Senate approves OWWA bill

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill redefining the functions of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as a national agency so it would get its funding from the national government instead from the contribution of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is the  principal author of Senate Bill 2955.

Estrada is detained on plunder charges at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center at Camp Crame in Quezon City in connection with the pork barrel scam.

The bill allows the government to infuse financial resources to the OWWA so it can implement programs for the welfare of OFWs and their families.

The measure provides that Congress will appropriate funds annually for the personal services and maintenance and other operating expenses of the agency.

The bicameral conference committee is expected to tackle the bill as the House of Representatives had passed the counterpart measure.