The 300-plus strong House of Representatives has paved the way for the third reading passage of the proposed OFW Reintegration Act before the chamber starts its annual holiday recess.

This, after congressmen approved on second reading House Bill (HB) No.6643, also known as the Bagong Balikbayan Act. As the name implies, the measure was crafted for the benefit of returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Touted as the first-ever unified, full-cycle reintegration system for OFWs, HB No.6643 was sponsored and defended in plenary last Wednesday, Dec. 10 by House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs Chairman AGIMAT Party-list Rep. Bryan Revilla.

Before the plenary session was over, the measure was approved on second reading via simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes).

The House has four more session dates (Dec. 15, 16, 17, 22) before Congress goes on holiday recess, and the solons can approve HB No.6643 on any of these dates.

According to Revilla, the bill finally confronts long-standing gaps in government reintegration efforts, calling it “a long overdue promise to the men and women who sacrifice years of their lives abroad".

He said the measure addresses concerns over fragmented and inconsistent reintegration efforts across government agencies.

Committee deliberations revealed that reintegration remained the “most neglected phase” of the migration cycle and required a national strategy that begins even before an OFW comes home. 

Revilla said the measure ensures that the State’s support for OFWs is comprehensive, coordinated, and sustained.

Under HB No.6643, the reintegration process will begin six months before a worker’s return through Migrant Workers Offices worldwide. Returning OFWs will receive education and skills recognition, psychosocial support, entrepreneurship and financing assistance, as well as expanded employment opportunities. 

In defending the bill, Revilla stressed: “Tinitiyak ng panukalang batas na ang suporta ng gobyerno ay hindi lamang bago ang pag-alis, kundi habang nasa abroad, sa mismong pag-uwi, at hanggang sa kanilang muling pagbangon dito sa Pilipinas.”

(The proposed law ensures that government support is not only before departure, but also while abroad, upon return, and until their recovery here in the Philippines.)

He added that the goal of the measure is to ensure that migration becomes a choice and not a forced decision.

“Pinaninindigan natin na ang pag-alis at pag-uwi ay dapat maging malayang pagpili, hindi bunga ng kakulangan ng oportunidad sa sariling bayan (We stand firm that leaving and returning should be a free choice, not the result of a lack of opportunities in one’s own country),” he said.

The bill institutionalizes major reforms such as civil service eligibility based on overseas experience, national certification and diploma recognition through TESDA and CHED, regular job fairs nationwide, centralized OFW information systems (ROMIS and RMS), and the establishment of One-Stop Reintegration Hubs—physical and online platforms where government services are integrated. 

The Cavite-based solon likewise highlighted that undocumented OFWs will not be excluded from assistance and will be given pathways for regularization upon arrival, supported by confidential online and hotline services. 

He expressed gratitude to colleagues for their support, even as he noted that the measure’s legislative journey was still far from over.

“Malayo pa ang ating lalakbayin, ngunit malayo na rin ang ating narating. Taos-puso pong pasasalamat sa ating mga kasama sa Kongreso sa kanilang patuloy na pagtitiwala at suporta,” Revilla said.

(We still have a long journey ahead, but we have also come a long way. Heartfelt thanks to our colleagues in Congress for their continued trust and support.)