Labor Code · Recruitment and Placement of Workers · Chapter I – General Provisions

Article 23

Composition of the Boards

Not amended

(a) The OEDB shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment as Chairman, the Undersecretary of Labor as Vice-Chairman, and a representative each of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the Central Bank, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the National Manpower and Youth Council, the Bureau of Employment Services, a workers’ organization and an employers’ organization and the Executive Director of the OEDB as members.

(b) The National Seamen Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment as Chairman, the Undersecretary of Labor as Vice-Chairman, the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, and a representative each of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the Central Bank, the Maritime Industry Authority, the Bureau of Employment Services, a national shipping association and the Executive Director of the NSB as members.

The members of the Boards shall receive allowances to be determined by the Board which shall not be more than P2,000.00 per month.

(c) The Boards shall be attached to the Department of Labor for policy and program coordination. They shall each be assisted by a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director who shall be a Filipino citizen with sufficient experience in manpower administration, including overseas employment activities. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Labor and shall receive an annual salary as fixed by law. The Secretary of Labor shall appoint the other members of the Secretariat.

(d) The Auditor General shall appoint his representative to the Boards to audit their respective accounts in accordance with auditing laws and pertinent rules and regulations.

Editor’s notes from DOLE (1)

With the creation of the POEA in place of the OEDB, this Article was superseded by Sec. 4 of E.O. No. 247, and further amended by Sec. 32 of R.A. No. 8042, which provided for three more members to the POEA and OWWA Governing Boards, to represent the women, sea-based and land-based sectors, respectively, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines. This provision already reflects these changes. Sec. 4 of E.O. No. 247 provides: “Sec. 4. Structural Organization. – The Administration shall consist of the Governing Board, the Office of the Administrator, the Offices of such number of Deputy Administrators as may be necessary, Office of the Director for each of the principal subdivisions of its internal structure: (a) The Governing Board shall be composed of the Secretary of Labor and Employment as Chairman, the Administrator and a third member, considered well-versed in the field of overseas employment who shall be appointed by the President to serve for a term of two (2) years; (b) The Administrator and such Deputy Administrator and Directors as may be necessary shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Secretary; (c) The functional structure of the Administration shall be established along the areas of: market development, employment, welfare, licensing, regulation and adjudication. Each of the principal substantive subdivisions of the Administration shall be headed by a Director and shall have such departments and units as may be necessary.”

Text and numbering follow the Department of Labor and Employment's 2022 edition of Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended and renumbered under DOLE Department Advisory No. 01, series of 2015. Former article numbers are shown in brackets. Notes are DOLE's editorial notes. Amendments after that edition are not included. For information and research only, and not legal advice. For certified copies, refer to the Official Gazette or the issuing agency.