The House Committee on Health chaired by Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr. approved the substitute bill establishing the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital (OFWH) as a Level 3 hospital under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Migrant Workers and appropriating funds therefor.
The bill substituted for House Bills 479,1275, 1642, 2058, 4123, 4195, 5114, 5928 and 6111 authored by former President now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte Jr., Pangasinan Representative Marlyn Primicias- Agabas, La Union Representative Francisco Pablo Ortega, Kabayan Party-list Representative Ron Salo, Cagayan de Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez, Benguet Representative Eric Yap, Tarlac Representative Christian Tell Yap and Gato, respectively.
The bill would establish, operate and maintain medical facilities, including a medical and diagnostic center, for the welfare of OFWs and their qualified dependents.
The bill would 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.
In the explanatory note of her HB 479, Arroyo said that the establishment of a specialty government hospital primarily devoted to OFWs gives due recognition to the valuable contribution of Filipino migrant workers to the Philippine economy by providing the means through which the health problems and concerns of OFWs are eased and relieved.
The committee also approved, subject to form and amendments, HBs 1106 and 4001, which would establish/institutionalize a national integrated program to prevent and treat psoriasis as a public health problem and appropriate funds therefore. The bills are authored by Quezon Representative Atty. Mike Tan and Villafuerte, respectively.
Arroyo moved for an inquiry over the proposed funding and utilization of funds related to the Psoriasis Program of the Department of Health.
“We can approve the bill but it would be a dead letter law unless our legislation is incorporated into the next budget.”
“We can approve the bill but it would be a dead letter law unless our legislation is incorporated into the next budget,” the veteran legislator said.
The legislative inquiry shall be jointly conducted with the Committee on Appropriations.
The committee also approved the following bills and their consolidation into a substitute bill — HBs 287, 2036 and 4179, all seeking to strengthen the national program for the elimination of tuberculosis, amending for the purpose Republic Act 10767, also known as the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Plan Act. These are authored by Tan, Southern Leyte Representative Coco Yap, and Northern Samar Rep. Harris Christopher Ongchuan, respectively.
