Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. 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 
Our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have been tagged as the 
nation’s bagong bayani. They brave the thousands of miles away from home 
just so they could provide a brighter future for their children and better living 
condition for their families. In addition, their remittances and contributions to 
the economy continue to be one of the drivers of the country’s growth and 
progress. 
From April 1 to September 30, 2018, the Philippines Statistics Authority 
recorded a total of 2.3 million OFWs who worked abroad1 and calculated a 
1 2019, April 30. Total Number of OFWs Estimated at 2.3 Million (Results from the 2018 Survey on Overseas Filipinos) 
Retrieved 
from: 
https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/survey/labor-and-employment/survey-overseas-filipinos 
(date 
last 
accessed: June 25, 2019)  
January 30, 2023
8:00 am
6949


total amount of Php235.9 billion remittances,2 which was translated to a 
significant contribution to our economy.  
Since our OFWs battle different working conditions in foreign lands, 
their health is even more at risk. Consider the accounted 1,000 Filipinos who 
are diagnosed with cancer from the United Arab Emirates3 by NMC Hospital, 
a hospital based in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, studies by the Overseas Worker 
Welfare Association (OWWA) in Davao showed that OFWs are prone to 
suffer from hypertension, heart attack, breast, and ovarian cancers, which 
was either diagnosed during their work abroad or upon their return back 
home.4 
This bill aims to give prime importance to the health of our OFWs, being 
our modern-day heroes, as well as their dependents through the building of 
the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital. This bill will also complement the 
Department of Labor and Employment’s initiative in establishing a hospital 
for OFWs, which is set to open in 2020,5 and mandates the establishment of 
regional hospitals that will prioritize the needs of the OFWs and their 
dependents. 
In view of the abovementioned concerns, the passage of this bill is 
eagerly sought.  
EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
2 Id. 
3 2017, December 28. Around 1,000 OFWs diagnosed with cancer in UAE every year – doctors. Retrieved from: 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/192112-uae-ofws-cancer-1000-every-year (date last accessed: June 25, 2019)  
4 2016, 21 November. OFWs medical assistance program to launch in January. Retrieved from: 
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/111291 (date last accessed: June 25, 2019)  
5 2019, May 1. OFW hospital to open in Pampanga. Retrieved from: https://www.rappler.com/nation/229453-overseas-
filpino-workers-hospital-to-open-pampanga. (date last accessed: June 25, 2019) 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. 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 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
2 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Bagong 
4 
Bayaning Filipino Hospital Act.” 
5 
6 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the 
7 
State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
8 
development which shall endeavor to make health, overall wellness, and 
9 
other important social services available to all the people at affordable cost. 
10 
Toward this end, the State shall protect the right to health and promote and 
11 
enhance the welfare and well-being of overseas Filipino workers and their 
12 
dependents through the provision of personal healthcare and social welfare 
13 
services. 
14 
6949


 
1 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms 
2 
shall have the following meaning: 
3 
 
4 
a) 
Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), as defined under Republic Act No. 
5 
11641, otherwise known as the “Department of Migrant Workers Act,” 
6 
shall refer to a person who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been 
7 
engaged in a remunerated activity in a country of which he or she is not 
8 
an immigrant, citizen, or permanent resident, or is not awaiting 
9 
naturalization, recognition, or admission, whether land-based or sea-
10 
based regardless of status; excluding a Filipino engaged under a 
11 
government-recognized exchange visitor program for cultural and 
12 
educational purposes. For purposes of this provision, a person engaged 
13 
in a remunerated activity covers a person who has been contracted for 
14 
overseas employment but has yet to leave the Philippines, regardless 
15 
of status, and includes “Overseas Contract Workers.”  
16 
 
17 
b) 
Dependent/s shall refer to any of the following:  
18 
 
19 
1) The legal spouse entitled by law to receive support from the OFW;  
20 
 
21 
2) The legitimate, legitimated, legally adopted, and/or illegitimate child, 
22 
who is unmarried, not gainfully employed, and not over the age of 
23 
majority, or if over the age of majority but incapacitated and incapable 
24 
of self-support due to a mental or physical defect; or  
25 
 
26 
3) The parents who rely primarily upon the OFW for support.  
27 
 
28 
c) 
Health facility shall refer to a facility that is devoted primarily to the 
29 
provision of services for health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, 
30 
treatment, rehabilitation, and palliation of individuals suffering from 
31 
illness, disease, injury, disability, or deformity, or are in need of 
32 
obstetrical or other medical and nursing care, as well as the provision of 
33 
mental health care services. 
34 
 
35 
SEC. 4. Creation of Special Health Facility for Overseas Filipino 
36 
Workers and their Dependents. – There is hereby created a special health 
37 
facility for OFWs, to be known as Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital (the 
38 
“Hospital) to be located in the National Capital Region, or in any province as 
39 
may be determined by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), in 
40 


consultation with the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned 
1 
government agencies and stakeholders. 
2 
 
3 
The Hospital shall primarily cater to the physical, mental, and overall 
4 
well-being of OFWs and their dependents. 
5 
 
6 
The Hospital shall be under the control and supervision of the DOH; 
7 
Provided, That in the performance of its mandate as herein provided, the 
8 
DOH shall closely coordinate with the DMW and its attached agencies with 
9 
regard the medical and mental needs of the OFWs and their dependents, as 
10 
provided under Section 15(n) of the Department of Migrant Workers Act. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 5. Regional Hospitals. – Within five (5) years from the effectivity 
13 
of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with DMW and other relevant agencies, 
14 
and in accordance with appropriate health facility development and health 
15 
human resource plans, shall establish regional hospitals in Luzon, Visayas 
16 
and Mindanao to cater to the needs of overseas Filipino workers and their 
17 
dependents who are located in these regions.  
18 
 
19 
SEC. 6. Prioritization and Additional Health Coverage of Overseas 
20 
Filipino Workers and their Dependents.  – Each of the Hospitals to be 
21 
established under this Act shall provide an express or priority lanes for OFWs 
22 
and their dependents. They shall be given priority in the assignment of 
23 
hospital beds, without prejudice to the rules on emergency cases, as may be 
24 
determined by the DOH and the Hospital Administrator. 
25 
 
26 
Pursuant to the objectives of this Act, the Overseas Workers Welfare 
27 
Administration (OWWA) shall broaden the existing medical assistance given 
28 
to duly registered OWWA members and their dependents, and as far as 
29 
practicable, endeavor to make the hospitalization, confinement, medical 
30 
treatment, and medical care of duly registered OWWA members in the 
31 
Hospital or any of its regional hospitals free of charge. However, nothing in 
32 
this Act shall be construed to diminish or reduce the existing benefits of 
33 
OFWs and their dependents provided under Republic Act No. 11223, 
34 
otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act.  
35 
 
36 
SEC. 7. Administration and Composition of Board Members. – The 
37 
day-to-day operations of the Hospital shall be overseen by an Administrator 
38 
to be appointed by the Board. 
39 
 
40 


The powers and the administration of the Hospital shall be vested in a 
1 
Board. 
2 
 
3 
a) Composition – The Board shall be composed of the following 
4 
members:  
5 
 
6 
1) The Secretary of the DMW as Chairperson; 
7 
 
8 
2) The Secretary of the DOH as Co-Chairperson; 
9 
 
10 
3) The Administrator of the OWWA as member; 
11 
 
12 
4) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment 
13 
Administration (POEA) as member, pending the full transition 
14 
and integration of POEA into the DMW; 
15 
 
16 
5) One (1) representative from land-based OFWs; 
17 
 
18 
6) One (1) representative from sea-based OFWs; and 
19 
 
20 
7) The Administrator of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino Hospital as 
21 
ex officio member. 
22 
 
23 
The Board chairpersons and members may designate their 
24 
representatives, who must be next-in-rank to the principal member, 
25 
and fully authorized to decide for and on their behalf. 
26 
 
27 
The representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs shall be 
28 
appointed by the President from a list of nominees submitted by the 
29 
Chairperson. Such nominees must at least be forty (40) years of 
30 
age, and an OFW with at least three (3) years of work experience 
31 
abroad at the time of his or her nomination. 
32 
 
33 
b) Term – The members of the Board shall have a term of three (3) 
34 
years without reappointment. Except for members whose terms 
35 
shall be co-terminus with their respective positions in government, 
36 
any vacancy in the Board shall be filled in the manner in which the 
37 
original appointment was made and the appointee shall serve only 
38 
the unexpired term of his predecessor. 
39 


 
1 
c) Meetings and Quorum – The Board shall hold regular meetings at 
2 
least once a month. Special meetings may be convened at the call 
3 
of the Chairperson or by a majority of the members of the Board. 
4 
The presence of four (4) voting members shall constitute a quorum. 
5 
In the absence of the Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, a 
6 
temporary presiding officer shall be designated by the majority of 
7 
the members present during such meeting. 
8 
 
9 
d) Allowances and Per Diems – The members of the Board shall 
10 
receive a reasonable per diem for every meeting actually attended 
11 
subject to the pertinent budgetary laws, rules and regulations on 
12 
compensation, honoraria and allowances. 
13 
 
14 
SEC. 8. Responsibilities and Powers. – The Board of Directors of 
15 
the Hospital shall have the following responsibilities and powers: 
16 
 
17 
a. To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the 
18 
objectives and purposes of the Hospital, with due regard to giving 
19 
utmost priority and providing the best quality of service to OFWs and 
20 
their dependents; 
21 
 
22 
b. To formulate and promulgate policies for the sound administration, 
23 
maintenance, and operations of the Hospital; 
24 
 
25 
c. To determine the staffing pattern of the Hospital, subject to the 
26 
approval by the Department of Budget and Management; 
27 
 
28 
d. To appoint the officials, employees, and other personnel of the Hospital 
29 
and the regional hospitals, subject to civil service laws, rules and 
30 
regulations, and to prescribe their duties and fix their compensation, 
31 
subject to the provisions of Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known 
32 
as the “Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989” as 
33 
further amended by related laws modifying the salary schedule of 
34 
government personnel; 
35 
 
36 
e. To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its 
37 
establishment, maintenance and operations of the Hospital; 
38 
 
39 


f. To formulate and implement guidelines on the proper disposition of 
1 
contributions, 
donations, 
bequests, 
subsidies 
or 
financial 
2 
aids/assistance received by the Hospital; and 
3 
 
4 
g. To perform such other duties and functions as it may deem appropriate 
5 
for the attainment of the objectives of the Hospital. 
6 
 
7 
SEC. 9. Referral System. – The DMW and OWWA shall establish a 
8 
referral system with the Hospitals and its regional hospitals to ensure proper 
9 
delivery of services to qualified overseas Filipino workers and their 
10 
dependents. 
11 
 
12 
SEC. 10. Pre-employment Medical Examinations for OFWs. – The 
13 
DOH and the DMW shall, as far as practicable, develop a system to allow 
14 
and facilitate the conduct of all pre-employment medical examinations of 
15 
departing OFWs in the Hospital and its regional hospitals. 
16 
 
17 
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
18 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DMW and DOH, in consultation with 
19 
relevant government agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the 
20 
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act. 
21 
 
22 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. – A sum of One Billion Pesos 
23 
(Php1,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to fund the initial budgetary 
24 
requirements of this Act. Thereafter, the budget for the Hospital and its 
25 
regional hospitals shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act 
26 
(GAA). 
27 
 
28 
SEC. 13. Exemption from Donor’s Taxes, Customs, and Tariff 
29 
Duties. – All donations, contributions or endowments which may be made 
30 
by persons or entities to the Hospital and its regional hospitals and for the 
31 
proper implementation of this Act shall be exempted from donor’s tax. The 
32 
importation of medical equipment and machineries, spare parts, and other 
33 
medical equipment for the exclusive use of the Bagong Bayaning Filipino 
34 
Hospital shall be exempted from payment of customs duties, other direct and 
35 
indirect taxes, wharfage fees, and other charges and restrictions. 
36 
 
37 
SEC. 14. Annual Report. – The Hospital shall submit an annual report 
38 
within thirty (30) days from the end of each calendar year of its activities, 
39 
programs, 
projects, 
accomplishments 
and 
recommendations 
for 
40 


improvement to the Congressional Oversight Committee on Migrant Workers 
1 
created under Section 25 of the Department of Migrant Workers Act.  
2 
 
3 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Act 
4 
that is declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of 
5 
nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as long as such remaining 
6 
portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety. 
7 
 
8 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, ordinances, decrees, 
9 
executive orders, rules and regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, 
10 
which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
11 
accordingly. 
12 
 
13 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
14 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
15 
newspapers of general circulation. 
16 
 
17 
Approved, 
18