Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2049 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) serve as our modern-day heroes. They pursued 
employment in other countries and sacrificed living with their families in exchange for higher 
salaries and better opportunities for their children.  
For the past few years, OFWs have also consistently contributed to our national 
economy through remittances. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, personal 
remittances of OFWs have increased from US$3.62 billion in 2023 to US$3.73 billion in 2024. 
The cumulative remittances, moreover, increased from US$37.21 billion in 2023 to US$38.34 
billion in 2024. Thus, in 2024, 8.3% of their remittances represented the country’s Gross 
Domestic Product. This is the highest recorded amount to date. 
Recognizing the indispensable role and contribution of OFWs, Executive Order No. 
154, series of 2021, was issued by President Rodrigo Duterte and led to the institution of a 
hospital specifically for OFWs and their dependents. In 2022, the hospital was inaugurated 
and was initially operated by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. However, it is 
imperative to institutionalize the creation of the said hospital and guarantee its annual budget 
for its continuous operation, ensuring that OFWs and their dependents will be provided with 
quality and adequate healthcare benefits and services. Moreover, this bill seeks to transfer 
the supervision of the hospital to the Department of Migrant Workers. 
This is a refiled bill from the 19th Congress, and was approved on third and final 
reading and transmitted to the Senate.  
Thus, in light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
July 16, 2025
6:17 pm


HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2049 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital 
Act." 
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 an affordable cost. To this 
end, the State shall protect the interests and promote the well-being of overseas Filipino 
workers (OFWs) through the provision of social welfare services in recognition of their 
importance and contribution to economic development and nation-building. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a) Dependents shall refer to any of the following:
(1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive support from the OFW;
(2) The legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, or illegitimate child who is unmarried,
not gainfully employed, and has not reached twenty-one (21) years of age, or if
over twenty-one (21) years of age, is congenitally incapacitated or while still a
minor has been permanently incapacitated and incapable of self-support,
physically or mentally; or
(3) The parents who are receiving regular support from the OFW;
(b) OFW refers to a Filipino who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a
remunerated activity in a country of which the said person is not an immigrant citizen,
or a permanent resident of, 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 Act, a person engaged in 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. " The term 
'OFW' is synonymous with 'Migrant Worker”. 
 
SECTION 4. Establishment of the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital as a Level III 
Hospital. – There shall be established in the City of San Fernando, Province of Pampanga, a 
Level III hospital to be known as the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital (OFWH), which shall 
be under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). It 
shall cater primarily to the healthcare needs of OFWs and their qualified dependents, subject 
to the limitations under existing laws, rules, and regulations: Provided, That nothing herein 
shall prevent the OFWH from accommodating patients other than OFWs or their qualified 
dependents. 
 
The Medical Center Chief of OFWH shall, in consultation with the DMW and the 
Department of Health (DOH), prepare the hospital development plan to reflect the 
development goals of the hospital, including its bed capacity and service capability. Requests 
for staffing requirements, capital outlay investments, and budgetary needs for operations shall 
be based on the hospital development plan. 
 
The DOH shall support the OFWH through the provision of technical assistance, 
extending capital outlay, and monitoring of the hospital's compliance with standards to deliver 
quality healthcare. 
 
SECTION 5. Purposes and Objectives. – The OFWH shall: 
 
(a) Provide comprehensive and total health care services to all migrant workers including 
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) contributors, whether active or 
inactive, their legal dependents, and the general public; 
 
(b) Serve as a referral facility for repatriated OFWs needing medical assistance and 
support while ensuring its participation in the provincial and inter-regional healthcare 
provider networks to allow for a seamless and coordinated referral system for the 
medical repatriation program in accordance with Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise 
known as the "Universal Health Care Act"; 
 
(c) Promote, encourage, engage in, and publish scientific research on the prevention, 
care, and treatment of occupational diseases common to OFWs, including the 
underwriting of research on biological, demographic, social, economic, eugenics, 
physiological aspects of occupational disorders of OFWs, and conduct relevant 
congresses, conventions, seminars, and conferences; 
 
(d) Develop training programs for medical and allied medical professionals which shall 
focus on strengthening occupational and migrant health services in the country and 
the creation of specialized services;  
 
(e) Provide 24/7 telehealth services to migrant workers and their families; the service 
may be extended at the Philippine foreign post or the Philippine Overseas Labor 
Office to assist in the medical assessment and management of distressed OFWs 
while awaiting repatriation; 
 
(f) Establish the OFWH as a medical facility providing pre-employment medical 
examination for OFWs; 
 
(g) Strengthen health surveillance through the provision of a post-employment or post-
arrival medical examination for OFWs, in consonance with Republic Act No. 8042, 
otherwise known as the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," and 


 
the DOH's Philippine Migrant Health Program; 
 
(h) Raise public awareness and conduct a massive information drive on the prevention, 
treatment, and control of diseases common to OFWs, occupational health and safety, 
and physical fitness; and 
 
(i) Assist and support universities, research institutions, and other hospitals or medical 
facilities in their studies on health-related concerns of OFWs. 
 
SECTION 6. Powers of the OFWH. – The OFWH shall have the power to: 
 
(a)  Acquire and hold, in any manner, property of whatever nature or description, and to 
dispose of such property under any mode of encumbrance or conveyance; 
 
(b) Contract and be contracted with; 
 
(c) Levy, assess and collect such fees, charges, and assessments as may be necessary 
or proper to support, finance, and maintain its operation; 
 
(d) Mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its properties; 
 
(e) Invest in, and purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, use, lease grant, mortgage, 
sell, transfer or otherwise deal with, real and/or personal properties of every kind and 
nature, including shares of stock, bonds, notes and other evidence of indebtedness or 
obligations of other corporations whether government or private; 
 
(f) Solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of contributions, 
whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private sectors subject to existing 
budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations; 
 
(g) Open such accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to disburse such 
funds or invest the same as the DMW Secretary may direct to accomplish or advance 
the purposes or interest of the hospital; 
 
(h) Invite foreign specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields not available 
in the country to train the personnel, trainees, and residents; 
 
(i) Send the personnel to research institutes, medical institutes, or universities for 
advanced training or observation and to attend international or regional conventions, 
conferences, congresses, and seminars as the Medical Center Chief may deem 
necessary to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the hospital and subject to 
the approval of the DMW Secretary; and 
 
(j) Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary or incidental for the 
accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the OFWH. 
 
SECTION 7. Duties and Responsibilities of the DMW. – The DMW shall: 
 
(a) Establish a focal office for migration and health in the DMW to ensure that the country's 
migrant health program is mainstreamed in the plans and programs of the OFWH 
which shall include: 
 
(1) Assistance in identifying, documenting, processing, and approving applications 
for benefits granted to OFWs and their qualified dependents; 
 


 
(2) Establishment of a referral system within the OFWH to ensure efficient delivery 
of medical and health care services to OFWs and their qualified dependents; 
 
(3) Strengthening of the existing health benefits and medical assistance programs 
such as subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures for OFWs and 
their qualified dependents, subject to the availability of funds and resources; 
and 
 
(4) Active engagement in the Philippine Migrant Health Network, an inter-agency, 
multi-stakeholder network for migrant health, composed of members from other 
government, 
non-governmental 
agencies, 
academe, 
civil 
society 
organizations, private sector, and international organizations, to advocate and 
lobby support for migrant health programs; 
 
(b) Formulate and promulgate policies, programs, and plans for the sound administration, 
maintenance, and operations of the OFWH in consultation with the Medical Center 
Chief; 
 
(c) Determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the OFWH in accordance 
with the revised compensation and position classification system subject to the 
evaluation and approval of the DBM and in compliance with the civil service and other 
pertinent laws, rules and regulations; 
 
(d) Appoint and remove OFWH personnel upon the recommendation of the Medical 
Center Chief subject to civil service rules and regulations and other applicable laws; 
 
(e) Create a consultative committee and other necessary mechanisms for the effective 
participation of land-based and sea-based accredited OFW organizations in the 
formulation of policies for the effective implementation of programs and measures to 
attain the objectives of the OFWH; 
 
(f) Determine and undertake, in coordination with the Governance Commission for 
Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations, the appropriate steps for the formal 
establishment and incorporation of the OFW Hospital in accordance with Republic Act 
No. 10149, otherwise known as the "GOCC Governance Act of 2011": Provided, That 
the OFWH shall remain under the full control and supervision of the DMW, unless 
Congress shall provide otherwise; and 
 
(g) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the purposes 
and objectives of this Act. 
 
SECTION 8. Medical Center Chief. – The Medical Center Chief shall be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the DMW Secretary. 
 
The Medical Center Chief shall have the following duties and responsibilities: 
 
(a) Provide overall direction and strategic leadership to the OFWH toward the provision 
of high-quality health services; 
 
(b) Oversee all managerial and administrative processes and operations of all 
departments of the OFWH; 
 
(c) Supervise daily activities of functional units; 
 
(d) Ensure high standards in clinical training for medical and allied medical personnel; 


 
 
(e) Execute, on behalf of the hospital, all contracts and agreements which the hospital 
may enter into and accomplish and deliver any and all documents relative to such 
contracts and agreements, subject to the approval of the DMW Secretary; 
 
(f) Represent the hospital in all dealing with other offices, agencies, and instrumentalities 
of the Government and all other persons or entities, whether domestic or foreign and 
whether government or private; and 
 
(g) Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or reposed by 
the DMW. 
 
SECTION 9. Duties and Responsibilities of the DOH. – The DOH shall: 
 
(a) Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the OFWH are obtained, 
consistent with relevant issuances, rules and regulations; 
 
(b) Endorse and encourage medical specialists in other government hospitals such as the 
Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the 
Philippines, National Children's Hospital, and the Philippine General Hospital, to hold 
clinics in the OFWH; 
 
(c) Establish OFW centers or wards in DOH-retained hospitals to complement the OFWH. 
The level of OFW services and corresponding facilities in OFW centers or wards and 
their respective health human resource requirements shall be determined by the DOH, 
in coordination with stakeholders: Provided, That the standards to be adopted thereon 
shall be consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan; and 
 
(d) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the purposes 
and objectives of this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Support from other Government Agencies. – The OWWA shall ensure that 
existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened for OFWs and 
their qualified dependents: Provided, That 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." 
 
All other agencies, departments, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the 
government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, shall render assistance 
to the OFWH for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 11. Congressional Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a Joint 
Congressional Oversight Committee, which shall be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the 
Senate Committee on Health and Demography and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Health. It shall be composed of five (5) members from the Senate and five (5) members 
from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, respectively: Provided, That at least one (1) member from 
each house shall come from the Minority. 
 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the concerned departments 
and agencies. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act. 
 


 
SECTION 13. Annual Report. - The DMW shall submit to the President and Congress an 
annual report on the implementation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
approval of this Act, the DMW shall, in consultation with the DOH, OWWA, and other 
stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
and effect. 
 
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. – Executive Order No. 154, Series of 2021, is hereby 
repealed. All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,