Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFW) 
HOSPITAL AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide our modern-day heroes as well as their dependents, a medical 
facility that will specifically attend and address their needs. 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have contributed to improving the lives of the 
Filipino people and have brought some sense of economic security and well-being to 
our nation through their personal remittances. 
According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, for the year 2022, OFW personal 
remittances amounted to US$36.14 billion while cash remittances hit a record high of 
US$32.54 billion for the same year.  These personal remittances contribute to increase 
the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI). 
In addition, the study, titled “Common Health Problems Among Overseas Filipino 
Workers [OFWs],” which was conducted by the National Research Council of the 
Philippines (NRCP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 
confirmed that OFWs are overworked, stressed and sometimes suffer from mental-
health problems, because of their poor work environment, including unfamiliar 
weather conditions and verbal abuse by their employers. These health problems were 
seen either owing to the medical costs or expenses for maintaining good health and 
physical well-being or because they are not aware of their medical benefits.1 
1 Mayuga, J. L. (2019, September 1). Study reveals health woes of OFWs. Retrieved November 18, 2020, from 
http://www.nrcp.dost.gov.ph/latest-news/531-study-reveals-health-woes-of-ofws 
May 9, 2023
11:55 am
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The contribution of our OFWs to the country’s national economy cannot be denied and 
it is but proper that we now give attention to our country’s unsung heroes through the 
establishment of this special hospital solely dedicated for them. 
This proposed special hospital dedicated for OFWs and their families not only will 
address the health problems suffered by OFWs but will also help them ease their 
financial burden on their medical expenses pre and post departure. 
In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this proposed measure is highly 
recommended. 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
Representative 
MARINO Party-list 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by MARINO Party-list Representatives 
SANDRO L. GONZALEZ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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"  
Section 2. Declaration of Policies – It is hereby declared the policy of the State: 
a) To protect and promote the right to health of the Filipino people and to instill health
consciousness among them;
b) To adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all
people at affordable cost
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall have the 
following meaning: 
a) Overseas Filipino Worker (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 citizen or on board a vessel navigating the foreign seas other than a government
ship used for military or non-commercial purposes or on an installation located offshore
or on the high seas; to be used interchangeably with migrant worker. A person "to be
engaged in a remunerated activity” refers to an applicant worker who has been
promised or assured 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 legitimate spouse entitled by
law to receive support from the Overseas Filipino Worker; (2) the legitimate and
illegitimate child who is unmarried, not gainfully employed, and below twenty-one (21)
years of age, or if over twenty-one (21) years of age, is congenitally incapacitated or
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while still a minor has been permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-support, 
physically or mentally; (3) the parents who are receiving regular support from the 
Overseas Filipino Worker; or (4) relatives within the 2nd degree of consanguinity or 
affinity who are dependent on the Overseas Filipino Worker for support. 
 
Section 4. Establishment of the OFW Hospital – To carry out the above policies, there is 
hereby created a special hospital with at least tertiary level of care to be known as OFW 
Hospital, hereinafter referred to as the Hospital, to be located in the National Capital Region, 
which shall be under the administrative and technical supervision and control of the 
Department of Health (DOH). Provided, That in the performance of its mandate as herein 
provided, the DOH shall closely coordinate and consult with the Department of Migrant 
Workers (DMW) and its attached agencies with regard to the medical and mental needs of the 
overseas Filipino workers and their dependents. 
 
The DOH, in coordination with the DMW, shall prepare a development plan to reflect the 
objectives of the Hospital.  
 
Section 5. 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 OFWs, who made at least 
one contribution to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) as 
consequence of their deployment abroad, and their dependents; 
 
b) 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; 
 
c) Serve as the primary referral hospital for repatriated OFWs needing medical assistance 
and support; 
 
d) Conduct free post-employment medical examination for OFWs seeking fair medical 
assessment on their health condition; 
 
e) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and to generate 
relevant information and data in aid of policy formulation.  
 
f) Participate in the health care provider networks and arrangements relative to the 
implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health 
Care Act” 
 
g) Complement the existing package services under the Health Care Program so as to 
include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative programs;  
 
Section 6. Administration and Composition of Board Members. – Upon the effectivity of this 
Act, the powers and the administration of the Hospital shall be vested in a Board of Directors. 
The day-to-day operations of the Hospital shall be overseen by an Administrator who shall be 
appointed by the Board. 
 
a) Composition – The Board shall be composed of the following:  
 


1) The Secretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio Chairman; 
 
2) The Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers as Ex-Officio Vice Chairman; 
 
3) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as Ex-Officio 
Member; 
 
4) The Administrator of the OWWA as Ex-Officio Member; 
 
5) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as Ex-
Officio Member; 
 
6) Two (2) representatives from OFW sector (one for land-based and another for sea-
based) as Members.  
 
The two representatives from the OFW sector shall be natural-born Filipino citizens of 
proven competence, integrity and independence. They 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 four (4) 
years without re-appointment. Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the 
unexpired term of the predecessor. 
 
7) The Administrator of the Hospital as Ex-Officio Member 
 
b) Meetings and Quorum – The Board shall meet regularly at least once every quarter. 
Special meetings may be convened at the call of the Chairperson or by a majority of the 
members of the Board. The presence of five (5) voting members shall constitute a quorum.  
 
c) Allowances and Per Diems – The members of the Board shall receive a reasonable per 
diem for every meeting actually attended, subject to the pertinent budgetary and accounting 
laws, rules and regulations. 
 
Section 7. 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 Hospital’s objectives;  
 
b) To formulate and adopt policies for the sound administration, maintenance and 
operations of the Hospital; 
 
c) To determine the staffing pattern of the Hospital and appoint officials, employees and 
other personnel of the Hospital, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, as 
well as prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to applicable laws, rules 
and regulations; 
 
d) To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its establishment, 
maintenance, operations and objectives; 
 


e) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law or other 
issuances.  
 
Section 8. Prioritization and Additional Health Coverage of Overseas Filipino Workers and 
their Dependents. – In the provision of medical services, the Hospital shall prioritize OFWs 
and their dependent senior citizens as well as dependent persons with disability. They shall also 
be given priority in the assignment of hospital beds, without prejudice to the rules on 
emergency cases as may be determined by the DOH. 
 
Pursuant to the objectives of this Act, the OWWA shall broaden the existing medical assistance 
given to duly-registered OWWA members and their dependents, and as far as practicable, 
endeavor to make the hospitalization, confinement, medical treatment, medical care and 
medical examination of duly registered OWWA members in the Hospital free of charge. 
 
Section 9. Fees and Charges. –There shall be no pay ward in the OFW Hospital. As such, no 
other fees or expenses shall be charged or be paid for by the OFWs and qualified dependents. 
Doctors practicing in the OFW Hospital shall not be allowed to bill or charge for separate 
professional fees other than what they receive from the government and such applicable 
reimbursements from the Philippine health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). 
 
Section 10. Free Pre- and Post-Employment Medical Examinations for OFWs. – The DOH, 
DOLE and POEA shall develop a system to allow and facilitate the conduct of free pre- and 
post-employment medical examinations for OFWs in the Hospital and its Regional Hospitals. 
 
Section 11. Medical Assistance. – The Secretary of the DMW shall ensure that existing health 
benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened to include subsidies on 
hospitalization and medical procedures for OFWs and their qualified dependents. 
 
Section 12. Tax Exemption. – All grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions 
which may be made by persons or entities to the Hospital to be used actually, directly and 
exclusively by the 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 Hospital and are not available locally shall be exempted from customs 
duties, other direct and indirect taxes, wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions. 
 
Section 13. 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 General 
Appropriations Act. The OWWA shall also include in its benefits and medical assistance 
programs for OFWs the line item budget necessary to improve the access of OFWs and their 
dependents to health care services. 
 
Section 14. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a Joint 
Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Act. The 
Oversight Committee shall be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of 
Migrant Workers. 
 


The Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members including its co-chairpersons. The 
five (5) members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Migrant Workers, from the following stakeholders, namely: representatives of the 
OFWs, their families or organizations, and the doctors and patients in the Hospital. The 
Committee members shall be entitled to per diem allowances. 
 
Section 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations – The DOH, in consultation with the DMW 
and other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the necessary 
implementing rules and regulations in accordance with the provisions of this Act within ninety 
(90) days from the effectivity hereof.  
 
Section 16.  Separability Clause – If for any reason, any section, subsection, clause or term 
of this Act is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Section 17. Repealing Clause – All existing laws, orders, decrees, letters of instruction, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, 
modified, or repealed accordingly.  
 
Section 18. Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,