EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
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S. No. 
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■19 
JUL-1 
P 2:14
RECEl
In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIP IN O  WORKERS 
(OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been hailed as modern day 
heroes. Along with other economic stimulants, the pouring-in of remittances from 
the more than 2.3 million OFWs all over the world contributes a lot to the 
functioning and survival of our economy. Last year, total remittance sent by OFWs 
reached an all-time high at 235.9 billion pesos.
We cannot take for granted, therefore, the indispensable role played by our 
OFWs. 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 caused by being away from home and 
family raise the risk of sickness and bad health. 
The most common ailments or 
health problems suffered by OFWs are pneumonia, hypertension, cancer, trauma, 
liver disease, depression, among others. 
Sadly, however, the existing medical 
package of services under the Medical Care Program for OFWs pursuant to Executive 
Order No. 195 series of 1994 has a very limited scope.


In this light, it has become imperative for the State to protect the interest and 
promote the well-being of Filipino overseas workers including their families and 
dependents through the provision of social welfare services. This bill seeks to 
establish a special hospital for Overseas Filipino Workers and their dependents which 
should be under the supervision and control of the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration (OWWA). 
It shall be part of an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavour to make essential goods, 
high quality healthcare and other social services available to our OFWs and their 
dependents.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMOpr BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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S E N A T E
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S. N o .______ < o
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of the »rcrrtnrj»
*19 
JUL -1 
P2 :14
REai..j,
Introd uced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIPIN O  WORKERS 
(OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress, assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Migrant Workers 
Hospital Act of 2019."
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall 
endeavour 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 welfare services.
Sec. 3. Creation o f Special Hospital. -  To carry out the above policy, there is 
hereby created a special hospital with at least tertiary level of care to be known as 
the Migrant Workers Hospital which shall be under the supervision and control of 
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).


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Sec. 4. Objectives. -  To ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability
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of quality health care, Migrant Workers Hospital shall:
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a) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all migrant
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workers who are OWWA contributors including their legal dependents;
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b) Complement the existing package services under the Health Care
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Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, curative
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and rehabilitative programs;
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c) Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and mental
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capability of all the would-be overseas Filipino workers duly covered by
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an approved job order;
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d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients
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and to generate relevant information and data in aid of policy
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formulation.
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Sec. 5. Administration and Composition o f Board Members. -  Upon the
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effectivity of this Act, the powers and the administration of the Migrant Workers
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Hospital shall be vested in a Board, which is composed of the following members:
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a) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment as Ex-
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0/77C/0 Chairman;
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b) The Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as
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£ x'-C>/77c/o Vice Chairman;
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c) The Secretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio Member;
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d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
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as Ex-Officio member;
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e) The 
Administrator 
of 
the 
Philippine 
Overseas 
Employment
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Administration as Ex-Officio Member;
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f) Two (2) representatives from OFW sector (one from land based and
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another from sea-based) as Members.


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The two representatives from the OFW 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.
Sec. 6. Responsibilities and Powers. -  The Board of Directors of the Migrant 
Workers Hospital shall have the following responsibilities and powers:
a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the 
Migrant Worker's 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;
d) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by 
law.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 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).
Sec. 9. Assistance from Government Offices, etc. -  The Migrant Workers 
Hospital may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of


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the Government, including government owned or controlled corporations, for such 
assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives.
Sec. 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.
Sec. 11. Annuai 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.
Sec. 12. Congressionai 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


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not limited to its performance data and its annual audited financial statement 
certified by the Commission on Audit.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions hereof.
Sec. 14. Repeating Clause. -  All other laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or part thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Effectivity Clause. -  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,