Section 24Sec./Art. 24

A new Section 37-B of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, is hereby added to read as follows:

"Sec. 37-B. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee composed of five (5) Senators and five (5) Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment and the House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs. The Oversight Committee shall have the following duties and functions:

"(a) To set the guidelines and overall framework to monitor and ensure the proper implementation of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, as well as all programs, projects and activities related to overseas employment;

"(b) To ensure transparency and require the submission of reports from concerned government agencies on the conduct of programs, projects and policies relating to the implementation of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended;

"(c) To approve the budget for the programs of the Oversight Committee and all disbursements therefrom, including compensation of all personnel;

"(d) To submit periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and Congress on the implementation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended;

"(e) To determine weaknesses in the law and recommend the necessary remedial legislation or executive measures; and

"(f) To perform such other duties, functions and responsibilities as may be necessary to attain its objectives.

"The Oversight Committee shall adopt its internal rules of procedure, conduct hearings and receive testimonies, reports, and technical advice, invite or summon by subpoena ad testificandum any public official or private citizen to testify before it, or require any person by subpoena duces tecum documents or other materials as it may require consistent with the provisions of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended.

"The Oversight Committee shall organize its staff and technical panel, and appoint such personnel, whether on secondment from the Senate and the House of Representatives or on temporary, contractual, or on consultancy, and determine their compensation subject to applicable civil service laws, rules and regulations with a view to ensuring a competent and efficient secretariat.

"The members of the Oversight Committee shall not receive additional compensation, allowances or emoluments for services rendered thereto except traveling, extraordinary and other necessary expenses to attain its goals and objectives.

"The Oversight Committee shall exist for a period of ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act and may be extended by a joint concurrent resolution."