Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. --
Introduced by Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), often hailed as modern-day heroes, 
significantly contribute to the Philippine economy through their remittances, while 
enduring the challenges of working away from their families. As frontliners of our labor 
force abroad, OFWs and their families deserve accessible and quality medical care when 
they return home. 
The establishment of the OFW Hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga, inaugurated 
in 2022, marked an important step in addressing the unique health needs of OFWs and 
their dependents. With the ever-increasing health challenges facing our modem-day 
heroes, there is a need to strengthen the OFW Hospital's capabilities to meet the 
exigencies of their health needs. 
This bill seeks to strengthen the OFW Hospital by enhancing its medical facilities, 
equipment, and technology, expanding its services to include specialized care tailored to 
OFWs and their families, ensuring adequate and sustained budgetary support for its 
operations and maintenance, and institutionalizing partnerships with the Department of 
Health (DOH) and other government and private health institutions and networks. 
By strengthening the OFW Hospital, this measure guarantees that the sacrifices 
of our overseas workers are matched with tangible support for their well-being and that 
of their loved ones. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
GLORIA ------- PAGAL-ARROYO 
Represen ative, 2nd District Pampanga 
September 11, 2025
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __ 
Introduced by Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
AN ACT 
ENHANCING THE MEDICAL ACCESS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO 
WORKERS (OFWs) AND THEIR FAMILIES BY STRENGTHENING THE OFW 
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 "OFW Hospital Act". 
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. To this end, the State shall protect the interest and promote the well-being of 
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) 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 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 
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3) The parents who receive regular support from the OFW; and 
b) Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) or Migrant Worker refers to a Filipino 
who has been engaged, is engaged, or is to be 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." 
Sec. 4. OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center. - The "Overseas Filipino 
Worker Hospital and Diagnostic Center" (OFW Hospital) established in the city of 
San Fernando, province of Pampanga shall primarily cater to OFWs and their 
dependents. It shall be a government instrumentality with corporate powers, 
managed and supervised by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Secretary of the 
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), being the primary national agency with 
the mandate of ensuring the welfare of the OFWs and their dependents: Provided, 
That nothing herein shall prevent the OFW Hospital from accommodating patients 
other than OFWs or their qualified dependents. 
SEC. 5. Purposes and Objectives. - The OFW Hospital shall: 
a) Establish, operate and maintain medical facilities, including a medical 
and 
diagnostic center to provide comprehensive and people-
centered health 
care services to OFWs and their qualified 
dependents and the general 
public. 
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 or 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 telehealth services to migrant workers and their dependents for 
follow up consultation, and to assist in the medical assessment and 
management of distressed OFWs while awaiting repatriation, which may 
be extended at Philippine foreign posts or migrant workers offices; 
f) Conduct pre-employment medical examinations of OFW applicants, 
subject to pertinent rules and regulations; 
g) Strengthen health surveillance through the prov1s1on of a post-
employment or post-arrival medical examination for OFWs, in 
consonance with Republic Act No. 8042 or the "Migrant Workers and 
Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995" as amended, and the Philippine Migrant 
Health Program of the Department of Health (DOH); 
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 OFWs. 
SEC. 6. Powers of the OFW Hospital. - The OFW Hospital 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; 
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) Mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its 
properties; 
e) 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 accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to disburse 
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 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 advanced 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 OFW Hospital, 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 
OFW Hospital. 
Sec. 7. Creation of the OFW Hospital Board of Trustees. - There is hereby 
created an OFW Hospital Trust, for the benefit of OFWs, to be administered by a 
Board of Trustees, composed of seven (7) members. Three (3) members of the 
Board shall constitute a quorum to transact business and any decision of the 
three (3) members on any matter shall constitute a valid and binding act of the 
OFW Hospital. 
The Composition of the OFW Hospital Board shall be as follows: 
a) Chairperson: Secretary, DMW; 


b) Vice-Chairperson: Secretary, Department of Health (DOH); and 
c) Members: 
1) Secretary, Department of Labor & Employment; 
2) Administrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OVW\/A); 
3) Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development; 
4) Land-based OFWs Representative; and 
5) Sea-based OFWs Representative 
The representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs shall be 
appointed by the President from a list of nominees of their OFW organizations as 
endorsed by the Chairperson to the President. The nominees shall at least be 
forty (40) years of age, and an OFW with at least five (5) years of work 
experience abroad at the time of his or her nomination. The members of the 
Board may elect an alternate, whose name shall be submitted to the President 
for appointment. In case of vacancy, the head of the agency may nominate an 
alternate, subject to official appointment by the President of the Philippines. 
The following shall be the powers and functions of the Board of Trustees: 
a) Approve and promulgate policies, guidelines, programs, and plans for the 
sound administration, maintenance, and operations of the OFW Hospital 
for the Implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Act; 
b) Approve the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the OFW 
Hospital in accordance with the revised compensation and position 
classification system subject to the evaluation and approval of the DBM 
and in compliance with civil service and other pertinent laws, rules and 
regulations; 
c) Appoint, remove, suspend, or otherwise discipline the officers of OFW 
Hospital occupying executive and senior management positions subject 
to civil service and other applicable laws, rules and regulations; 
d) Adopt the annual and supplemental budget of the OFW Hospital; and 
e) Exercise all the general powers necessary or proper for the attainment of 
the purpose and objectives of this Act. 


SEC. 8. Medical Center Chief. - The Medical Center Chief shall be appointed 
by the DMW Secretary. 
The Medical Center Chief shall have the following duties and 
responsibilities:· 
a) Provide overall direction and strategic leadership to the OFW Hospital; 
toward the provision of high-quality health services; 
b) Oversee all managerial and administrative processes and operations of 
all departments of the OFW Hospital; 
c) Supervise the daily activities of functional units; 
d) Ensure high standards in clinical training for medical and allied medical 
personnel; 
e) Execute, on behalf of the OFW Hospital, all contracts and agreements 
which it 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 OFW Hospital in all dealings with other offices, agencies, 
and instrumentalities of the government and all other persons or entities, 
domestic or foreign and government or private; 
g) Submit, for the consideration and approval of the Board, the proposed 
development plans, programs, measures, policies, and guidelines 
necessary for the effective implementation of the purposes and 
objectives of this Act; 
h) Appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the 
officers and employees of the OFW Hospital, except those appointed by 
the Board; 
i) Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested 
by the DMW Secretary. 
SEC. 9. 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 OFW Hospital which shall include: 
1) Assistance in identifying, documenting, processing, and approving 
applications for benefits granted to OFWs and their qualified dependents; 
2) Establishment of a referral system within the OFW Hospital to ensure 
efficient delivery of medical and health care services to OFWs and their 
qualified dependents; 
3) Strengthening of the existing health benefits and medical assistance 
programs, through OVVWA, 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) Create a consultative committee and other necessary mechanisms for 
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 
OFW Hospital; and 
c) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the 
purposes and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 10. Duties and Responsibilities of the DOH. -The DOH shall: 
a) Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the OFW 
Hospital 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 OFW 
Hospital; 


c) Support the OFW Hospital through the provision of technical assistance, 
extending capital outlay, and monitoring the hospital's compliance with 
standards to deliver quality healthcare; and 
d) Perform such other functions that are necessary for the attainment of the 
purposes and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 11.. Support from other Government Agencies. - The 0\/vWA shall 
ensure that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs for OFWs 
and their qualified dependents are strengthened: Provided, That nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to diminish or reduce the existing benefits of OFWs and their 
dependents provided under R.A. No. 11223. 
All other agencies, departments, bureaus, offices, or instrumentalities of the 
government, including government-owned or-controlled corporations, shall render 
assistance to the OFW Hospital for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 12. 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 used 
actually, directly, and exclusively for the operation of the OFW Hospital and are 
not available locally shall be exempt from value-added tax and customs duty. 
SEC. 13. Funding-for the OFW Hospitai. - The amount necessary for the 
initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's 
appropriations of the DMW. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued 
implementation shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
All income generated from the operations of the OFW Hospital shall be 
deposited in an authorized government depository bank and be used to augment 
the hospital's operating requirements. 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the approval of this Act, the DMW shall, in consultation with the DOH, the 0\/vWA, 
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. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, and rules and regulations contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen ( 15) days 
following its publication in the Official Gazette ox in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved.