NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
of jlje ^rC
"22 JUL 14 MO 35
SENATE 
S. B. NO. ^G6
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR 
OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR 
DEPENDENTS TO BE KNOWN AS BAGONG BAYANING FILIPINO 
HOSPITAL, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) the 
total number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were deployed in 2021 alone 
is around 742,796. Meanwhile, data from the Department of Labor and Employment’s 
(DOLE) shows that as of December 2020, there are 8,874,472 OFWs living and 
working abroad, of which 3.50 million are documented workers, 1.58 million are 
undocumented workers, and 3.80 million are permanent migrants. OFWs’ total 
remittances in 2020 and 2021 amounted to USD29.903 Billion and USD31.418 Billion, 
respectively, which translates to a significant contribution to our economy.1
Filipino overseas workers are, indeed, the country’s bagong bayani: they risk 
their lives to work in other countries to send money to their families in the Philippines. 
Their remittances and contributions to our economy continue to be one of the drivers 
of the country’s growth and progress. However, our OFWs face new challenges when 
they arrive home from their work abroad. For instance, in 2017, the NMC Hospital in 
Abu Dhabi found that there are as many as 1,000 Filipinos who are diagnosed with 
cancer from the United Arab Emirates.2 The Davao office of Overseas Worker Welfare 
Association, meanwhile, found that OFWs are prone to suffer from hypertension, heart 
attack, breast, and ovarian cancers, which could either be diagnosed during their work 
abroad or upon their return back home.3
1 
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Overseas Filipinos’ Cash Remittances, accessible at 
hHpfi'//WWW bsp. nnv.nh/Statlsilcs/Extemal/Table%201 l.oclf? {last accessed July 7, 2022).
2 Ryan Songalia, Around 1,000 OFWs diagnosed \A/ith cancer in UAC every year - doctors, accessible at 
https://wVifw.rappler.eom/natlon/192112-uae~ofws~cancer-10OP-eveiy-yoar/ {last accessed July 7, 2022).
3 
OFWS medical assistance program to launch in January, accessible at 
https;//www.sunstai'.cQm.Dh/ai1icle/111291 /ofws-iiierJical-assistance-program J.o-iaynctiim;;[arujajy - {last accessed 
July 7, 2022).


This bill seeks to give priority to the millions and millions of hardworking Filipino 
overseas workers and their dependents by establishing a hospital to be known as 
Bagong Bayaning Filipino Flospital. This bill also mandates the establishment of 
regional hospitals that will prioritize the needs of the OFWs and their dependents. This 
bill will also complement the newly constructed OFW Hospital in San Fernando City, 
Pampanga, created by Executive Order No. 154, series of 2021, which opened in May 
2022.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR JO^ VILL^^EVA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
@1 ^cuait
72
SENATE 
S.B. No.
^66
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT ESTABLISHING SPECIAL HEALTH FACILITIES FOR 
OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS 
TO BE KNOWN AS BAGONG BAYANING FILIPINO HOSPITAL, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26 
27
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 “Bagong Bayaning 
Filipino Hospital Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavor to make health, overall wellness, and other important social services available 
to all the people at affordable cost. Toward this end, the State shall protect the right to 
health and promote and enhance the welfare and well-being of overseas Filipino workers 
and their dependents through the provision of personal healthcare and social welfare 
services.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall have 
the following meaning:
a) 
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), as defined under Republic Act No. 11641, 
otherwise known as the “Department of Migrant Workers Act,” shall refer to a person 
who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity 
in a country of which he or she is not an immigrant, citizen, or permanent resident, 
or is not awaiting naturalization, recognition, or admission, whether land-based or 
sea-based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino engaged under a government- 
recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and educational purposes. For 
purposes of this provision, a person engaged in a remunerated activity covers a 
person who has been contracted for overseas employment but has yet to leave the 
Philippines, regardless of status, and includes “Overseas Contract Workers.”
b) 
Dependent/s shall refer to any of the following:


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive support from the OFW;
2) The legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, and/or illegitimate child, who is 
unmarried, not gainfully employed, and not over the age of majority, or if over the 
age of majority but incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to a mental 
or physical defect; or
3) The parents who rely primarily upon the OFW for support.
c) Health facility shall refer to a facility that is devoted primarily to the provision of 
services for health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and 
palliation of individuals suffering from illness, disease, injury, disability, or deformity, 
or are in need of obstetrical or other medical and nursing care, as well as the 
provision of mental health care services.
SEC. 4. Creation of Special Health Facility for Overseas Filipino Workers and 
their Dependents. - There is hereby created a special health facility for OFWs, to be 
known as Bagong Bayaning Filipino Flospital (the “Hospital) to be located in the National 
Capital Region, or in any province as may be determined by the Department of Migrant 
Workers (DMW), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) and other 
concerned government agencies and stakeholders.
The Hospital shall primarily cater to the physical, mental, and overall well-being of 
OFWs and their dependents.
The Hospital shall be under the control and supervision of the DOH; Provided, That 
in the performance of its mandate as herein provided, the DOH shall closely coordinate 
with the DMW and its attached agencies with regard the medical and mental needs of the 
OFWs and their dependents, as provided under Section 15(n) of the Department of 
Migrant Workers Act.
SEC. 5. Regional Hospitals. - Within five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, 
the DOH, in coordination with DMW and other relevant agencies, and in accordance with 
appropriate health facility development and health human resource plans, shall establish 
regional hospitals in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to cater to the needs of overseas 
Filipino workers and their dependents who are located in these regions.
SEC. 6. Prioritization and Additional Health Coverage of Overseas Filipino 
Workers and their Dependents. - Each of the Hospitals to be established under this 
Act shall provide an express or priority lanes for OFWs and their dependents. They shall 
be given priority in the assignment of hospital beds, without prejudice to the rules on 
emergency cases, as may be determined by the DOH and the Hospital Administrator.
Pursuant to the objectives of this Act, the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA) shall broaden the existing medical assistance given to duly 
registered OWWA members and their dependents, and as far as practicable, endeavor to 
make the hospitalization, confinement, medical treatment, and medical care of duly 
registered OWWA members in the Hospital or any of its regional hospitals free of charge. 
However, nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish or reduce the existing benefits 
of OFWs and their dependents provided under Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known 
as the Universal Health Care Act.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
SEC. 7. Administration and Composition of Board Members. - The day-to-day 
operations of the Hospital shall be overseen by an Administrator to be appointed by the 
Board.
The powers and the administration of the Hospital shall be vested in a Board.
a) Composition - The Board shall be composed of the following members:
1) The Secretary of the DMW as Chairperson;
2) The Secretary of the DOH as Co-Chairperson;
3) The Administrator of the OWWA as member;
4) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration 
(POEA) as member, pending the full transition and integration of POEA into 
the DMW;
5) One (1) representative from land-based OFWs;
6) One (1) representative from sea-based OFWs; and
7) The Administrator of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital as ex officio 
member.
The Board chairpersons and members may designate their representatives, 
who must be next-in-rank to the principal member, and fully authorized to 
decide for and on their behalf.
The representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs shall be appointed by 
the President from a list of nominees submitted by the Chairperson. Such 
nominees must at least be forty (40) years of age, and an OFW with at least 
three (3) years of work experience abroad at the time of his or her nomination.
b) Term - The members of the Board shall have a term of three (3) years without 
reappointment. Except for members whose terms shall be co-terminus with 
their respective positions in government, any vacancy in the Board shall be 
filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made and the 
appointee shall serve only the unexpired term of his predecessor.
c) Meetings and Quorum - The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once a 
month. Special meetings may be convened at the call of the Chairperson or by 
a majority of the members of the Board. The presence of four (4) voting 
members shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of the Chairperson and Co- 
Chairperson, a temporary presiding officer shall be designated by the majority 
of the members present during such meeting.
d) Allowances and Per Diems - The members of the Board shall receive a 
reasonable per diem for every meeting actually attended subject to the pertinent 
budgetary laws, rules and regulations on compensation, honoraria and 
allowances.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
SEC. 8. Responsibilities and Powers. - The Board of Directors of the Hospital 
shall have the following responsibilities and powers:
a. To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the objectives and 
purposes of the Hospital, with due regard to giving utmost priority and providing 
the best quality of service to OFWs and their dependents;
b. To formulate and promulgate policies for the sound administration, maintenance, 
and operations of the Hospital;
c. To determine the staffing pattern of the Hospital, subject to the approval by the 
Department of Budget and Management;
d. To appoint the officials, employees, and other personnel of the Hospital and the 
regional hospitals, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, and to 
prescribe their duties and fix their compensation, subject to the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the “Compensation and Position 
Classification Act of 1989” as further amended by related laws modifying the salary 
schedule of government personnel;
e. To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its establishment, 
maintenance and operations of the Hospital;
f. 
To formulate and implement guidelines on the proper disposition of contributions, 
donations, bequests, subsidies or financial aids/assistance received by the 
Hospital; and
g. To perform such other duties and functions as it may deem appropriate for the 
attainment of the objectives of the Hospital.
SEC. 9. Referral System. - The DMW and OWWA shall establish a referral 
system with the Hospitals and its regional hospitals to ensure proper delivery of services 
to qualified overseas Filipino workers and their dependents.
SEC. 10. Pre-employment Medical Examinations for OFWs. - The DOH and
the DMW shall, as far as practicable, develop a system to allow and facilitate the conduct 
of all pre-employment medical examinations of departing OFWs in the Hospital and its 
regional hospitals.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the DMW and DOH, in consultation with relevant government 
agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - A sum of One Billion Pesos (Phpl ,000,000,000.00) is 
hereby appropriated to fund the initial budgetary requirements of this Act. Thereafter, the 
budget for the Hospital and its regional hospitals shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA).
SEC. 13. 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 its regional hospitals and for the proper implementation of this Act shall be


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
exempted from donor’s tax. The importation of medical equipment and machineries, spare 
parts, and other medical equipment for the exclusive use of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino 
Hospital shall be exempted from payment of customs duties, other direct and indirect 
taxes, wharfage fees, and other charges and restrictions.
SEC. 14. Annual Report. - The Hospital shall submit an annual report within thirty 
(30) days from the end of each calendar year of its activities, programs, projects, 
accomplishments and recommendations for improvement to the Congressional Oversight 
Committee on Migrant Workers created under Section 25 of the Department of Migrant 
Workers Act.
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - Any portion or provision of this Act that is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or 
provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect 
in their entirety.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Ail laws, ordinances, decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. Effectivity. - 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.