AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS BY CREATING THE PHILIPPINE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

AN ACT ADVANCING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TIBETAN PEOPLE AND SUPPORTING THEIR ASPIRATIONS TO SAFEGUARD THEIR DISTINCT RELIGIOUS, CULTURAL, AND LINGUISTIC IDENTITY

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGED CONTINUED ILLEGAL DEPLOYMENT OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS TO IRAQ, LEBANON, AFGHANISTAN, AND NIGERIA DESPITE A COMPLETE BAN IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE REGULATORY FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995

RESOLUTION GIVING CONSENT TO AMBASSADOR HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR., PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO THE UNITED NATIONS, TO ACCEPT THE PAPAL AWARD OF THE KNIGHT OF THE GRAND CROSS OF THE ORDER OF ST. SYLVESTER AWARDED TO HIM BY THE HOLY SEE

AN ACT CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

AN ACT DECLARING THE DAY ON WHICH CHINESE NEW YEAR FALLS EACH YEAR AS A SPECIAL WORKING HOLIDAY AS A SIGN OF GOODWILL AND AMITY BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND CHINA

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OFTHE SENATE THAT IT WAS ILL-ADVISED FOR THE TAIWANESE PRESIDENT TO VISIT THE SPRATLY ISLANDS WHEN THE ISLANDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DECLARED AS A ZONE OF PEACE AND COOPERATION BY TH ASEAN AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND URGING ALL PARTIES TO EXERCISE PRUDENCE AND SELF-RESTRAINT IN THE CONDUCT OF ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD COMPLICATE OR ESCALATE DISPUTES AND AFFECT PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7157, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 'PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SERVICE ACT OF 1991,' TITLE 111, SECTION 30, BY DELETING THE REQUIREMENT OF CONFIRMATION BY THE COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS WHO JOIN THE FOREIGN SERVICE THROUGH LATERAL ENTRY

AN ACT REQUIRING THE CONCURRENCE OF THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES IN ANY INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR THE DEPLOYMENT ABROAD OF PHILIPPINE MILITARY TROOPS WHETHER FOR PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS OR COMBAT OPERATIONS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE VII, SECTION 21 OF THE CONSTITUTION

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEES ON ACCOUNTABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND INVESTIGATIONS (BLUE RIBBON); NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY; AND ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, THE SUPPOSED 'SPRATLY DEAL' PURPORTEDLY ENTERED INTO BY THE ARROYO GOVERNMENT WITH CHINA, A PACT REPORTEDLY INVOLVING THE TREACHEROUS SELLOUT OF PHILIPPINE INTEREST AND PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY IN EXCHANGE FOR OVERPRICED LOANS FOR ANOMALOUS PROJECTS WHICH INCLUDE THE ZTE-NBN DEAL, THE NORTH RAIL AND SOUTH RAIL PROJECTS, AND THE DEP-ED'S CYBER-ED PROJECT, AMONG OTHERS

AN ACT REQUIRING SENATE CONCURRENCE FOR THE VALIDITY AND EFFECTIVITY OF INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS

AN ACT TO GOVERN THE OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PROPRIETY OF THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO ALLOWING CHINA TO EXPLORE THE GAS AND OIL DEPOSITS IN SPRATLY ISLANDS, WHICH AGREEMENTS SEEM TO BE A PRECONDITION TO THE BILATERAL LOAN AGREEMENTS GRANTED BY CHINA TO THE PHILIPPINES TO FINANCE THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERPRICED AND ANOMALOUS PROJECTS SUCH AS THE ZTE/NBN AND NORTHRAIL PROJECTS

AN ACT TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF REPATRIATION OF FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND CREATING AN INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT FOR A JOINT MARINE SEISMIC UNDERTAKING IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, INCLUDING THE DISPUTED SPRATLY ISLANDS, WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ALLEGEDLY IN EXCHANGE FOR US $8 BILLION IN OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, WITH THE END IN VIEW OF PROVIDING REMEDIAL LEGISLATIONS THAT WILL FURTHER PROTECT OUR INTEREST IN THE SAID ISLANDS

AN ACT PROVIDING AN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN DISTRESS, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PLIGHT OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

AN ACT INSTITUTING THE MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO SEAFARERS

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) THE IMMEDIATE DOCUMENTATION, VALIDATION, PERFORM THE NECESSARY DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION AND REPATRIATION OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) WHO ARE DETAINED AND STRANDED IN KUWAIT, JORDAN AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA INCLUDING FILIPINO DRIVERS ILLEGALLY RECRUITED AND FORCED TO DRIVE FROM KUWAIT TO IRAQ

AN ACT INSTITUTING THE MAGNA CARTA OF FILIPINO SEAFARERS

AN ACT SETTING HIGHER STANDARDS OF PROTECTION OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AMENDING FOR SUCH PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042 OTHERWISE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INSTITUTE POLICIES OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT AND ESTABLISH A HIGHER STANDARD OF PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE WELFARE OF MIGRANT WORKERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN DISTRESS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE RISE OF FRAUDULENT ONLINE RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

AN ACT ENHANCING PROTECTION FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN THE CUSTODY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 8042

RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE SWIFT ACTION TO SAVE AN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER NOW IN DANGER IN THE HANDS OF HER EMPLOYER IN SAUDI ARABIA AND TO EXHAUST ALL LEGAL MEANS TO SECURE JUSTICE FOR THE MURDER OF FATIMA SAGADAN MAULANA, AND URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, A FULL PROBE OF THESE TWO RECENT CASES OF ABUSES AGAINST OFWS TO ADDRESS THE ORDEAL OF THESE WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

AN ACT TO FURTHER ASSIST FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, AS AMENDED

RESOLUTION URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT AN IMMEDIATE INQUIRY AND ASSESSMENT IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ANENT THE STATUS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) IN DEATH ROW, WITH FOCUS ON THE ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO THEM AND THE SHORT-AND LONG TERM POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE COUNTRY RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW PASSPORT LAW, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED EIGHT THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE (R.A. NO. 8239), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE PASSPORT ACT OF 1996

RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOL AMENDING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

AN ACT REPEALING SECTION 17, PARAGRAPH 2, FIRST SENTENCE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9851, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE ACT ON CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, GENOCIDE, AND OTHER CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROTOCOL AMENDING THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME

AN ACT EXPANDING THE USE OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 26 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 'THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995', AS AMENDED

RESOLUTION CONCURRING IN THE RATIFICATION OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RESPECT TO TAXES ON INCOME AND ON CAPITAL AND ITS PROTOCOL

AN ACT FACILITATING AND REGULATING INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF AND INITIAL RECOVERY ASSISTANCE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEES ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT; AND FOREIGN RELATIONS TO CONDUCT AN IMMEDIATE INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPENDING MASSIVE DEPORTATION OF UNDOCUMENTED FILIPINOS IN EUROPE AND MALAYSIA WITH END-IN-VIEW OF FORMULATING A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CRIME OF ILLEGAL WITHHOLDING OF PASSPORT AND A MECHANISM FOR ITS PROSECUTION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE ALLEGED THREAT TO THE JOB SECURITY OF FILIPINO DOMESTIC WORKERS IN HONG KONG DUE TO THE SUSPENSION OF THE MAID LEVY

AN ACT REQUIRING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL IN THE DISPOSITION OF REAL PROPERTIES SITUATED ABROAD

AN ACT ENHANCING THE REGULATION ON EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE ARTICLES 40, 41 AND 42, TITLE II, BOOK 1 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, REGARDING THE ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION OF DEPORTED FILIPINO MIGRANT WORKERS FROM SABAH, MALAYSIA AND THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE PHILIPPINE COUNTERPART IN THE PHILIPPINE-MALAYSIAN WORKING GROUP ON MIGRANT WORKERS TASKED TO ASSIST THE UNDOCUMENTED AND DOCUMENTED FILIPINO MIGRANTS IN SABAH, MALAYSIA WHO ARE SUBJECTED TO MASSIVE CRACKDOWN BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT

AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE REGULATORY FUNCTIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA) AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8042, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED PROTECTED MEASURES THEREIN

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNIFIED CONTRACT BY THE SAUDI NATIONAL RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE UPON THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT PROVIDERS WITH ITS PREJUDICIAL EFFECTS TO THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

AN ACT CREATING THE OFFICE OF THE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

AN ACT CREATING THE PHILIPPINE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

RESOLUTION URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE POSSIBILITY OF DEPLOYING HEALTH ATTACHES AND PERMANENT MEDICAL DOCTORS IN EMBASSIES AND PHILIPPINE DIPLOMATIC POSTS IN COUNTRIES WITH CONCENTRATED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) IN LIEU OF THE HIGHLY-INSENSITIVE MANDATORY PSYCHIATRIC TESTS FOR DEPARTING OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, WITH THE END-IN-VIEW OF CHARTING HUMANE AND MEANINGFUL POLICIES FOR THE SECTOR