MANILA, Philippines — Voting 21-0, the Senate on Wednesday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to expand the use of a legal assistance fund for migrant workers and overseas Filipinos in distress.
Senate Bill 1233 seeks to amend 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, which the government taps to cover various costs of overseas Filipinos who initiate or is impleaded in any type of case abroad.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the committee on labor, employment and human resources development as well as the author and sponsor of the bill, said the government must always be ready to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who are considered modern-day heroes.
In 2020, Villanueva said a total of P201.34 million is available for the provision on legal services to help overseas Filipinos and migrant workers in distress.