Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 11299)
The main objective is to establish the Office for Social Welfare Attache, amend Republic Act No. 8042 to enhance protection and services for Filipino migrant workers, particularly in providing social welfare services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is tasked with deploying Social Welfare Attaches in countries with a large concentration of OFWs.
The Social Welfare Attache must possess the minimum qualifications set by the Civil Service Commission and the preferred qualifications prescribed by the DSWD.
1) Managing cases of OFWs in distress needing psychosocial services; 2) Undertaking surveys and preparing official social welfare situationers; 3) Establishing networks with overseas-based social welfare agencies to assist in service provision.
The Social Welfare Attache manages cases involving physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, including victims of trafficking, illegal recruitment, rape, sexual abuse, maltreatment, and neglect.
The Social Welfare Attache responds to and monitors problems and complaints from OFWs, maintains data banks, and submits regular reports to the DSWD and DFA home offices, which are included in the semi-annual report to Congress.
The funding for the implementation of the Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as part of the DSWD's programs.
The DSWD must consult the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Health, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and other relevant stakeholders.
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with RA 11299 are repealed or modified accordingly.
The Act took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.