Directing the Establishment of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Hospital, Creating the Inter-Agency Committee on the OFW Hospital, and for Other Purposes

December 7, 2021

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 154

DIRECTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs) HOSPITAL, CREATING THE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON THE OFW HOSPITAL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, Section 18, Article II of the Constitution declares it a policy of the State to affirm labor as a primary social economic force, protect the rights of workers, and promote their welfare;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8042 or the "Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995," as amended, provides that the State shall provide adequate and timely social, economic and legal services to Filipino migrant workers;

WHEREAS, Section 6 of RA No. 10801 or the "Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Act," provides that the OWWA shall develop, support and finance specific projects for the welfare of member-OFWs and their families;

WHEREAS, Section 2 of RA No. 11223 or the "Universal Health Care Act," provides that the State shall adopt a people-oriented approach for the delivery of health services that is centered on people's needs and well-being, and cognizant of the differences in cultures, values and beliefs;

WHEREAS, OFWs are the unsung modern-day heroes of the Philippines as they brave living and working in a foreign land to support their families back home, and their regular remittances have contributed to the stability and growth of the Philippine economy;

WHEREAS, the establishment of a specialty government hospital primarily devoted to OFWs will recognize the valuable contribution of Filipino migrant workers, and alleviate their health problems and concerns; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution provides that the President shall have control of all the executive departments, bureaus and offices, and that he shall ensure the faithful execution of laws;

NOW THEREFORE, I, RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Directive to Establish the OFW Hospital. — Subject to limitations under existing laws, rules and regulations, the National Government shall establish the OFW Hospital, to be located in San Fernando City, Pampanga, to cater primarily to the health care needs of OFWs and qualified dependents.

SECTION 2. Purposes and Objectives of the OFW Hospital. — The OFW Hospital shall have the following purposes and objectives:

a. To establish, operate and maintain medical facilities, including a medical and diagnostic center, for the welfare of OFWs and their qualified dependents, and as may be warranted, for the welfare of the general public;

b. To promote, encourage, engage in and publish scientific research on the prevention, care and treatment of occupational diseases common to OFWs, including the underwriting of researches on biological, demographic, social, economic, eugenic, physiological aspects of occupational disorders of OFWs, and conduct relevant congresses, conventions, seminars and conferences;

c. To develop and encourage public interest in, as well as the dissemination and exchange of information on (i) the prevention, treatment and control of diseases common to OFWs, and (ii) OFW occupational health and physical fitness, especially the promotion of health and rehabilitation, and other related fields;

d. To encourage and undertake the training of physicians, nurses, medical technicians, health officers and social workers on the practical and scientific conduct and implementation of OFW occupational health services; and

e. To assist and support universities, research institutions and other hospitals or medical facilities in their studies on health-related concerns of OFWs.

SECTION 3. Creation of the Inter-agency Committee on the OFW Hospital. — There is hereby created an Inter-agency Committee on the OFW Hospital (ICOH) to be composed of the following:

 

Chairperson:	Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
Co-Chairperson:	Secretary, Department of Health (DOH);
Members:	Secretary, Department of Budget and Management (DBM); Administrator, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; Administrator, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); and Two (2) representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs.

 

The representatives of land-based and sea-based OFWs shall be appointed by the President from a list of nominees submitted by the Chairperson. Such nominees must at least be forty (40) years of age, and an OFW with at least three (3) years of work experience abroad at the time of his or her nomination.

SECTION 4. Powers, Duties and Responsibilities of the ICOH. — The ICOH shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:

a. Determine and undertake, in coordination with the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations, the appropriate steps for the formal establishment and/or incorporation of the OFW Hospital in accordance with RA No. 10149 or the "GOCC Governance Act of 2011," pertinent regulations and issuances of the DOH, and other relevant laws, rules and regulations;

b. Upon incorporation of the OFW Hospital, assume, perform and carry-out the functions and responsibilities of its Board of Trustees, while retaining the abovementioned composition and structure, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, including the —

i. Formulation and implementation of measures and programs to effectively and efficiently attain the objectives of the Hospital;

ii. Formulation and promulgation of policies for the sound administration, maintenance, and operations of the Hospital;

iii. Appointment of a qualified and competent Administrator to manage and run the operations of the Hospital and identification of his/her functions and responsibilities;

iv. Determination of the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Hospital; and

v. Such other functions necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Order.

SECTION 5. Duties and Responsibilities of the Chairperson of the ICOH. — The Chairperson of the ICOH shall:

a. Establish an office in the OFW Hospital, through the OWWA, that shall assist in identifying, documenting, processing and approving applications for benefits granted to OFWs and their qualified dependents;

b. Through the OWWA and POEA, establish a referral system within the OFW Hospital to ensure efficient delivery of medical and health care services to OFWs and their qualified dependents, including the facilitation and conduct of pre-employment medical examinations of departing OFWs;

c. Subject to availability of funds and resources, ensure that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are strengthened to include, among others, subsidies on hospitalization and medical procedures for OFWs and their qualified dependents; and

d. Perform such other functions and duties as the ICOH or the Board of Trustees may direct.

SECTION 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the Co-Chairperson of the ICOH. — The Co-Chairperson of the ICOH shall:

a. Ensure that the necessary permits and licenses to operate the Hospital are obtained, consistent with all 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, and the Philippine General Hospital, among others, to hold clinics in the OFW Hospital, and provide professional services to OFWs and qualified dependents, and its other patients; and

c. Perform such other functions and duties as the ICOH or the Board of Trustees may direct.

SECTION 7. Agency Support. — The OWWA is directed to take appropriate steps to improve the access of OFWs and their dependents to health care services, including the grant of benefits and medical assistance programs, subject to availability of funds and relevant laws, rules and regulations.

All other agencies, departments, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, including other government-owned or -controlled corporations, are directed to render assistance to the ICOH and the Board of Trustees for the effective implementation of this Order.

SECTION 8. Funding. — The necessary funding for the establishment and initial operation of the OFW Hospital shall be charged against available appropriations of the DOLE. Thereafter, the ICOH or the Board of Trustees shall coordinate with the DBM to ensure that the subsequent funding requirements, as may be necessary, for the implementation of this Order shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual budget process.

SECTION 9. Annual Report. — The ICOH or the Board of Trustees shall submit to the President, through the Executive Secretary, an annual report on the implementation of this Order.

SECTION 10. Separability. — If any provision of this Order is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repeal. — All orders, rules, regulations and issuances inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 7th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-One.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 117, No. 50, p. 11644 on December 13, 2021.