NINETEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodrigues

4195

House BillNo.__
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was filed during the 17" Congress and was approved by the House of
Representatives.

This bill seeks to create a hospital dedicated to overseas Filipino workers and their
dependents,

Section 3, Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the State shall
afford full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote
full employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. Pursuant to this, Republic
‘Act No. 8042 otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995
was enacted to implement this State policy.

Due to differing culture, working conditions and upper-hand nature of overseas
employers characterizing overseas employment, overseas Filipino workers often find
themselves vulnerable to abuse, discrimination and exploitation. Some of them come home
with poor health conditions that need immediate attention. Based on statistics, about 42% of
all repatriated OFWs returned to the Philippines needing medical attention or hospital
confinement for various physical or mental illnesses sustained abroad

This bill seeks to address the health needs of overseas Filipino workers by creating a
hospital that exclusively caters to them. This proposed measure also aims to complement
the present package of health services provided by OWWA so as to include supplementary
provisions for preventive, promotive, diagnostic and rehabilitative programs so that a
comprehensive/total health care for OFWs and their dependents can be had.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

RUF} }. RO! EZ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

4195

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS HOSPITAL AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

House Bill No._{° SS

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)
Hospital Act or OFW Hospital Act.”

‘SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to
health of the Filipino people and to instill health consciousness among them. The State shall
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. Further, the State
shalll protect the interest and promote the well-being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in
recognition of their importance and contribution to economic development and nation
building

SEC. 3. Establishment of OFW Hospital. - There shall be established a hospital with at least
tertiary level of care to be known as “OFW Hospital”, hereinafter referred to as the Hospital.
The Hospital shall be developed consistent with the health care needs of the OFWs and their
dependents. The Hospital shall be under the full administrative and technical supervision of
the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH shall prepare a development plan to reflect the goals of the Hospital.

SEC. 4. Objectives. - To ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality
health care, the Hospital shall have the following main objectives:

(a) Provide comprehensive and total health care services to all migrant workers
including Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) contributors, whether active or
non-active, and their legal dependents;

(b) Conduct medical examinations to ensure the physical and mental capability of
would-be overseas contract workers duly covered by an approved job order;

(c) Serve as primary referral hospital for repatriated OFW needing medical
assistance and support;

(d) Set up systems that will effectively monitor condition of patients and to generate
relevant health information and data for policy formulation; and

(e) Participate in the health care provider networks and arrangements relative to the
implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, or the “Universal Health Care Act.”


‘SEC. 5. Medical Assistance. - The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE), as Chairperson of the OWWA Board, shall ensure that existing health benefits and
medical assistance programs are strengthened to include subsidies on hospitalization and
medical procedures for OFW and qualified dependents.

SEC. 6. Joint Executive Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a Joint Executive
Oversight Committee to review the implementation of this Act and hospital development
plans for the OFW Hospital.

The Committee shall be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of
Labor and Employment. It shall be composed of seven (7) members including its co-
chairpersons. The members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health upon consultation
with the Secretary of Labor and Employment.

SEC. 7. Tax Exemption. — All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions
made to the OFW Hospital to be used actually, directly and exclusively by the OFW Hospital
shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction
from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

The importation of equipment, machinery and spare parts which are used solely and
exclusively for the operation of the OFW Hospital and are not available locally shall be
exempt from value-added tax and customs duty.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's program
the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
‘Appropriations Act. The OWWA shall also include in its benefits and medical assistance
programs for OFW the line item budget necessary to improve the access of OFWs and
dependents to health care services.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the approval of
this Act, the DOH, in coordination with DOLE, OWWA, Philippine Overseas Employment
‘Administration (POEA) and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,