Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1933

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO
WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Filipino OFWs are very much in demand abroad as they are committed
and hardworking with an incomparable work ethic unmatched in the world
Considered as our new breed of Filipino heroes, they choose to leave the country
to seek greener pastures to be able to provide for their families despite the many
risks involved in working in a foreign country

The Constitution, under Section 3, Article XII, expressly states that the
State shall accord full protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and
unorganized, and promote full employment and equality of employment
opportunities for all. It is in this light that Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise
known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, was enacted
to implement this State policy.

But despite the major contribution of OFWs in the national economy (10%
of the country’s GNP in 2006), major differences in culture, conditions and the
innate superiority complex of overseas employers have resulted in the abuse,
discrimination and exploitation of our OFWs, most of whom are women. A vast
majority of repatriated OFWs (42%) suffer from poor health conditions needing


immediate medical attention or hospital confinement due to various physical or
mental illnesses sustained abroad.

The proposed measure seeks to address this dilemma by establishing a
hospital dedicated to overseas Filipino workers and their dependents, Moreover,
the bill also aims to complement the present package of health services provided
by OWWA so that a more comprehensive health care package can be extended
to OFWs and their dependents.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is
earnestly sought.

A

DIOSDADO N -APAGAL ARROYO GLORIA*MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1933

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

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 2013.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - Itis the policy of the State 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. 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.

SECTION 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).

SECTION 4. Objectives. - To ensure the availability, accessibility and
affordability of quality health care, the Migrant Workers Hospital shall:


a) Provide for a comprehensiveltotal health care services to all migrant
workers who are OWWA contributors including their dependents;

b) Complement the existing package of services under the Health Care
Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative and
rehabilitative programs;

¢) 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; and

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

SECTION 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 shall be 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 Employment Administration
as Ex-Officio Member; and

f) Two (2) representatives from the OFWs sector (one from land-based and
another from sea-based) as Members.

The two representatives from the OFWs 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

SECTION 6. Responsibilities and Powers. - The Board of Directors of the
Migrant Workers Hospital shalll have the following responsibilities and powers:


a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the Migrant
Workers 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; and

d) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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)

SECTION 9. Assistance from Government Offices, etc. - The Migrant
Workers Hospital may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or
instrumentality of the Government, including government owned or controlled
corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its purposes
and objectives.

SECTION 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
machineries, 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.

SECTION 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 report of its activities and recommendations.

SECTION 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 statements
certified by the Commission on Audit.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
tules and regulations or part thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect after fifteen

(15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,