Republic Act No. 9359, enacted in October 2006, establishes a standby fund of P850 million for various urgent needs, including cleanup operations for the Guimaras oil spill, relief for victims of the Mayon Volcano eruption, and emergency repatriation of overseas Filipino workers. Of the total amount, P500 million is specifically allocated for these purposes, with P200 million designated for the livelihood assistance of oil spill victims. The act mandates that funds be released to relevant local government units and agencies, prioritizing affected fishermen. Additionally, it allows for further augmentation of repatriation funds through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). The act took effect immediately upon its enactment.
October, 2006
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9359
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STANDBY FUND IN THE SUM OF EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P850,000,000.00) FOR THE CLEAN UP OF THE GUIMARAS OIL SPILL, FOR THE RELIEF OPERATIONS FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE ERUPTION OF MAYON VOLCANO, AND FOR THE EMERGENCY REPATRIATION FUND TO BE USED FOR THE REPATRIATION, EVACUATION AND RELIEF OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND OTHER FILIPINO NATIONALS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SECTION 1. Appropriations. — The sum of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as standby fund for the following purposes:
| (a) | Clean up of the oil spill off the |
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| province of Guimaras and for |
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| livelihood and other assistance |
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| for the victims of the oil spill |
P400,000,000.00
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| (b) | Relief operations for the victims |
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| of the eruption of Mayon Volcano |
P50,000,000.00
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| (c) | Emergency repatriation fund |
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| under Republic Act No. 8042, |
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| the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, |
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| which shall be used for the repatriation, |
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| evacuation and relief of Overseas |
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| Filipino Workers and other Filipino nationals |
P50,000.000.00
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P500,000,000.00
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The amounts herein appropriated shall be use for the purpose indicated and subject to the applicable provisions under Republic Act No. 9336, the FY 2005 General Appropriations Act, as reenacted. Such funds shall be released to the relevant departments, bureaus, offices, agencies and local government units (LGUs) in accordance with budgeting laws, rules and regulations: Provided, That the amount of Two hundred million pesos (P200,000,000.00) shall be used for livelihood and other assistance to the victims of the Guimaras oil spill and shall be released directly to the provincial governments of Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and other affected LGUs identified by the National Disaster Coordinating Council: Provided, further, That the fishermen who were deprived of their livelihood due to the oil spill shall be given priority by the LGUs in providing such livelihood and other assistance. cDAEIH
The clean up operations for the Guimaras oil spill shall be undertaken in consultation with the appropriate departments of the University of the Philippines System.
SECTION 2. Augmentation. — The appropriations for the repatriation of Overseas Filipino, Workers in the amount of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) under Section 1(c) hereof shall be augmented by the Three hundred fifty million pesos (P350,000,000.00) appropriated by the Board of Trustees of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), under OWWA Board Resolution Nos. 009, 012 and 014 (series of 2006), as contingent fund for the repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers in Lebanon and other affected countries, subject to the conditions set forth in the said Board resolutions.
SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Task Force created under Executive Order No. 551 dated July 26, 2006 shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the Four hundred million pesos (P400,000,000.00) standby fund for repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers in Lebanon and other affected countries in the Middle East.
SECTION 4. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect upon its enactment into law. DTIaHE
Published in the Manila Times on October 19, 2006.