Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Touted as the “modern heroes" of the Philippine economy, overseas contract workers
render services abroad and send financial support back to our country to promote the economic
welfare of their families. As a consequence, they contribute to the general economic
performance of the country

Thus, we cannot take for granted the indispensable role played by our modern heroes.
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 raise the risk of weakness and ill health.

The State has the responsibility to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to
health development, to afford full protection to labor both local and overseas, and to protect the
interest and promote the well-being of its citizens. This bill is geared towards the realization of
these endeavors; hence its immediate approval is earnestly sought.

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Lone District, Province of Aurora


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

&
H.B.No. ~~

Introduced by Honorable JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL HOSPITAL FOR OVERSEAS FILIPINO
WORKERS (OFWS) AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Bo 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 2010."

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 their
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) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all migrant workers who
are OWA contributors including their dependents;

b) 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;

d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and to
generate relevant information and data in aid of policy formulation.


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) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment as Ex-Officio
Chairman;

b) The Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration as Ex-Officio
Vice Chairman;

©) The Secretary of the Department of Health as Ex-Officio Member,

d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development as Ex-
Officio Member; T

e) The Administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as Ex-
Officio Member:

f) 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;

©) 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

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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 F

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 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 (18) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,