Senate approves bill expanding legal assistance fund for OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — A Senate bill seeking to expand the use of a fund meant to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFW) facing legal actions in their places of work abroad has been approved on third and final reading.

With 21 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and no abstention, the Senate on Wednesday approved Senate Bill No. 1233, which amends Section 26 of Republic Act 8042 or the “Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995” by expanding the use of the Legal Assistance Fund (LeAF), which the government taps to cover various costs of overseas Filipinos who initiate or is impleaded in any type of case abroad.

Senator Joel Villanueva Villanueva, the principal author, and sponsor of the bill, said the measure mandates the availability of the fund “at all times” for the use of distressed overseas Filipinos and migrant workers abroad.

“It further clarifies that such assistance shall be given from the moment the case is initiated, or the proceeding is commenced, until its termination, promulgation, and execution. This assistance extends further to all appeals taken on these cases, thereby guaranteeing full and complete support to distressed Filipinos overseas,” he said.

For this year, a total of P201.34 million has been set aside for the provision of legal services to help overseas Filipinos and migrant workers in distress.

Another amendment introduced in the measure is the grant of authority to the head of mission of the Philippine Embassy concerned instead of the home office to use the fund to hire foreign lawyers to serve the needs of distressed overseas Filipinos and migrant workers.

The aim is to advance and improve not only the quality but also the promptness of the delivery of legal assistance to our migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress, said Villanueva.

Edited by EDV