House Bill Number
(3) HB 737

Bill Title
An Act Establishing a Legal Attache Office in the Middle East Countries Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 8042, Otherwise Known as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act Of 1995" and Appropriating Funds Therefore."

Author
Rep. Judy J. Syjuco

MIGRANTE position
The MIGRANTE Sectoral Party fully supports House Bill 737 and welcomes this effort by this Honorable Committee and Congress to legislate an insertion to the existing Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (R.A. 8042) with regard to appropriate and immediately accessible legal assistance for overseas Filipinos in the Middle East.

Overseas Filipinos, most especially those in distress do not have the capacity and capability to get legal advice and representation in most situations in the Middle East.

To date, all Philippine posts in the Middle East are besieged by OFWs who are facing a wide range of cases. From unfair labor practices, maltreatment, framed-up crimes and other cases against our compatriots, the Philippine posts in the Middle East have mostly been unable to attend to their legal assistance needs. We also do not have legal experts in Shariah Law - the law governing all Middle Eastern nations.

House Bill 737 aims to institute concrete reforms in the diplomatic service vis-à-vis the extension of free legal assistance to distressed overseas Filipinos with the creation of a Legal Attache Office in each Middle East country. The said Bill precisely intends to correct a major loophole of Republic Act 8042.

The most impressive part of House Bill 737 is the concrete provision on appropriating funds from the national budget for the said office. This is a positive law in the making for until now, there is no government allocation to free and direct services to OFWs in distress.

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[HB 1281] [HB 1618] [HB737] [HB 3572] [HB 257, HB 346, HB 2367]