal mail. Private employment agencies and other entities authorized by the Philippine Overseas EmploymentAdministration (POEA) to recruitFilipinoworkers foroverseas employment are similarly required to assist OFWs in the remittance of their foreign exchange earningsasprovidedforinthisAct. SEC. 2. Obligations and Duties ofOverseasFilipinoWorkers.Itshallbetheobligationand duty of every OFW to continue to observe and respect the laws, customs, traditions and practicesof thePhilippineswherevertheymaybe.Itshallalsobe theobligationanddutyof every OFW to provide material or financial and moral support to ones family or dependent in the Philippinesduringtheperiodofoverseasemployment. SEC. 3. Designated Recipient of Support. The designated recipient of support of the OFW shall be oneof those entitled tosupportfromthe OFW underexistinglaws.Thedesignationofa recipient or dependent shall be in accordance with the enumerationin Article 195 of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the FamilyCodeofthe Philippineswhichpertainstothose whoareobligedtosupporteachother. SEC. 4. Proof of Remittance. For purposes of this Act, proof of compliance with the mandatory remittance requirement as mentioned in Section 1 hereof,may consistof any ofthe following documents showing that the OFW had in fact effected the aforesaid remittance to his orherdesignatedrecipientordependent: a)Confirmedbank(foreign)remittancereceipt b)ReceiptofInternationalPostalMoneyOrder c) A Sworn Statement from the dependent that said support has already been satisfied and/or settled SEC. 5. Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chiefs of Mission or Charge d Affairs Authorized to Withhold Renewal or Approval of Passport. Passports issued to OFWs may be renewed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) upon submission of the usual requirements and presentation of documentary proof of compliance to the remittance requirement providedfor inthisAct. UponreceiptofadulynotarizedComplaintforSupportfrom any OFW dependent,whichswornstatementdulyauthenticatedbytheMayororGovernorofthe dependents placeof residence,Ambassadors,ConsulGenerals,ChiefsofMissionorCharged

HB3576 source: OFW Family Party-List

Affairs are authorized to withhold the renewal or approval of the passport of an erring OFW unlessproofofcomplianceoftheremittancerequirementofhisfinancialsupportissubmitted. SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Withinsixty(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA),shall promulgatethenecessaryrulesandregulations fortheeffectiveimplementationofthisAct. SEC.7. Nonimpairment Clause.NothinginthisActshallbeconstruedto diminish,impairor repealtherightsgrantedtoOFWsunderexistinglaws,rulesandregulations. SEC. 8. SeparabilityClause.IfanyprovisionorpartofthisAct isdeclaredunconstitutionalor invalid,theremainingpartsorprovisionsnotaffectedshallremaininfullforceandeffect. SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, whichare inconsistentwiththis Act,areherebyrepealedormodified accordingly. SEC. 10. EffectivityClause. This Actshalltakeeffectfifteen(15)daysafterpublicationinthe OfficialGazetteorintwo(2)nationalnewspapersofgeneralcirculation.

HB3576 source: OFW Family Party-List