4) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines 01 AUG 2016
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE} DATE:

Quezon City, Metro Manila CD
SEVENTEETH CONGRESS BY:
First Regular Session ;

REGISTRATION UNIT

HOUSE BILL NO. 2167

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

This Bill seeks the establishment of a hospital within Central Luzon that will
cater to the medical and health needs of Overseas Filipino Workers and Seafarers as
well as their families. This is pursuant to State policy guaranteeing the right of

people to health by ensuring that essential goods, health and other services are
available at affordable cost.

‘The country has continuously relied on overseas labor and remittance flows.
Thus, it is but apt that the State reciprocates the services and sacrifices of Filipinos
working abroad in all kinds of professions as well as seafarers by providing services
and programs that will benefit them and their families. Unfortunately, the Overseas
Workers Welfare Administration(OWWA), which is the focal government agency
tasked to protect and promoie the interest of member-OFWs, does not have a
medical service program in place. There is though one hospital in Manila which
caters to seafarers, the Seamen's Hospital, which is operated by the Associated
Marine Officers’ Union of the Philippines which is a private entity. Other OFWs do

not have that kind of facility. As such, the government must intervene. Hence, the
approval of this bill is immediate and necessary.

FLORADA P. ROBES

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE


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

SEVENTEETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSEBILLNO. 216'7

Introduced by Honorable Florida P. Robes

AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN OFW AND SEAFARERS HOSPITAL WITHIN
CENTRAL LUZON AND 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. There shall be established a hospital with a minimum of 100 bed
capacity to be known as Central Luzon OFW and Seafarers Hospital hereinafter
referred to as the Hospital.

SEC. 2. The hospital shall be located in a site based on accessibility and
proximity to be determined and agreed by all local government units within the
territorial jurisdiction.

SEC. 3. The hospital shall provide free or subsidized pre-employment
al exams of Filipino workers and seafarers who want to work abroad as well as
medical and health care for the families of OFWs and seafarers.

SEC. 4. The Hospital shall be under the full administrative and technical
supervision of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration (OWWA) and accredited by the Philippine Overseas Employment
Administration and Maritime Industry Authority.

SEC. 5. The sum necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall
be charged against the membership fees and contributions of OWWA members and
to be complemented with the appropriations for the OWWA and Department of
Health under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such amount as
may be necessary for the continued operation of the Hospital shalll be included in the
Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of DOH and Administrator of OWWA shall promulgate
within sixty (60) days the Implementing Rules and Regulations that shall be
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, ordinances, rules and regulations, and
other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed or modified.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason any section or provision of
this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions
thereof, shall not be repealed or modified.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,