REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3994
HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Overseas Filipino Workers hospital
that will protect the interest and well-being of our overseas workers. This
bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives on its 3"!
and final reading in the 17% Congress. Considering however the
significance of this bill recognizing the welfare of the overseas Filipino
workers, it is imperative that this bill be filed.

The State recognizes the indispensable role of the overseas contract
workers to nation development. To this end, the Philippines has even
ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants Workers and their
Families in 1995. Republic Act 8042 was even passed to “institute the
policies of overseas and establish a higher standard of protection and
promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas
Filipinos in distress.” Section 2 (c) of the said law amplified, “(w)hile
recognizing the significant contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the
national economy through their foreign exchange remittances, the State
does not promote overseas employment as a means to sustain economic
growth and achieve national development. The existence of the overseas
employment program rests solely on the assurance that the dignity and
fundamental human rights and freedom of the Filipino citizens shall not,
at any time be compromised or violated. The State, therefore, shall
continuously create local employment opportunities and promote the
equitable distribution of wealth and the benefits of development.”

We are fully cognizant of the fact that a good number of our
migrant workers, because of unfavorable working conditions abroad,
come back to our country in destitute. Some of whom are even
debilitated. It is thus necessary that their dignity and fundamental rights


to equitable distribution of wealth and benefits be secured. This can be
assured with the establishment of a tertiary hospital that will cater to the
needs of our migrant workers and their dependents.

In full recognition of the contributions of our migrant workers, the
approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘TTY. TYRONE D. AGABAS
Representative
6‘ District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3994

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

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 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 shall
protect the interest and promote the well-being of overseas Filipino
workers (OFW) as recognition of their importance and contribution to
economic development and nation building.

SEC. 3. Establishment of the 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 OFW and their dependents.
The Hospital shall be under the full administrative and technical
supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

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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;

(©) 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 Labor and Employment
(DOLE), as Chairperson of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA) Board, shall ensure that existing health benefits and medical
assistance programs are strengthened to include, among others,
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 on OFW Hospital to review and
recommend hospital development plans and ensure implementation of this
Act.

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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 the co-chairs. 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 their benefits and medical assistance programs for
OFW the line item budget necessary to improve the access of OFW 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.

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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,

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