AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MARITIME AND OCEAN AFFAIRS CENTER AS AN ATTACHED AGENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PROVIDING FOR ITS FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

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

AN ACT ADJUSTING THE MONTHLY PENSION AND DISABILITY BENEFITS OF RETIREES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

AN ACT ADJUSTING THE MONTHLY PENSION AND DISABILITY BENEFITS OF RETIREES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO COORDINATE WITH THE IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TO INQUIRE ON THE CONDITION OF THE TWELVE (12) FILIPINO SEAMEN ARRESTED BY THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND TO SECURE THEIR RELEASE

RESOLUTION URGING THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, PARTICULARLY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO RECONSIDER THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION ON ANY RESOLUTION OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC) CONCERNING THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND ATROCITIES COMMITTED AGAINST THE ROHINGYA AND OTHER MINORITIES IN MYANMAR, PURSUANT TO THE PHILIPPINES’ OBLIGATIONS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS AND TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS, AND IN KEEPING WITH THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE WHO VALUE THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EVERY HUMAN PERSON

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE REPORTED DEPLETION OF THE PASSPORT REVOLVING FUND (PRF) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), WITH THE END VIEW OF PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE BY IMPROVING GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL FILIPINOS IN AFGHANISTAN AND EXPEDITE THEIR REPATRIATION

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON REPORTED PASSPORT RENEWAL FIXERS OPERATING ONLINE WITH THE END VIEW OF CUTTING RED TAPE AND IMPROVING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS’ (DFA) PASSPORT RENEWAL SERVICE AND PROVIDING QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENTS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND ENERGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC/MARINE RESEARCH STUDIES AND EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES ON THE BENHAM RISE, A 13-MILLION-HECTARE UNDERWATER TERRITORY OFF EASTERN LUZON, AND SUBMIT TO THE SENATE RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS INDICATING FULL POSSESSION AND OWNERSHIP

RESOLUTION URGING THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) TO VISIT THE COUNTRY AND LOOK INTO THE GROWING AND REPORTEDLY WORSENING PLIGHT OF PERSONS DISPLACED BY THE CRSIS IN MARAWI, WHICH COULD CONTINUE AND EVEN WORSEN DUE TO THE EXTENSION OF MARTIAL LAW IN THE WHOLE MINDANAO UNTIL THE END OF 2017; THE RESULTS OF SAID VISIT COULD LIKEWISE AID IN THE ENACTMENT OF REMEDIAL LEGISLATIVE MEASURES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS TO CONDUCT A FOREIGN POLICY AUDIT TO SCRUTINIZE AND REVIEW THE DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) AGAINST CHINESE INCURSIONS IN THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE ADHERENCE TO AND ADOPTION OF THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (OP-ICESCR), AS PROOF AND AFFIRMATION OF OUR STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE PRIMACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS

RESOLUTION URGING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION IN AID OF LEGISLATION ON ALLEGATIONS THAT A FORMER PRIVATE CONTRACTOR INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF PHILIPPINE PASSPORTS HAS FAILED TO TURN OVER PASSPORT-RELATED DATA IN ITS POSSESSION, IN POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF THE DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012 AND WITH DEEP REPERCUSSIONS ON NATIONAL SECURITY

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE RECENT DATA BREACH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) INVOLVING THE AGENCY’S FORMERLY OUTSOURCED PASSPORT MAKER, WITH THE END IN VIEW OF ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO UPHOLD THE PROTECTION OF ITS CITIZEN’S RIGHT TO DATA PRIVACY, AND TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT SAID INCIDENT WILL NOT POSE SERIOUS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND THAT ALL DATA WILL BE RETRIEVED COMPLETELY

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE REPORTED DATA BREACH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PASSPORT DATABANK, WITH THE END VIEW OF SAFEGUARDING PERSONAL INFORMATION, MITIGATING THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE ACTUAL BREACH AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE REMEDIES TO UPHOLD DATA PRIVACY AND PROTECTION

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEE(S) TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE NUMEROUS DATA BREACHES INVOLVING GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT PROCESS AND STORE PERSONAL DATA FROM THE TRANSACTING PUBLIC

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PROPRIETY OF USING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS’ RESOURCES IN PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO FILIPINO DRUG MULES IN HONGKONG, WHO ARE NOT EVEN OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW’S)

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE (NSO), AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ISSUING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS EVIDENCING IDENTITY AND OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION (E.G. PASSPORTS, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, CLEARANCES, CERTIFICATIONS AND THE LIKE), TO WAIVE THEIR FEES FOR THE VICTIMS OF SUPER TYPHOON

RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND RELEVANT OFFICE/S TO STUDY AND TO CONSIDER FOR POSSIBLE ADHERENCE AND ACQUIESCENCE THE OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS (ICESCR), AS A STRONG AND UNEQUIVOCAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE VALUE OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS

RESOLUTION URGING THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (DOLE), THE OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION (OWWA) AND OTHER LABOR RELATED AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO EXERCISE THE DOCTRINE OF PARENS PATRIAE OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GUARDIAN OF THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE, IN PURSUING THE FILING OF CRIMINAL, CIVIL AND OTHER APPROPRIATE CHARGES AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL EMPLOYER, THE LOCAL PHILIPPINE AGENT AND SUCH OTHER PERSONALITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INHUMANE TREATMENT INFLICTED UPON OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKER PAHIMA ALAGASI PALACASI WHO APPARENTLY SUFFERED SECOND DEGREE BURNS WHEN HER EMPLOYER'S MOTHER DOUSED BOILING WATER ON HER

RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENTS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND ENERGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SCIENTIFIC/MARINE RESEARCH STUDIES AND EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES ON THE BENHAM RISE, A 13-MILLION-HECTARE UNDERWATER TERRITORY OFF EASTERN LUZON, AND SUBMIT TO THE SENATE RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS INDICATING FULL POSSESSION AND OWNERSHIP

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE TO REQUEST THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO FORMALLY INSCRIBE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE 70TH SESSION (2015) OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE PROPOSAL TO REFER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE FOR AN ADVISORY OPINION THE QUESTION, UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW, WHAT ARE THE LEGAL DUTIES OF STATES TO PROTECT HUMANKIND OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THE CLIMATE CRISIS

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE PROPER SENATE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR A STANDBY FUND FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' ASSISTANCE TO NATIONALS SECTION TO ENABLE THEM TO IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO URGENT CONCERNS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS

RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, AND THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK INTO THE SITUATION OF FILIPINOS IN IRAQ TOWARD AFFORDING THEM PROTECTION WITHIN THE PARAMETERS PROVIDED UNDER THE MIGRANT WORKERS AND OVERSEAS FILIPINOS ACT OF 1995, AS AMENDED

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PREPAREDNESS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA), IN COORDINATION WITH THE OVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATION (OWWA) AND OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, IN ADDRESSING ANY AND ALL CONTINGENCIES THAT THREATEN THE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS IN TIMES OF CRISIS, WITH THE END-VIEW OF ENSURING THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THIRD PILLAR OF THE PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY WHICH IS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE AND INTERESTS OF ALL FILIPINOS OVERSEAS

RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO PURSUE THE CONVENING OF THE JOINT COMMISSION MEETING WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA TO ADDRESS MATTERS AFFECTING OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA, INCLUDING THE RECENT ISSUE ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE PROCESSING AND VERIFICATION OF APPLICATIONS BY FILIPINO DOMESTIC WORKERS BOUND FOR SAUDI ARABIA, AND OTHER MEASURES TO EXPAND TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

RESOLUTION STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE DEMEANING HK MAGAZINE ARTICLE 'THE WAR AT HOME' AND ITS WRITER CHIP TSAO, URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO LODGE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST AGAINST THE SAID PUBLICATION AND ASKING THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS IN HONG KONG

RESOLUTION URGING THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO CONDUCT A REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, OF THE E-COMMERCE LAW OF THE PHILIPPINES AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION VIS-A-VIS THE RECENTLY REPORTED HACKING AND CRACKING OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF FURTHER PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY AND SECURITY OF ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS IN THE COUNTRY

RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SHOULD SEEK TO RENEGOTIATE THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES, AND IN CASE OF DENIAL, SHOULD GIVE NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF THE VFA

RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO CREATE A DATABASE ON OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OFWS AND THEIR FAMILIES

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, INTO THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE FEES COLLECTED BY GOVERNMENT LINE AGENCIES

RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (DFA) AND OTHER CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO CONDUCT A BRIEFING FOR THE SENATE ON THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY THE PHILIPPINES DURING THE 12TH ASEAN SUMMIT