NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2567
sc.. I'E'fr'ifp ol‘ i.,; ft.-
24 FEB 22 All 36
uiiCEi. j r
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS HOSPITAL AS A LEVEL 
III HOSPITAL UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The issuance of Executive Order No. 154 in 2021 established the OFW Hospital 
to provide comprehensive and total health care services for all Overseas Filipino 
Workers (OFWs), as well as conduct medical examinations for all would-be overseas 
contract workers with approved job orders. At present, OFW Hospital is a Level 2 
hospital.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), a Level 2 hospital shall have, 
on top of the minimum requirements of Level I capacity, must be departmentalized 
and should have intensive care units, respiratory therapy services, a tertiary clinical 
laboratory and a Level 2 imaging facility with mobile X-ray equipment.
Upgrading the OFW hospital through this bill will mean a higher level of healthcare 
for our OFWs and their families. Level 3 hospitals, according to the DOH, include all 
of Level 1 and Level 2 services in addition to:
1. Teaching/training with at least any two (2) accredited residency training 
programs for physicians in any medical/surgical specialty and/or subspecialty;
2. Physical medicine and rehabilitation unit;
3. Ambulatory surgical clinic;


4. Dialysis unit;
5. Tertiary clinical laboratory with histopathology;
6. Blood bank; and
7. 3rd Level X-ray.
Thus, this bill proposes to convert the OFW Hospital to a Level 3 hospital under 
the direct supervision and control of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and 
shall cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and their qualified dependents, 
including 24/7 telehealth services as well as the strengthening of health surveillance 
through the provision of a post-employment or post-arrival medical examination for 
OFWs.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 2567
''!
of ;l;-. C: 't
24 FEB 22 All 36
RliCEi ; ,.DG\
Introduced by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS HOSPITAL AS A LEVEL 
III HOSPITAL UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Overseas Filipino
2 
Workers Hospital Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated
4 
and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
5 
essential goods, health, and other social services available to all people at affordable
6 
cost. To this end, the State shall protect the interest and promote the well-being of
7 
overseas Filipino workers (OFW) through the provision of social welfare services in
8 
recognition of their importance and contribution to economic development and nation-
9 
building.
10 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
11 
a) Dependents shall refer to any of the following:
12 
1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive support from the OFW;
13 
2) The legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, or illegitimate child who is
14 
unmarried, not gainfully employed, and has not reached twenty-one (21) years of
15 
age, or if over twenty-one (21) years of age, is congenitally incapacitated or while


1 
still a minor has been permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-support,
2 
physically or mentally; or
3 
3) The parents who are receiving regular support from the OFW;
4 
b) CVWrefers to a Filipino who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in
5 
a remunerated activity in a country of which the said person is not an immigrant
6 
citizen, or a permanent resident of, or is not awaiting naturalization, recognition, or
7 
admission, whether land-based or sea-based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino
8 
engaged under a government-recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and
9 
educational purposes. For purposes of this Act, a person engaged in remunerated
10 
activity covers a person who has been contracted for overseas employment but has
11 
yet to leave the Philippines, regardless of status, and includes "Overseas
12 
Contract Workers." The term "OFW" is synonymous with "Migrant Worker."
13 
Sec. 4. Establishment of the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital as a Level III
14 
Hospital. - There shall be established in the City of San Fernando, Province of
15 
Pampanga, a Level III hospital to be known as the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital
16 
(OFWH), which shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Department of
17 
Migrant Workers (DMW). It shall cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and
18 
their qualified dependents, subject to the limitations under existing laws, rules, and
19 
regulations: Provided, That nothing herein shall prevent the OFWH from
20 
accommodating patients other than OFWs or their qualified dependents.
21 
The Medical Center Chief of OFWH shall, in consultation with the DMW and the
22 
Department of Health (DOH), prepare the hospital development plan to reflect the
23 
development goals of the hospital including its bed capacity and service capability.
24 
Requests for staffing requirements, capital outlay investments, and budgetary needs
25 
for operations shall be based on the hospital development plan.
26 
The DOH shall support the OFWH through the provision of technical assistance,
27 
extending capital outlay, and monitoring of the hospital's compliance with standards
28 
to deliver quality healthcare.
29 
Sec. 5. Purposes and Objectives. - The OFWH shall:
30 
a) Provide comprehensive and total health care services to all migrant workers
31 
including Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) contributors, whether
32 
active or inactive, their legal dependents, and the general public;


1 
b) Serve as a referral facility for repatriated OFWs needing medicai assistance and
2 
support whiie ensuring its participation in the provinciai and inter-regionai heaithcare
3 
provider networks to ailow for seamless and coordinated referrai system for the
4 
medical repatriation program in accordance with Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise
5 
known as the "Universal Health Care Act";
6 
c) Promote, encourage, engage in, and pubiish scientific research on the prevention,
7 
care, and treatment of occupational diseases common to OFWs, including the
8 
underwriting of research on bioiogicai, demographic, sociai, economic, eugenics,
9 
physioiogical aspects of occupational disorders of OFWs, and conduct reievant
10 
congresses, conventions, seminars, and conferences;
11 
d) Deveiop training programs for medical and allied medical professionals which shail
12 
focus on strengthening occupational and migrant health services in the country and
13 
the creation of specialized services;
14 
e) Provide 24/7 teieheaith services to migrant workers and their famiiies; the service
15 
may be extended at the Philippine foreign post or the Phiiippine Overseas Labor Office
16 
to assist in the medical assessment and management of distressed OFWs whiie
17 
awaiting repatriation;
18 
f) Establish the OFWH as a medicai facility providing pre-employment medical
19 
examination for OFWs;
20 
g) Strengthen health surveillance through the provision of a post-employment or post-
21 
arrival medical examination for OFWs, in consonance with Repubiic Act No. 8042,
22 
otherwise known as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Fiiipinos Act of 1995," and
23 
the DON'S Phiiippine Migrant Health Program;
24 
h) Raise pubiic awareness and conduct a massive information drive on the prevention,
25 
treatment, and controi of diseases common to OFWs, occupational health and safety,
26 
and physical fitness; and
27 
i) Assist and support universities, research institutions, and other hospitals or medical
28 
facilities in their studies on health-reiated concerns of OFWs.
29 
Sec. 6. Powers of the OFWH. - The OFWH shall have the powers to:
30 
a) Acquire and hoid, in any manner, property of whatever nature or description, and
31 
to dispose of such property under any mode of encumbrance or conveyance;
32 
b) Contract and be contracted with;


1 
c) Levy, assess and collect such fees, charges, and assessments as may be necessary
2 
or proper to support, finance, and maintain its operation;
3 
d) Mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its properties;
4 
e) Invest in, and purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, use, lease grant,
5 
mortgage, sell, transfer or otherwise deal with, reai and/or personal properties of
6 
every kind and nature, including shares of stock, bonds, notes and other evidence of
7 
indebtedness or obiigations of other corporations whether government or private;
8 
f) Solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of contributions,
9 
whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private sectors subject to existing
10 
budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations;
11 
g) Open such accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to disburse such
12 
funds or invest the same as the DMW Secretary may direct to accomplish or advance
13 
the purposes or interest of the hospital;
14 
h) Invite foreign specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields not
15 
available in the country; to train the personnel, trainees, and residents;
16 
i) Send the personnel to research institutes, medical institutes, or universities for
17 
advance training or observation and to attend international or regional conventions,
18 
conferences, congresses, and seminars as the Medical Center Chief may deem
19 
necessary to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the hospital and subject to
20 
the approval of the DMW Secretary; and
21 
j) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary or incidental for the
22 
accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the OFWH.
23 
Sec. 7. Duties and Responsibilities of the DMW. - The DMW shali:
24 
a) Establish a focal office for migration and heaith in the DMW to ensure that the
25 
country's migrant health program Is mainstreamed in the plans and programs of th^^pj
26 
OFWH which shall include:
27 
a. Assistance in identifying, documenting, processing, and approving applications
28 
for benefits granted to OFWs and their qualified dependents;
29 
b. Establishment of a referral system within the OFWH to ensure efficient delivery
30 
of medical and health care services to OFWs and their qualified dependents;


1 
c. strengthening of the existing heaith benefits and medical assistance programs
2 
such as subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures for OFWs and their
3 
qualified dependents, subject to the availability of funds and resources; and
4 
d. Active engagement in the Philippine Migrant Health Network, an inter-agency,
5 
multi-stakeholder network for migrant health, composed of members from
6 
other government, non-governmental agencies, academe, civil society
7 
organizations, private sector, and international organizations, to advocate and
8 
lobby support for migrant health programs.
9 
b) Formulate and promulgate policies, programs, and plans for the sound
10 
administration, maintenance, and operations of the OFWH in consultation with the
11 
Medical Center Chief;
12 
c) Determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the OFWH in
13 
accordance with the revised compensation and position classification system
14 
subject to the evaluation and approval of the DBM and in compliance with the civil
15 
service and other pertinent laws, rules and regulations;
16 
d) Appoint and remove OFWH personnel upon the recommendation of the Medical
17 
Center Chief subject to civil service rules and regulations and other applicable
18 
laws;
19 
e) Create a consultative committee and other necessary mechanisms for the effective
20 
participation of land-based and sea-based accredited OFW organizations in the
21 
formulation of policies for the effective implementation of programs and measures
22 
to attain the objectives of the OF WH;
23 
f) Determine and undertake, in coordination with the Governance Commission for
24 
Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations, the appropriate steps for the
25 
formal establishment and incorporation of the OFW Hospital in accordance with
26 
Republic Act No. 10149, otherwise known as the "GOCC Governance Act of 2011";
27 
and
28 
g) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the
29 
purposes and objectives of this Act.
30 
Sec. 8. Medical Center Chief. - The Medical Center Chief shall be appointed by
31 
the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the DMW Secretary. The
32 
Medical Center Chief shall have the following duties and responsibilities:


1 
a) Provide overall direction and strategic leadership to the OFWH toward the provision
2 
of high-quality health services;
3 
b) Oversee all managerial and administrative processes and operations of all
4 
departments of the OFWH;
5 
c) Supervise daily activities of functional units;
6 
d) Ensure high standards in clinical training for medical and allied medical personnel;
7 
e) Execute, on behalf of the hospital, all contracts and agreements which the hospital
8 
may enter into and accomplish and deliver any and all documents relative to such
9 
contracts and agreements, subject to the approval of the DMW Secretary;
10 
f) Represent the hospital in all dealing with other offices, agencies, and
11 
instrumentalities of the Government and all other persons or entities, whether
12 
domestic or foreign and whether government or private; and
13 
g) Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or reposed
14 
by the DMW.
15 
Sec.9. Duties and Responsibilities of the DOH. - The DOH shall:
16 
a) Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the OFWH are obtained,
17 
consistent with relevant issuances, rules and regulations;
18 
b) Endorse and encourage medical specialists in other government hospitals such as
19 
the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of
20 
the Philippines, National Children's Hospital, and the Philippine General Hospital, to
21 
hold clinics in the OFWH;
22 
c) Establish OFW centers or wards in DOH-retained hospitals to complement the
23 
OFWH. The level of OFW services and corresponding facilities in OFW centers or wards
24 
and their respective health human resource requirements shall be determined by the
25 
DOH, in coordination with stakeholders: Provided, That the standards to be adopted
26 
thereon shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan; and
27 
d) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the purposes
28 
and objectives of this Act.
29 
SEC. 10. Support from other Government Agencies. -The OWWA shall ensure
30 
that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened for
31 
OFWs and their qualified dependents: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall be
32 
construed to diminish or reduce the existing benefits of OFWs and their dependents


1 
provided under Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the "Universal Health
2 
Care Act."
3 
All other agencies, departments, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the
4 
government, including government-owned or-controlled corporations, shall render
5 
assistance to the OFWH for the effective implementation of this Act.
6 
Sec. 11. Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a Joint
7 
Congressional Oversight Committee which shall be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons
8 
of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and the House of
9 
Representatives Committee on Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from
10 
the Senate and five (5) members from the House of Representatives, to be appointed
11 
by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
12 
respectively: Provided, That at least one (1) member from each house shall come from
13 
the Minority.
14 
Sec. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation
15 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the concerned
16 
departments and agencies. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual
17 
General Appropriations Act.
18 
Sec. 13. Annual Report. -The DMW shall submit to the President and Congress
19 
an annual report on the implementation of this Act.
20 
Sec. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
21 
approval of this Act, the DMW shall, in consultation with the DOH, OWWA, and other
22 
stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this
23 
Act.
24 
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
25 
unconstitutionai, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in
26 
full force and effect.
27 
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and
28 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
29 
repealed or modified accordingly.
30 
Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
31 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,