Tasking The Secretary of Labor and Emloyment to Oversee and Coordinate the Implementation of Various Initiatives for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

MALACAÑANG
Manila

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 446 July 12, 2005

TASKING THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMLOYMENT TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VARIOUS INITIATIVES FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs)

WHEREAS, the provision of opportunities for employment is among the priorities of the Administration under its 10-point Agenda for Government;

WHEREAS, the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which comprise about 98% of the country’s business establishments, as part of the major strategies of the administration to create jobs, generate higher incomes and bring about more balanced economic growth and social equity;

WHEREAS, the remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), recognized as the country’s "modern-day heroes", constitute a critical flow of foreign currency into the Philippine economy;

WHEREAS, the channeling of remittances to national savings or domestic investments, particularly in SMEs, can lead to greater capital accumulation and multiplier effects;

WHEREAS, the synchronization of existing programs for OFWs that are being implemented by different agencies can lead to a synergy that can most effectively and efficiently...

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Summary of Executive Order No. 446

Tasking the Secretary of Labor and Employment to Oversee and Coordinate the Implementation of Various Initiatives for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

• Lead Agency (Section 1): The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall be the lead agency in implementing various initiatives for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), with the Secretary of Labor and Employment overseeing and coordinating these initiatives.

• Support Agencies (Section 2): The DOLE Secretary shall coordinate with the following agencies:
- Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry
- Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
- Secretary, Department of Finance
- Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
- Presidential Adviser for Overseas Filipino Communities

• Technical Working Group (TWG) (Section 3): A Technical Working Group (TWG) shall be established to provide administrative and technical support to the DOLE Secretary, consisting of representatives from the core agencies of the DOLE and the support agencies, as well as other concerned agencies. Four sub-groups will be organized to focus on:
- Bank-related initiatives
- SME-related initiatives
- OFW and labor-related initiatives
- Information dissemination and OFW response monitoring

• Functions of the DOLE Secretary (Section 4):
- Design an overall framework or general work program in support of the objectives identified for OFWs (Section 4a).
- Consider proposals submitted and adopt policies/initiatives recommended by the TWG (Section 4b).
- Endorse appropriate actions/recommendations that require legislation to implement the general work program to the Legislative and Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) (Section 4c).
- Perform other necessary and appropriate functions to achieve the objectives (Section 4d).

• Functions of the TWG (Section 5):
- Formulate recommendations to address problems and issues related to the objectives of the various initiatives for OFWs (Section 5a).
- Assess and evaluate available OFW remittance statistics/indicators as inputs to the development and implementation of the remittance profiling survey project (Section 5b).
- Coordinate various incentive programs being offered by local private banks for OFWs through private sector institutions (Section 5c).
- Evaluate and coordinate with government financial institutions (GFIs) in exploring the possibility of opening an OFW savings window that will provide more savings incentives for OFWs (Section 5d).
- Coordinate short-term and long-term actions/plans identified (Section 5e).
- Endorse appropriate proposals/plans to the DOLE Secretary (Section 5f).
- Perform other necessary and appropriate functions to achieve the objectives (Section 5g).

• Meetings (Section 6): The DOLE Secretary shall meet the support agencies at least once a month or as the need arises.

• Funding (Section 7): The DOLE and the support agencies shall cost-share the operations, according to their respective mandates and roles under the Overseas Financial Investors Program, and/or as may be agreed upon among themselves. Funding for coordination and implementation of various initiatives for OFWs by individual agencies shall also be drawn from their respective appropriations.

• Reportorial (Section 9): The DOLE Secretary shall submit the Status Report of operationalization and initial undertakings within 30 days from the effectivity of this Order. Thereafter, quarterly Reports of Accomplishments shall be submitted to the Office of the President.

• Effectivity (Section 10): This Order shall take effect immediately upon approval.