EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S m atr
($;(irt of lhr y r n r h r \i
'19 JUL -2 All :36
HK< K i\ E!) i i \.
SENATE
S. B. NO. 
149
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS TO BE 
KNOWN AS BAGONG BAYANING FILIPINO HOSPITAL, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the total number of overseas 
Filipino workers who worked abroad at anytime from April 1 to September 30, 2018 is 
around 2.3 million.1 During the same period, their total remittance amounted to Php235.9 
Billion,2 which translates to a significant contribution to our economy.
Filipino overseas workers are, indeed, the country’s bagong bayani: they risk their 
life to work in other countries to send money to their families in the Philippines. Their 
remittances and contributions to our economy continue to be one of the drivers of the 
country’s growth and progress.
Flowever, our OFWs face new challenges when they arrive home from their work 
abroad. For instance, the NMC Flospital in Abu Dhabi found that there are as many as 
1,000 Filipinos who are diagnosed with cancer from the United Arab Emirates.3 The
1 2019, April 30. Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.3 Million (Results from the 2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos)
Retrieved 
from. 
!
j l - j i i i i l l LV' j V/ Lj L,ij i  
I'J 
1 
uj ■''ji > 
r. iiiu>ii i t ( d a t e  
last
accessed: June 25, 2019) 
................
2 Id.
3 2017, December 28. Around 1,000 OFWs diagnosed with cancer in UAE every year -  doctors. Retrieved from:
hjiijbj/yyvyw 
11 mi/i i.iiii h i/ 1'I'.'I L' ii.ii; niwr. < .uii m itHii) i;vc;iy yt;.ii (date last accessed: June 25. 2019)


Overseas Worker Welfare Association Davao found that OFWs are prone to suffer from 
hypertension, heart attack, breast, and ovarian cancers, which could either be diagnosed 
during their work abroad or upon their return back home.4
This bill seeks to give priority to the millions and millions of hardworking Filipino 
overseas workers and their dependents by establishing a hospital to be known as Bagong 
Bayaning Filipino Hospital. This bill also mandates the establishment of regional hospitals 
that will prioritize the needs of the PFWs and their dependents. This bill will also 
complement the Department of Labor and Employment’s initiative in establishing a 
hospital for OFWs, which is set to open in 2020.5
The passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
EL VILLANUEVA
4 
2016. 
21 
November. 
OFWs 
medical 
assistance 
program 
to 
launch 
in 
January. 
Retrieved 
from: 
liliD s //vi/ww M iiis i.ii I HIM n li/.iiiii h-J L ! 
(date last accessed: June 25, 2019)
5 2019, May 1. OFW hospital to open in Pampanga. Retrieved from: hin.-. //www i.ii.i.l..i »..iii/ii.iii..n /:,:»M ‘ .:t ..vni;.».i>.
liliiiiHi w..ik«iir. ii.iMiii.ii Jo 
(date last accessed: June 25, 2019)


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. NO.
of fhf >rrrrtjri,
*19 JUL -2 All :36
LIV l:;o in .
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS TO BE 
KNOWN AS BAGONG BAYANING FILIPINO HOSPITAL, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress 
assembled:
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the ‘Bagong Bayaning Filipino 
Hospital Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt 
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make health, overall wellness and other important social services 
available to all the people at affordable cost. Toward this end, the State shall protect 
the right to health and promote and enhance the welfare and well-being of overseas 
Filipino workers and their dependents through the provision of personal health care 
and social welfare services.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -  As used in this Act, the following terms shall have the 
following meaning:
a) 
Overseas FiUpino W orker (OFW) shall refer to a person who is to be engaged, 
is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which 
he or she is not a legal resident. A person “to be engaged in a remunerated 
activity” refers to an applicant worker who has been promised or assured


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employment overseas and acting on such promise or assurance sustains 
damage and/or injury.
b) 
Dependents shall refer to any of the following: (1) the legal spouse entitled by 
law to receive support from the overseas Filipino worker; (2) the legitimate, 
legitimated, or legally adopted, and illegitimate child who is unmarried, not 
gainfully employed, and has not reached twenty-one (21) years of age, or if over 
twenty-one (21) years of age, is congenitally incapacitated or while still a minor 
has been permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-support, physically or 
mentally; or (3) the parents who are receiving regular support from the overseas 
Filipino worker.
c) 
Health facility shall refer to a facility that is devoted primarily to the provision of 
services for health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, 
and palliation of individuals suffering from illness, disease, injury, disability or 
deformity, or are in need of obstetrical or other medical and nursing care, as well 
as the provision of mental health care services.
SEC. 4. Creation of Special Health Facility for Overseas Filipino W orkers and 
their Dependents. -  There is hereby created a special health facility for overseas 
Filipino workers to be known as Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital (the “Hospital”) to 
be located in the National Capital Region or in any province as may be determined by 
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in consultation with the Department 
of Health (DOH) and other concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
The Hospital shall primarily cater to the physical, mental and over-all well-being of 
overseas Filipino workers and their dependents; Provided, That nothing herein shall 
prevent the Hospital from accommodating patients other than overseas Filipino 
workers and their dependents.
The Hospital shall be under the control and supervision of the DOH; Provided, That in 
the performance of its mandate as herein provided, the DOH shall closely coordinate 
with the DOLE and its attached agencies with regard the medical and mental needs 
of the overseas Filipino workers and their dependents.
SEC. 5. Regional Hospitals. -  Within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the 
DOH, in coordination with DOLE and other relevant agencies, shall establish regional 
hospitals in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to cater to the needs of overseas Filipino 
workers and their dependents who are located in these regions.
SEC. 6. Prioritization and Additional Health Coverage of Overseas Filipino 
Workers and their Dependents. -  Each of the Hospitals to be established under this 
Act shall provide an express or priority lanes for overseas Filipino workers and their 
dependents senior citizens. They shall be given priority in the assignment of hospital 
beds, without prejudice to the rules on emergency cases as may be determined by the 
DOH and the Hospital Administrator.
Pursuant to the objectives of this Act, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration 
(OWWA) shall broaden the existing medical assistance given to duly registered 
OWWA members and their dependents, and as far as practicable, endeavor to make


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the hospitalization, confinement, medical treatment and medical care of duly 
registered OWWA members in the Hospital or any of its regional hospitals free of 
charge.
SEC. 7. Adm inistration and Composition of Board Members. -  The day-to-day 
operations of the Hospital shall be overseen by an Administrator to be appointed by 
the Board.
The powers and the administration of the Hospital shall be vested in a Board.
a)
b)
c)
Composition -  The Board shall be composed of the following members: 
1) 
The Secretary of the DOH as Chairperson;
The Secretary of the DOLE as Vice-Chairperson;
2)
3)
4)
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The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as 
member;
The Administrator of the OWWA as member;
The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration 
as member;
The Administrator of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as member;
Four (4) Representatives from the overseas Filipino workers sector; one (1) 
from National Capital Region; one (1) from Luzon; one (1) from Visayas; 
and one (1) from Mindanao as members, all of whom shall be appointed by 
the President of the Philippines from a list of nominees prepared by the 
other members of the Board; and
The Administrator of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital as ex officio 
member.
Term -  The members of the Board shall have a term of three (3) years without 
reappointment. Except for members whose terms shall be co-terminus with their 
respective positions in government, any vacancy in the Board shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made and the appointee shall 
serve only the unexpired term of his predecessor.
Meetings and Quorum -  The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once a 
month. Special meetings may be convened at the call of the Chairperson or by a 
majority of the members of the Board. The presence of six (6) voting members 
shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, 
a temporary presiding officer shall be designated by the majority of the members 
present during such meeting.
d) 
Allowances and Per Diems -  The members of the Board shall receive a 
reasonable per diem for every meeting actually attended subject to the pertinent


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budgetary laws, rules and regulations on compensation, honoraria and 
allowances.
SEC. 8. Responsibilities and Powers. -  The Board of Directors of the Hospital shall 
have the following responsibilities and powers:
a. To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the objectives 
and purposes of the Hospital, with due regard to giving utmost priority and 
providing the best quality of service to overseas Filipino workers and their 
dependents;
b. To formulate 
and 
piomulgale 
policies for the 
sound 
administration, 
maintenance, and operations of the Hospital;
c. To determine the staffing pattern of the Hospital, subject to the approval by the 
Department of Budget and Management;
d. To appoint the officials, employees and other personnel of the Hospital and the 
regional hospitals, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, and to 
prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the Salary Standardization Law;
e. To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its establishment, 
maintenance and operations of the Hospital;
f. 
To formulate and implement guidelines on the proper disposition of 
contributions, donations, bequests, subsidies or financial aids/assistance 
received by the Hospital; and
g. To perform such other duties and functions as it may deem appropriate for the 
attainment of the objectives of the Hospital.
SEC. 9. Referral System. -  The DOLE and OWWA shall establish a referral system 
with the Hospitals and its regional hospitals to ensure proper delivery of services to 
qualified overseas Filipino workers and their dependents.
SEC. 10. Pre-employment Medical Examinations for OFWs. -  The DOH and the 
POEA, shall, as far as practicable, develop a system to allow and facilitate the conduct 
of all pre-employment medical examinations of departing OFWs in the Hospital and its 
regional hospitals.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, DOH and DOLE, in consultation with relevant government 
agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Appropriations. -  A sum of One Billion Pesos (Phpl ,000,000,000.00) is 
hereby appropriated to fund the initial budgetary requirements of this Act. Thereafter, 
the budget for the Hospital and its regional hospitals shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act (GAA).


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SEC. 
13. 
Exemption 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 its regional hospitals and for the proper implementation of this Act 
shall be exempted from donor’s tax. 
The importation of medical equipment and 
machineries, spare parts and other medical equipment for the exclusive use of the 
Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital shall be exempted from payment of customs duties, 
other direct and indirect taxes, wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions.
SEC. 14. 
Annual Report. -  The Hospital shall submit an annual report to the 
President and to the Congress on or before April 30 of each year.
SEC. 15. 
Congressional Oversight Committee. -  A Congressional Oversight 
Committee (Committee) is hereby constituted in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act. The Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and the Chairman of the 
House of Representatives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, who shall jointly 
chair the Committee, and three members each from each house, to be designated by 
the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
respectively.
The Committee shall monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act, review 
the performance of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital and its regional hospitals, 
review the proper implementation of the programs of the hospital, as well as the 
utilization of its funds, and require the submission of reports and other documents as 
it deem proper in connection with its oversight functions as herein provided.
SEC. 
16. 
Repealing 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.
SEC. 17. 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,