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H. NO. 5679 / Malaya 10/19/06 ; Mla. Times 10/19/06

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9359, October 19, 2006 ]

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STANDBY FUND IN THE SUM OF EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION PESOS (P 850,000,000.00) 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Appropriations. – The sum of Five hundred million pesos (P 500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as standby fund for the following purposes:

(a) Clean up of the oil spill off the Province of Guimaras and for livelihood and other assistance for the victims of the oil spill	P 400,000,000.00
(b) Relief operations for the victims of the eruption of Mayon Volcano	P50,000,000.00
(c) Emergency repatriation fund under Republic Act No. 8042, the Migrant Workers Act of 1995, which shall be used for the repatriation, evacuation and relief of Overseas Filipino Workers and other Filipino nationals	50,000,000.00
	P 500,000,000.00

The amounts herein appropriated shall be used 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.

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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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 the repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers in Lebanon and other affected countries in the Middle East.

SEC. 4. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect upon its enactment into law.

Approved.

(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA JR.	(Sgd.) MANNY VILLAR
Speaker of the House of Representatives	President of the Senate

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on September 19, 2006 and September 13, 2006, respectively.

(Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO	(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES
Secretary General House of Representatives	Secretary of the Senate