FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SE~ATj: 
S.B. No. 1976 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
At present, Overseas Filipino Workers are considered our modern heroes. Along with 
other economic stimulants, the pouring-in of remittances from the OFWs to their families 
here in our country contributes a lot to the functioning and survival of our economy. 
Thus, we cannot take for granted the indispensable role played by our modern heroes. 
As such, aside from their skills and experiences, an important capital that they have to 
possess is their health. Long hours of work, different climate and environment coupled 
by emotional stress raise the risk of weakness and ill health. 
In this light, it has become imperative for the State to protect the interest and promote 
the well-being of Filipino overseas workers including their families and dependents 
through the provision of social and welfare services. It shall be part of an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavour to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at affordable 
cost. 
This bill seeks to establish a special hospital for Overseas Filipino Workers and their 
dependents which should be under the supervision and control of the Overseas 
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
.1\IO·f\II3I9t1/G REVILLA, JR. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S~AII;.. 
S.B. No. 
1~76 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
"AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS 
(OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, 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. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Migrant Workers 
Hospital Act of 2010." 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy -
It is the policy of the State to adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavour 
to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at 
affordable cost. Further, the State shall protect the interest and promote the well-being 
of Filipino overseas workers including their families and dependents through the 
provision of social and welfare services. 
Sec. 3. Creation of Special Hospital - To carry out the above policy, there is 
hereby created a special hospital to be known as the Migrant Workers Hospital which 
shall be under the supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA). 
Sec. 4. Objectives - To ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of 
quality health care, Migrant Workers Hospital shall: 
, 
a) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all migrant 
workers who are OWWA contributors including their dependents; 
b) Complement the existing package services under the Health Care 
Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and 
rehabilitative programs; 
c) 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; 
d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and 
to generate relevant information and data in aid of policy formulation. 
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Sec. 5. Administration and Composition of Board Members - Upon the 
effectivity of this Act, the powers and the administration of the Migrant Workers Hospital 
shall be vested in a Board, which is composed of the following members: 
a) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment as Ex-Officio 
Chairman; 
b) The Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as Ex-
Officio Vice Chairman; 
c) The Secretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio Member; 
d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as 
Ex-Officio member; 
e) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas EmploymentAdministration 
as Ex-Officio Member; 
f) Two (2) representatives from OFW sector (one from land based and 
another from sea-based) as Members. 
The two representatives from the OFW sector 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 three (3) years without re-appointment. 
Sec. 6. Responsibilities and Powers - The Board of Directors of the Migrant 
Workers Hospital shall have the following responsibilities and powers: 
a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the Migrant 
Worker's Hospital's objectives and purposes as enunciated in Section 4 of 
this Act; 
b) To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with 
its 
establishment, maintenance; operations and objectives; 
c) To issue rules and regulations to carry out the objectives and purposes of 
this Act; 
d) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law. 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Board shall adopt rules 
and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from the 
date of its approval. 
Sec. 8. Appropriation - In addition to the seed money held in trust by the 
OWWA, the National Government shall contribute the amount necessary for the 
establishment and initial operation of the Migrant Workers Hospital which shall be taken 
from the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Subsequently, its appropriation 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
Sec. 9. Assistance from Government Offices, etc. - The Migrant Workers 
Hospital may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the 
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Government, including government owned or controlled corporations, for such 
assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives. 
Sec. 10. 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 the importation of medical equipment and rnachineries, spare parts 
and other medical equipment not hereto mentioned used solely and exclusively for the 
Migrant Workers Hospital shall be exempt from income, gift, direct and indirect taxes, 
wharfage fees and other charges and restrictions. 
Sec. 11. Annual Report - The Migrant Workers Hospital shall render to the 
President of the Philippines, to the Senate and to the House of Representatives an 
annual of its activities and recommendations. 
Sec. 12. Congressional Oversight Committee. - A Congressional Oversight 
Committee, herein after referred to as the "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 and four (4) additional members from each House to be 
designated by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives respectively. The Committee shall, among others in aid of legislation: 
1. Monitor and ensure the proper implementation of this Act; 
2. Review the performance of the hospital; and 
3. Review the proper implementation of the programs of the Hospital and 
the use of its fund. 
In furtherance of the herein above cited objectives, the Committee is empowered 
to require the hospital to submit all pertinent information including but not limited to its 
performance' data and its annual audited financial statement certified by the 
Commission on Audit. 
Sec. 13. 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. 14. 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, 
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