In a bid to provide improved health care services for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has voiced his support for Senate Bill 2297. The legislation aims to institutionalize the OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center situated in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
Senator Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and also belongs to the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, emphasized the vital role that OFWs play in the nation’s economy. Labeling them as “modern-day heroes,” Go underscored that OFWs not only support their families but also significantly contribute to the country’s economic fabric.
A cornerstone of the bill is ensuring sustained funding for the OFW Hospital, thus facilitating its ongoing maintenance and operations. The hospital stands on a plot spanning 1.5 hectares, donated generously by the provincial government of Pampanga. Operational since May 2022, the six-story facility houses 100 beds to cater to patients’ needs.
Apart from offering regular medical services, the institution pledges to spearhead research initiatives. These initiatives center around the prevention, management, and treatment of occupational diseases, which OFWs commonly encounter.