SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
NOV 27 P3 :15 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, 19 S () 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This measure was submitted by the Committee on Labor, Employment 
and Human Resources Development chaired by the undersigned in the 
Fourteenth Congress. 
The Migrant Workers Hospital is envisioned to provide accessible, 
affordable and quality health care to all migrant workers who are Overseas 
Workers 
Welfare 
Administration 
(OVIJI,jIJA) 
contributors, 
including 
their 
dependents. 
The hospital shall be under the supervision and control of the 
OWWA and shall be subjected to the monitoring and review of a Congressional 
Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee shall review the performance of 
the hospital and the proper implementation of the programs of the hospital and 
the use of its fund. 
This piece of legislation is but a modest contribution to the efforts and 
sacrifices both of our migrant workers who are working hard and selflessly in 
foreign lands, and their families who endure the absence of their loved ones. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
"13 
NOV 27 P3 :15 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1966 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
SPECIAL 
HOSPITAL 
FOR 
OVERSEAS 
FILIPINO 
WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Migrant 
Workers Hospital Act of 2013". 
SEC. 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 affordable cost. 
Further, the State shall protect the interest and 
promote the well-being of Filipino overseas workers including th'eir families and 
dependents through the provision of social and welfare services. 
SEC. 3. Creation of Special Hospital. - To carry out the above policy, 
there is hereby created a special hospital to be known as the Migrant Workers 
Hospital which shall be under the supervision and control of the Overseas 
Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). 
SEC. 4. 
Objectives. -
To ensure the availability, accessibility and 
affordability of quality health care, Migrant Workers Hospital shall: 
a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all 
migrant workers who are OWWA contributors including their 
dependents; 
Complement the existing package of services under the 
Health Care Program so as to include preventive, promotive, 
diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative programs; 
Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and 
mental capability of all the WOUld-be overseas Filipino 
workers duly covered by an approved job order; 
Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of 
patients and to generate relevant information and data in aid 
of policy formulation. 
',.' " 
~'i 


SEC. 5. Administration and Composition of Board Members. - Upon 
the effectivity of this Act, the powers and the administration of the Migrant 
Workers Hospital shall be vested in a Board, which is composed of the following 
members: 
a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
e) 
f) 
The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment 
as Ex-Officio Chairman;' 
The Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare 
Administration as Ex-Officio Vice Chairman; 
The Secretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio 
Member; 
The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development as Ex-Officio Member; 
. 
The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment 
Administration as Ex-Officio Member; 
Two (2) representatives from OFWs 
sector (one from 
land based and another from sea-based) as Members. 
The two representatives from the OFWs 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 Workers 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 
bylaw. 
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 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. Annual 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. Congressional 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 fu nd. 
In furtherance of the herein above cited objectives, the Committee is 
empowered to require the hospital to submit all pertinent information including 
but not limited to its performance data and its annual audited financial statement 
certified by the Commission on Audit. 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause· All laws,decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or part thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause· This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,