THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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, " " t  JJ . ' J  .L?4 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
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S.B. N6. 
889 
Introduced by Sen. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Touted as the "modern heroes" of the Philippine economy overseas contract 
workers render services abroad and send financial support back to our country to 
promote the economic welfare of their families. As a consequence, they contribute to 
the general economic performance of the country. 
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. 
The State has the responsibility to adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development, to afford full protection to labor both local and 
overseas, and to protect the interest and promote the well-being of its citizens. This bill 
is geared towards the realization of these endeavors; hence 
earnest sought. 
its immediate approval is 
C L -  
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ESTRADA 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
"04 JiJ 3'3 ;-yj 
141" 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITOESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS CONTRACT WORKERS 
(OCWs) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND 
FOP OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philipines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Title. This Act shall be known as the MIGRANT WORKERS 
HOSPITAL ACT OF 2004." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is 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, a 
migrant workers' hospital to be named as the MIGRANT WORKERS HOSPITAL is 
hereby created under the supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration. 
SECTION 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 O W A  contributors and their legal dependents; 


Complement the existing package of services under the Medical 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 contract workers duly covered by an 
approved job order; 
Set up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and 
to generate relevant information/data in aid of policy formulation. 
SECTION 5. Administration. Upon effectively of 
this Act, the Migrant 
Workers Hospital shall be administered by a Board of Directors consisting of : 
The Secretary of the Department of 
Labor and Employment ------------------ Ex-off icio Chairman 
The Administrator of the Overseas 
Workers Welfare Ad m i n istra ti on ---------- Ex-officio Vice Chairman 
The Secretary of the 
Department of Health .................... 
Ex-officio Member 
The Secretary of the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development ------- Ex-officio member 
The Administrator of Philippine Overseas 
Employment Administration-------------- Ex-officio member 
The two representatives from the OCWs Sector shall be appointed by the 
President of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of nominees prepared by the Ex- 
officio Chairman to serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment. 
SECTION 6. 
Responsibility and Powers. The Board of Directors of the 
MIGRANT WORKERS HOSPITAL shall have the following responsibilities and powers: 


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; 
To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its 
establishment, maintenance, operations and objectives; 
To issue rules and regulations to carry out the objectives and purposes of 
this Act; 
To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law. 
SECTION 7. Appropriatfon. An amount necessary for the establishment, initial 
operation of the MIGRANT WORKERS HOSPITAL, shall be taken from the National 
Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Subsequently, its appropriation shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
$€CTK3N 8. Repealing Ciause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or part thereof inccmsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. 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 which ever comes eavlier. 
Approved.