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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session yy
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HOUSE BILL No, 3142

Introduced by REP. NATHANIEL “Atty. Nat” M. ODUCADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

ino Workers (OFWs) have contributed to the economy of the country
since the 1980s. In 2024, there were 1,970,140 OFWs deployed across the globe. Their
contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) as of 2024 is at 8.3%, maintained at a steady
9% on average per annum, with a dollar remittance rising to $38,34 billion in 2024 from the
$36.14 billion in 2023.

OFWs often face unique occupational health risks. They are exposed to hazardous
environments, high stress levels, and long hours. Moreover, cases of medical repatriation
occurs when the condition of the OFW are critical or severe. Some cases requiring medical
repatriation include pregnancy complications, respiratory crises, surgical complications,
neurological events, orthopedic injuries, and mental health crises.

By virtue of Executive Order No. 154 (December 7, 2021), a government-run facility
in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga dedicated to OFWs and their dependents was
established. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that a total of 553 OF Ws
were repatriated for medical reasons out of nearly 22,000 total repatriations from July 22, 2022
to July 31, 2024. Based on data available, the OF W Hospital has served approximately 86,371
patients on a variety of services from outpatient clinics, diagnostics, and inpatient care.

Recognizing the contribution of OFWs to national development, their complex health
needs, and the need for legal and structural permanence, as well as institutional continuity,
there is a need to elevate the OFW Hospital to a Level III hospital. This ensures that the OFW
Hospital becomes a fully capable, permanent, and legally empowered facility that meet the
demands of our growing migrant workforce and their families.

Considering the above reasons, passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

i|ATHANIEL “ATTY, ” M. YDUCADO

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _3122

Introduced by REP. NATHANIEL “ATTY. NAT” M. ODUCADO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS HOSPITAL AS A LEVEL
11 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."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis 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. To this end, the State
shall protect the interest and promote the well-being of overseas Filipino workers (OFW)
through the provision of social welfare services in recognition of their importance and

contribution to economic development and nation-building.
SEC. 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;


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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.”

SEC. 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.

SEC. 5. Purposes and Objectives. - The OF WH 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;


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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

Offfice to assist in the medical assessment and management of distressed OF Ws

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 OF Ws.

SEC. 6. Powers of the OFWH. - The OFWH shall have the powers 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;


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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)

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Mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its properties;

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
advance 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.
SEC. 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 OF Ws 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;


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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 OF WH in consultation with the
Medical Center Chief;

©) 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;

¢) 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; and

f) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the purposes
and objectives of this Act.

SEC. 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;


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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

Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or reposed

by the DMW.

8)

SEC.9. Duties and Responsibilities of the DOH. - The DOH shall:

a) Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the OF WH 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-tetained hospitals to complement the

OFWH. The level of OF W 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

4) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the purposes
and objectives of this Act.

SEC. 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.”


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Allother 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 13. Annual Report. - The DMW shall submit to the President and Congress an
annual report on the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. — Executive Order No. 154, Series of 2021, is hereby
repealed. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules and regulations contrary to or

inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 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,