Section 2Sec./Art. 2

A new paragraph (e) is hereby inserted in Section 23 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended, to read as follows:

"(e) Department of Social Welfare and Development. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall deploy Social Welfare Attaches in countries with large concentration of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), as determined in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The Social Welfare Attache shall possess the minimum qualifications set by the Civil Service Commission and the preferred qualifications prescribed by the DSWD.

"The Social Welfare Attache shall perform the following functions and duties at the overseas post:

"(e.1) Manage cases of OFWs and other overseas Filipinos in distress needing psychosocial services, such as victims of trafficking or illegal recruitment, rape or sexual abuse, maltreatment and other forms of physical or mental abuse, and cases of abandoned or neglected children;

"(e.2) Undertake surveys and prepare official social welfare situationers on the OFWs in the area of assignment;

"(e.3) Establish a network with overseas-based social welfare agencies and/or individuals and groups which may be mobilized to assist in the provision of appropriate social services;

"(e.4) Respond to and monitor the resolution of problems and complaints or queries of OFWs and their families;

"(e.5) Establish and maintain a data bank and documentation of OFWs and their families so that appropriate social welfare services can be more effectively provided;

"(e.6) Submit regular reports to the DSWD and DFA home office on plans and activities undertaken, recommendations, and updates on the situation of OFWs, particularly those encountering difficulties in the host country. Said report shall form part of the semi-annual report to Congress as provided imder Section 33 of Republic Act No. 8042, as amended;

"(e.7) Provide information about the DSWD and its attached agencies and services; and

"(e.8) Perform other related functions in the delivery of social services, as may be directed by the head of the Diplomatic Post in the area of assignment."