'■'S.
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
of tijc S'?.-! ctarj?
25 SEP-2 A10 -O'
RECEIVED BY; /
SENATE
S. No. 1329
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE MEDICAL ACCESS OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES BY STRENGTHENING THE MIGRANT WORKERS HOSPITAL AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Migrant workers are hailed as "modern-day heroes" not only for their invaluable 
contributions to keeping the economy afloat but also for their sacrifice and tenacity, as 
they continue to navigate unfamiliar territory, arduous working conditions, and long-term 
separation from their families.
Aside from these, migrant workers face various struggles and hardships abroad, 
which cause them to be exposed to the risk of physical and mental health problems. 
Thus, in recognition of their contributions and sacrifices, it is necessary for the 
government to establish a hospital that would cater to the needs of our migrant workers.
This bill seeks to establish the Migrant Workers Hospital and Diagnostic Center 
(Migrant Workers Hospital), which shall primarily cater to migrant workers and their 
dependents. This shall be established in San Juan City, Pampanga. Among the purposes 
of the Migrant Workers Hospital is to establish, operate, and maintain medical facilities, 
including a medical and diagnostic center to provide comprehensive and people-centered 
health care services to OFWs and their qualified dependents. Through the establishment


of a hospital dedicated to migrant workers, they will be guaranteed immediate and 
efficient health care services.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
C
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
I
SENATE
S. No. 1329
Senate
ot tl)C ®ccrftarj»
25 SEP -2 A10
RECEIVED BY;.
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE MEDICAL ACCESS OF MIGRANT WORKERS AND THEIR 
FAMILIES BY STRENGTHENING THE MIGRANT WORKERS HOSPITAL AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "OFW Hospital Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated
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and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall endeavor to make
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essential goods, health, and other social services available to all people at an
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affordable cost. To this end, the State shall protect the interests and promote the well-
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being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) through the provision of social welfare
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services in recognition of their importance and contribution to economic development
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and nation-building.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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a) Dependents refer to any of the following:
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1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive support from the OFW;
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2) The legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, or illegitimate child
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who is unmarried, not gainfully employed, and has not reached
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twenty-one (21) years of age, or if over twenty-one (21) years of
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age, is congenitally incapacitated or while still a minor has been
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permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-support,
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physically or mentally; or


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3) The parents who receive regular support from the OFW; and
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b) Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) or Migrant Worker refers to a Filipino
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who has been engaged, is engaged, or is to be engaged in a
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remunerated activity in a country of which the said person is not an
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immigrant citizen, or a permanent resident of, or is not awaiting
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naturalization, recognition, or admission, whether land-based or sea-
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based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino engaged under a
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government-recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and
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educational purposes. For purposes of the Act, a person engaged in
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remunerated activity covers a person who has been contracted for
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overseas employment but has yet to leave the Philippines, regardless of
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status, and includes "Overseas Contract Workers."
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Sec. 4. OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center. - The "Overseas Filipino Worker
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Hospital and Diagnostic Center" (OFW Hospital), established in the city of San
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Fernando, province of Pampanga, shall primarily cater to OFWs and their dependents.
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It shall be a government instrumentality with corporate powers, managed and
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supervised by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Secretary of the Department of
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Migrant Workers (DMW), being the primary national agency with the mandate of
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ensuring the welfare ofthe OFWs and their dependents: 
That nothing herein
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shall prevent the OFW Hospital from accommodating patients other than OFWs or
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their qualified dependents.
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Sec. 5. Purposes and Objectives. - The OFW Hospital shall:
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a) Establish, operate, and maintain medical facilities, including a medical 
and diagnostic center to provide comprehensive and people-centered 
health care services to OFWs and their qualified dependents and the 
general public.
b) Serve as a referral facility for repatriated OFWs needing medical 
assistance and support while ensuring its participation in the provincial 
and inter-regional healthcare provider networks to allow for a seamless 
and coordinated referral system for the medical repatriation program in


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accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the "Universal Health 
Care Act".
c) Promote, encourage, engage in, and publish scientific research on the 
prevention, care, and treatment of occupational diseases common to 
OFWs, including the underwriting of research on biological, 
demographic, social, economic, eugenics, physiological aspects of 
occupational disorders of OFWs, and conduct relevant congresses, 
conventions, seminars, and conferences.
d) Develop training programs for medical and allied medical professionals 
which shall focus on strengthening occupational and migrant health 
services in the country and the creation of specialized services.
e) Provide telehealth services to migrant workers and their dependents for 
follow-up consultation, and to assist in the medical assessment and 
management of distressed OFWs while awaiting repatriation, which may 
be extended at Philippines foreign posts or migrant workers offices.
f) Conduct pre-employment medical examinations of OFW applicants, 
subject to pertinent rules and regulations.
g) Strengthen health surveillance through the provision of a post­
employment or post-arrival medical examination for OFWs, in 
consonance with RA No. 8042 or the "Migrant Workers and Overseas 
Filipinos Act of 1995", as amended, and the Philippine Migrant Health 
Program of the Department of Health (DOH);
h) Raise public awareness and conduct a massive information drive on the 
prevention, treatment, and control of diseases common to OFWs, 
occupational health and safety, and physical fitness, and
i) Assist and support universities, research institutions, and other hospitals 
or medical facilities in their studies on health-related concerns of OFWs.
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Sec. 6. Powers of the OFW Hospital. -The OFW Hospital shall have the powers
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to:


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a) Acquire and hold, in any manner, property of whatever nature or 
description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of 
encumbrance or conveyance;
b) Contract and be contracted with;
c) Levy, assess, and coiiect such fees, charges, and assessments as may 
be necessary or proper to support, finance, and maintain its operation;
d) Mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its 
properties;
e) Invest in, and purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hoid, use, iease 
grant, mortgage, sell, transfer, or otherwise deal with, real and/or 
personal properties of every kind and nature, including shares of stock, 
bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness or obligations of other 
corporations, whether government or private;
f) Solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of 
contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the pubiic and 
private sectors, subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing 
ruies and reguiations;
g) Open accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to disburse 
funds or invest the same as the DMW Secretary may direct to accomplish 
or advance the purposes or interest of the hospital;
h) Invite foreign specialists and experts in the various medical fields not 
available in the country to train the personnel, trainees, and residents;
i) Send the personnel to research institutes, medicai institutes, or 
universities for advanced training or observation and to attend 
internationai or regional conventions, conferences, congresses, and 
seminars as the Medicai Center Chief may deem necessary to accomplish 
the purposes and objectives of the OFW Hospitai, subject to the approval 
of the DMW Secretary; and
j) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary or 
incidentai for the accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the 
OFW Hospital.


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Sec. 7. Creation of the OFW Hospital Board of Trustees. - There is hereby
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created an OFW Hospital Trust, for the benefit of OFWs, to be administered by a Board
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of Trustees, composed of seven (7) members. Three (3) members of the Board shaii
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constitute a quorum to transact business, and any decision of the three (3) members
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on any matter shall constitute a valid and binding act of the OFW Hospitai.
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The Composition of the OFW Hospitai Board shall be as follows:
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a) Chairperson: Secretary, DMW;
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b) Vice-Chairperson: Secretary, Department of Health (DOH); and
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c) Members:
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l)Secretary, Department of Labor & Employment;
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2) Administrator, Overseas Workers Weifare Administration (OWWA);
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3)Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and 
Development;
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4)Land-based 
OFWs 
Representative; 
and
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5) Sea-based OFWs Representative
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The representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs shall be appointed by
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the President from a iist of nominees of their OFW organizations as endorsed by the
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Chairperson to the President. The nominees shaii be at least forty (40) years of age,
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and an OFW with at ieast five (5) years of work experience abroad at the time of his
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or her nomination. The members of the Board may elect an alternate, whose name
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shall be submitted to the President for appointment. In case of vacancy, the head of
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the agency may nominate an alternate, subject to official appointment by the
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President of the Philippines.
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The foliowing shall be the powers and functions of the Board of Trustees:
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a) Approve and promulgate policies, guideiines, programs, and pians for
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the sound administration, maintenance, and operations of the OFW
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Hospital for the Implementation of the purposes and objectives of this
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Act;
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b) Approve the organizationai structure and staffing pattern of the OFW
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Hospitai in accordance with the revised compensation and position
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classification system, subject to the evaluation and approval of the DBM, 
and in compliance with civil service and other pertinent laws, rules, and 
regulations;
c) Appoint, remove, suspend, or otherwise discipline the officers of OFW 
Hospital occupying executive and senior management positions subject 
to civil service and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations;
d) Adopt the annual and supplemental budget of the OFW Hospital; and
e) Exercise all the general powers necessary or proper for the attainment 
of the purpose and objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Medical Center Chief. -The Medical Center Chief shall be appointed by
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the DMW Secretary.
The Medical Center Chief shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
a) Provide overall direction and strategic leadership to the OFW Hospital, 
toward the provision of high-quality health services;
b) Oversee all managerial and administrative processes and operations of 
all departments of the OFW Hospital;
c) Supervise the daily activities of functional units;
d) Ensure high standards in clinical training for medical and allied medical 
personnel;
e) Execute, on behalf of the OFW Hospital, all contracts and agreements 
which it may enter into and accomplish and deliver any and all 
documents relative to such contracts and agreements, subject to the 
approval of the DMW Secretary;
f) Represent the OFW Hospital in all dealings with other offices, agencies, 
and instrumentalities of the government and all other persons or entities, 
domestic or foreign, and government or private;
g) Submit, for the consideration and approval of the Board, the proposed 
development plans, programs, measures, policies, and guidelines 
necessary for the effective implementation of the purposes and 
objectives of this Act;


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h) Appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend, or otherwise discipline the 
officers and employees of the OFW Hospital, except those appointed by 
the Board; and
i) Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested 
by the DMW Secretary.
Sec. 9. Duties and Responsibilities of the DMW. -The DMW shall:
a) Establish a focal office for migration and health in the DMW to ensure 
that the country's migrant health program is mainstreamed in the plans 
and programs of the OFW Hospital, which shall include:
1) Assistance in identifying, documenting, processing, and 
approving applications for benefits granted to OFWs and their 
qualified dependents;
2) Establishment of a referral system within the OFW Hospital to 
ensure efficient delivery of medical and health care services to 
OFWs and their qualified dependents;
3) Strengthening of the existing health benefits and medical 
assistance programs, through OWWA, such as subsidies on 
hospitalization and medical procedures for OFWs and their 
qualified dependents, subject to the availability of funds and 
resources; and
4) Active engagement in the Philippine Migrant Health Network, an 
inter-agency, multi-stakeholder network for migrant health, 
composed of members from other government, non­
governmental agencies, academe, civil society organizations, 
private sector, and international organizations, to advocate and 
lobby support for migrant health programs.
b) Create a consultative committee and other necessary mechanisms for 
the effective participation of land-based and sea-based accredited OFW 
organizations in the formulation of policies for the effective 
implementation of programs and measures to attain the objectives of 
the OFW Hospital; and


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c) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of
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the purposes and objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 10. Duties and Responsibilities of the DOH. -The DOH shall:
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a) Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the OFW
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Hospitals are obtained, 
consistent with relevant issuances, rules, and
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regulations;
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b) Endorse and encourage medical specialists in other government
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hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and
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Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Children's
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Hospital, and the Philippine General Hospital, to hold clinics in the OFW
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Hospital;
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c) Support the OFW Hospital through the provision of technical assistance,
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extending capital outlay, and monitoring the hospital's compliance with
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standards to deliver quality healthcare; and
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d) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of
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the purposes and objectives of this Act.
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Sec. 11. Support from other Government Agencies. - The OWWA shall ensure
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that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs for OFWs and their
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qualified dependents are strengthened: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be
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construed to diminish or reduce the existing benefits of OFWs and their dependents
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provided under RA No. 11223
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All other agencies, departments, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the
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government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, shall render
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assistance to the OFW Hospital for the effective implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 12. Tax Exemption. - All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and
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contributions made to the OFW Hospital to be used actually, directly, and exclusively
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by the OFW Hospital shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be
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considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor, in accordance
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with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. The
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importation of equipment, machinery, and spare parts used actually, directly, and


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exclusively for the operation of the OFW Hospital and are not available locally shall be
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exempt from value-added tax and customs duty.
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Sec. 13. Funding for the OFW Hospital. - The amount necessary for the initial
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
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of the DMW. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall
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be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.
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All income generated from the operations of the OFW Hospital shall be
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deposited in an authorized government depository bank and be used to augment the
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hospital's operating requirements.
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Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
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approval of this Act, the DMW shall, in consultation with the DOH, the OWWA, and
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other stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions
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of this Act.
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Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
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letters of instruction, proclamations, and rules and regulations contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
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accordingly.
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Sec. 17. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,