HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ine - RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines 18 JUL 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE:
Quezon City, Metro Manila ima i,
BY.
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session SReMSTRCTION UNIT
1672 BULLS AN INDEX SERVICE

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B, REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

At present, Overseas Filipino Workers are considered our modern heroes, Along with
other economic stimulants, the pouring-in of remittances from the OFWs to their families here in
our country contributes a lot to the functioning and survival of our economy.

Thu
such, aside from their skills and experiences, an important capital that they have to possess is
their health, Long hours of work, different climate and environment coupled by emotional stress
raise the risk of weakness and ill health.

we cannot take for granted the indispensable role played by our modem heroes. As

In this light, it has become imperative for the State to protect the interest and promote the
well-being of Filipino overseas workers including their families and dependents through the
provision of social and welfare services. It shall be part of an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health development which shall endeavour to make essential goods, health and other
social services available to all people at affordable cost.

This bill seeks to establish a special hospital for Overseas Filipino Workers and their
dependents which should be under the supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA).

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

“ B. REVILLA.

"' District, Cavite



Republic of the Phi
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1672

HOUSE BILL NO,,

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

“AN ACT
TABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS
(OF WS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

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 “Migrant Workers Hospital Act
of 2016,"

See. 2.Declaration of Policy ~ It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavour to make essential goods,

health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost. Further, the State shall

protect the interest and promote the well-being of Filipino overseas workers including their
families and dependents through the provision of social and welfare services.

Creation of Special Hospital ~ To carry out the above policy, there is hereby

created a special hospital to be known as the Migrant Workers Hospital which shall be under the
supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Sec. 4.Objectives — To ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality
health care, Migrant Workers Hospital shall:
a) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all migrant
workers who ate OWWA contributors including their dependents;
b) Complement the existing package services under the Health Care Program
so as to inchide preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and
rehabilitative programs;

¢) Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and mental capability

of all the would-be overseas Filipino workers duly covered by an approved
job order;
d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and to

generate relevant information and data in aid of policy formulation.


Sec. 5.Administration and Composition of Board Members — Upon the effectivity of
this Act, the powers and the administration of the Migrant Workers Hospital shall be vested in a
Board, which is composed of the following members:
a) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment as Ex-Officio
Chairman;
b) The Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as Ex-
Officio Vice Chairman;
©) The Sceretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio Member;
d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as Ex-
Officio member;
©) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas EmploymentAdministration as Ex-
Officio Member;
f) Two (2) repres
sea-based) as Members.

sentatives from OFW sector (one from landbased and another from

The two representatives from the OFW sector shall be appointed by the President
of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of nominees submitted by the Ex-
Officio Chairman. The representatives appointed shall serve for a term of three

(3) years without re-appointment.

See. 6.Responsibilities and Powers ~ The Board of Directors of the Migrant Workers
Hospital shall have the following responsibilities and powers:
a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the
Migrant Worker's Hospital’s objectives and purposes as enunciated in

Section 4 of this A¢

b) To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its
establishment, maintenance, operations and objectives;

¢) To issue rules and regulations to carry out the objectives and purposes of
this Act;

d) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.

Sec. 7.Jmplementing Rules and Regulations — ‘The Board shall adopt rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from the date of its
approval.

See. 8.Appropriation ~ In addition to the seed money held in trust by the OWWA, the
National Government shall contribute the amount necessary for the establishment and initial
operation of the Migrant Workers Hospital which shall be taken from the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, Subsequently. its appropriation shall be included in the annual General

Appropriations Act (GAA).


Sec. 9.Assistance from Government Offices, etc. — The Migrant Workers Hospital may
call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government,
including government owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in

the pursuit of its purposes and objectives.

See. 10,

emption from Donor’s Taxes, Customs and Tariff Duties — All donations,
contributions or endowments which may be made by persons or entities to the hospital and the
importation of medical equipment and machineries, spare parts and other medical equipment not

hereto mentioned used solely and exclusively for the Migrant Workers Hospital shalll be exempt

fiom income, gift, direct and indirect taxes, wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions.

See. 11.Annual Report ~ The Migrant Workers Hospital shall render to the President of

its activities and

the Philippines, to the Senate and to the House of Representatives an annual 0

recommendations.

Sec. 12,Congressional Oversight Committee. ~ A Congressional Oversight Committee,

herein after referred to as the “Committee,” is hereby constituted in accordance with the

provisions of this Ac
G

The Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the S

mittee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the Chairman of the
House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs and four (4) additional

eaker of

members from each House to be designated by the President of the Senate and the $

the House of Representatives respectively. The Committee shall, among others in aid of

legislation:

1, Monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act;
2. Review the performance of the hospital; and
3. Review the proper implementation of the programs of the
Hospital and the use of its fund.

In furtherance of the herein above cited objectives, the Committee is empowered to
require the hospital to submit all pertinent information including but not limited to its
performance data and its annual audited financial statement certified by the Commission on
Audit.

Sec. 13.Repeating Clause ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or
part thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.
See. 14.Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved.