REPUBLIC ACT 10801

AN ACT GOVERNING THE

OPERATIONS AND
ADMINISTRATION OF THE
OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE
ADMINISTRATION
 The OWWA is a national government agency vested with the special
function of developing and implementing welfare programs and
services that respond to the needs of its member-OFWs and their
families.

The OWWA shall be an attached agency of the Department of Labor and

Employment (DOLE).

This Act shall apply to the OWWA, the OWWA Secretariat, the OWWA
Fund, to its member-OFWs and those who will avail of the voluntary
membership program of the OWWA, and to overseas
recruitment/manning agencies/employers who are duly registered with
the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
 Functions. – The OWWA shall exercise the following functions:

(a) To protect the interest and promote the welfare of member-OFWs in all
phases of overseas employment in recognition of their valuable contribution
to the overall national development effort;

(b) To facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the Labor Code of the
Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended) and the Migrant
Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 8042, as
amended), concerning the responsibility of the government to promote the
well-being of OFWs. Pursuant thereto, and in furtherance thereof, it shall
provide legal assistance to member-OFWs;

(c) To provide social and welfare programs and services to member-OFWs,

including social assistance, education and training, cultural services, financial
management, reintegration, and entrepreneurial development services;
(d) To provide prompt and appropriate response to global emergencies or crisis
situations affecting OFWs and their families;

(e) To ensure the efficiency of collections and the viability and sustainability of
the OWWA Fund through sound, judicious, and transparent investment and
management policies;

(f) To undertake studies and researches for the enhancement of the social,
economic, and cultural well-being of member-OFWs and their families;

(g) To develop, support and finance specific projects for the welfare of member-
OFWs and their families; and (h) To ensure the implementation of all laws and
ratified international conventions within its jurisdiction.
 MEMBERSHIP,
CONTRIBUTION
AND COLLECTION
• Two (2) ways in Registration of Membership
 (a) By compulsory registration upon processing of employment contracts of
OFWs at the POEA; and
 (b) By voluntary registration of OFWs at job sites, or through electronic
registration

• Amount of Contribution and Effectivity of Membership

 Membership, effective upon payment
 Membership contribution in the amount of twenty-five US dollars (US$
25.00)

• Separate Accounting of:

 Land-Based and
 Sea-Based Members’ Contributions
• Handling, Deposit and Remittance of Collection
 Commission on Audit (COA),
 Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
 and other concerned agencies

• Prohibition Against Discrimination on Membership

 age, gender, religious belief, or political affiliation

• Payment of Contribution
 employers
 principals, or in their default, by the recruitment/manning agency in the case of
new hires.

• Penalty for Violation by Recruitment/Manning Agency

 recruited or deployed an underage migrant worker
 not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00)
 but not more than One million pesos (Php 1,000,000.00).
 THE OWWA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
  It is the policy making body. It is a tripartite body with members
representing the Government, management, and labor-OFW. Pursuant to
RA 8042, a representative from the women sector was included.
 
 OWWA BOARD OF TRUSTEES
(a) Secretary of Labor and Employment, as Chairperson;
(b) OWWA Administrator, as Vice Chairperson;
(c) Secretary of Foreign Affairs;
(d) Secretary of Finance;
(e) Secretary of Budget and Management;
(f) POEA Administrator;
(g) Two (2) representatives from the land-based OFWs
(h) Two (2) representatives from the sea-based OFWs
(i) One (1) representative from the women sector
(j) One (1) representative from the land-based recruitment sector
(k) One (1) representative from the sea-based manning sector

 The members of the OWWA Board shall be provided with per diem at rates
allowed under existing rules and regulations.
 
 Responsibilities and Powers of the Board of Trustees
 Adopt policy guidelines
 Preserve the integrity of the OWWA Fund
 Approve programs, projects, and the organizational structure of the OWWA
Secretariat
 Modify and adjust the membership contribution and other necessary
charges
 Formulate rules and regulations governing financial transactions
 Formulate rules and regulations governing the conduct and discipline of
OWWA officials and employees
 Authorize the construction and repair of its assets and the purchase and
acquisition or real and personal properties
 Delegate any of its powers to the Chairperson of the Board or to the
Administrator of the OWWA Secretariat
 Prescribe such general policies not contrary to law
 BOARD MEETINGS,
PROXIES,
AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT
Voting – For the approval of any policy requiring the disbursement of at least
one hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) of the OWWA Fund, an
affirmative vote of the absolute majority of all the members shall be
required. For the approval of all other policies, an affirmative vote of a
majority of the members present constituting a quorum shall be necessary.

Board Resolution – All decisions of the Board shall be expressed in the form
of Resolutions and shall take effect upon adoption and signing by all the
members present, subject to requisite publication, as may be required by
existing laws, rules and regulations; Provided, That resolutions may be
modified or superseded by another resolution
Records Management and Archiving of Board Documents – The Board Secretary
shall ensure a complete and thorough recording of all proceedings during a
Board meeting.

THE OWWA SECRETARIAT

OWWA Secretariat- implementing arm of the OWWA

OWWA Administrator- in charge of the management and supervision

Deputy Administrators
a. Deputy Administrator for the Administration and Fund Management
b. Deputy Administrator for Operations
OWWA BENEFITS AND SERVICES
Guiding Principles – Pursuant to its mandate, the OWWA shall provide
gender-responsive reintegration programs, repatriation assistance, loan
and credit assistance, on-site workers assistance, death and disability
benefits, health care benefits, education and skills training, social services,
family welfare assistance, programs and services for women migrant
workers and other appropriate programs that provide timely social and
economic services.

Benefits and Services to OFWs

(a) Reintegration of OFWs – The reintegration of OFWs, taking into
consideration the needs of women migrant workers, shall be one of the
core programs of the OWWA. In this regard, and for purposes of policy and
program coordination, the National Reintegration Center for OFWs created
under Republic Act No. 10022 shall be an attached office of the OWWA.
(b) Repatriation Assistance – Consistent with the provisions of
Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, the OWWA shall assist the
Department of Foreign Affairs in providing OFWs with services necessary to
facilitate repatriation, as may be required.
 
(c) Loan and Other Credit Assistance – The OWWA shall provide low-
interest loans to member-OFWs. It shall have the authority to hire experts
in finance or banking to assist in implementing the said loan programs.
(d) Workers Assistance and On-site Services – The OWWA shall sustain and
maintain assistance to member-OFWs in all its overseas and regional offices.
Services shall be gender-responsive and shall include information regarding
the names, occupation/job categories and addresses of the member-OFWs;
legal assistance providing guidance and information on protection of migrant
rights, including the prevention of gender-based violence; developing
materials for the predeparture orientation seminars; conducting psycho-social
counseling services; conciliation services; appropriate services and
intervention for victims of gender-based violence, and outreach missions,
among others.

(e) Social Benefits – A member-OFW shall be covered with the following social
benefits:
 
(1) Death and Disability Benefits:
 
• Death Benefits – A member shall be covered with life insurance for
employment contract. one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) for
natural death and two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for
accidental death;
 
• Disability and Dismemberment Benefits – Disability and
dismemberment benefits shall be included in insurance policy,
impediment contained in the OWWA Manual of Systems and
Procedures. Range of two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) to fifty thousand
pesos (P50,000.00);
 
• Total Disability Benefit – For total permanent disability, a member shall be
entitled to one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00); and
 
• Burial Benefit – A burial benefit of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00)
be provided in case of the member’s death.
 
Based on actuarial studies, the Board may increase the amount of the
benefits.

(2) Health Care Benefits – two (2) years effectivity of this Act, develop and
implement health care programs, the health care needs of women as
provided in Republic Act No. 9710, or the Magna Carta of Women.

 
(3) Education and Training Benefits – the member’s designated
beneficiary, may avail any of the following scholarship programs, subject
to a selection process and accreditation of participating institutions:
 
• Skills-for-Employment Scholarship Program – For technical or
vocational training scholarship;
 
• Education for Development Scholarship Program – For baccalaureate
programs; and
 
• Seafarers’ Upgrading Program – ensure competitive advantage of
Filipino seafarers, as required.
The annual scholarship lists of all these programs shall be submitted to the
Board.
 
New Programs, Interactive Website and Extension of Services – The OWWA
shall continue to develop and implement new programs.
 
It shall maintain an interactive website to collect OFW feedbacks.
THE OWWA TRUST FUND
 The OWWA Fund
-is a private fund held in trust by the OWWA.
-exempted from the “one fund doctrine” of the government.
 
Purpose of the OWWA Fund
- to serve the welfare of member-OFWs and their families
a. financing of core programs and
b. services of the OWWA.

Source of the OWWA Fund

a. Membership contribution or fees of employers,
b. Investments, and
c. Income from other sources

Disbursement of the OWWA Fund

- for providing services and other benefits to the OWWA general membership and
their families.

Reporting of the OWWA Fund Collection and Utilization

INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION:
SAFEGUARDS
• Safeguards of the OWWA Fund; Acquired Assets; Unredeemed Investments

(a) The OWWA Fund shall be managed and expended in accordance with the
purposes stipulated in this Act and safeguarded against any possible loss
and misuse.

(b) The OWWA shall administer all properties, acquired or foreclosed.

(c) Unredeemed investments and other receivables shall be inventoried semi-

annually and corresponding redemption plan shall be submitted to tide Board.
All receivables shall be supported by documents appropriately acknowledged
by the accountable party.

• General Investment Policy

• Examination and Valuation of the Funds
FISCAL AND BUDGET POLICY:
MANAGEMENT OF OWWA FUND
Budget for Benefits and Services- shall be sourced from the OWWA funds

Budget Preparation and Approval- The OWWA shall follow the national
government budget system, format and cycle.

Reenacted Budget- in case of unapproved proposed annual budget, the OWWA

shall operate within the budget level of the previous year.

Budget Realignment – realignment of funds sourced from the OWWA Fund

including adjustments in targets shall be submitted to the Board for approval. 

Branch Accounting System; Financial Reports; Auditing Procedures; Annual

Reports – The OWWA Regional Units shall maintain their respective books of
accounts which shall be consolidated by the central office.

Chart of Accounts – The OWWA shall adopt the appropriate and standard chart
of accounts as prescribed by the COA
APPROPRIATION
FROM THE
NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
Appropriation from the National Government – The amount needed to carry
out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current
operative budget sourced from the internal funds of the OWWA. 

Congress shall annually appropriate the necessary amount to meet the funding
requirement for personal services (PS) and the maintenance and other
operating expenses (MOOE) of the OWWA.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Group Members:
BEBERINO, Shenna
BOLONIA, Dinah
BUNIAO, Geokkee Rod
CABAHUG, Krystal Mae
LIM, Neil Bryan