Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to establish a special hospital for Overseas Filipino 
Workers and their dependents in order to address the limited scope of our existing 
medical package of services under the Medical Care Program for OFWs pursuant to 
Executive Order No. 195 series of 1994. 
OFWs are regarded as our heroes with their remittances that keep our economy afloat. 
What we do not often see, however, are the emotional and physical stresses that living 
and working abroad bring, which can be worsened by different climates and distance 
from family. The most common ailments or health problems suffered by OFWs are 
pneumonia, hypertension, cancer, trauma, liver disease, depression, among others. 
Our move towards health development should include the provision of quality and 
accessible health care to our OFWs and their dependents. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
July 5, 2022
4:58 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS HOSPITAL 
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 
(OFW) Hospital Act or OFW Hospital Act.”  
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the Filipino people and to instill health consciousness 
among them. The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development. Further, the State shall protect the interest and promote the well-
being of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in recognition of their importance and 
contribution to economic development and nation building.  
SECTION 3. Establishment of OFW Hospital. – There shall be established a hospital 
with at least tertiary level of care to be known as “OFW Hospital”, hereinafter referred 
to as the Hospital. The Hospital shall be developed consistent with the health care 
needs of the OFWs and their dependents. The Hospital shall be under the full 
administrative and technical supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).  The 
DOH shall prepare a development plan to reflect the goals of the Hospital. 
SECTION 4. Objectives. – To ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability 
of quality health care, the Hospital shall have the following main objectives: 
(a) Provide comprehensive and total health care services to all migrant workers
including Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) contributors,
whether active or non-active, and their legal dependents;
(b) Conduct medical examinations to ensure the physical and mental capability
of would-be overseas contract workers duly covered by an approved job order;
(c) Serve as primary referral hospital for repatriated OFW needing medical
assistance and support;
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(d) Set up systems that will effectively monitor condition of patients and to 
generate relevant health information and data for policy formulation; and 
(e) Participate in the health care provider networks and arrangements relative 
to the implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, or the “Universal Health Care 
Act.”  
 
SECTION 5. Medical Assistance. – The Secretary of the Department of Labor 
and Employment (DOLE), as Chairperson of the OWWA Board, shall ensure that 
existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened to include 
subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures for OFW and qualified 
dependents. 
 
SECTION. 6. Joint Executive Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a 
Joint Executive Oversight Committee to review the implementation of this Act and 
hospital development plans for the OFW Hospital.  
 
The Committee shall be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and the 
Secretary of Labor and Employment. It shall be composed of seven (7) members 
including its co-chairpersons. The members shall be appointed by the Secretary of 
Health upon consultation with the Secretary of Labor and Employment.  
 
SECTION 7. Tax Exemption. – All grants, bequests, endowments, donations 
and contributions made to the OFW Hospital to be used actually, directly and 
exclusively by the OFW Hospital shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall 
be considered as allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor, in 
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as 
amended.  
 
The importation of equipment, machinery and spare parts which are used 
solely and exclusively for the operation of the OFW Hospital and are not available 
locally shall be exempt from value-added tax and customs duty.  
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. – The Secretary of Health shall include in the 
Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The OWWA shall also include 
in its benefits and medical assistance programs for OFW the line item budget 
necessary to improve the access of OFWs and dependents to health care services.   
 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from 
the approval of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with DOLE, OWWA, Philippine 
Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and other stakeholders, shall 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to carry out the provisions of 
this Act.  
 
SECTION 10. 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.  
 


 
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SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,