The head of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital, Ralph Julius Mendoza, is urging lawmakers to swiftly pass seven legislative bills that would provide the hospital with its much-needed enabling law.
Mendoza highlighted in a Daily Tribune report the importance of these bills, which include one consolidated bill from the House of Representatives (HB 8325) and six from the Senate. HB 8325 seeks to upgrade the OFW Hospital to a Level 3 facility under the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), while Senate bills address various health and welfare concerns, including dedicated hospital wards and free medical checkups for OFWs and their dependents.
Mendoza emphasized that the approval of these bills would enhance the hospital’s ability to operate independently and efficiently.
Currently classified as a Level 1 facility, the OFW Hospital is located in San Fernando, Pampanga, and serves current and former OFWs along with their dependents, with medical expenses covered by DMW, DoH, and OWWA funds. The hospital has been operating for two years, providing essential healthcare to the OFW community.