Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has filed a bill that promotes the welfare and medical needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Health filed Senate Bill No. 2414, which proposes OFW wards to be built in every hospital under the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide.
These wards are said to be exclusively for OFWs and their dependents in need of hospital confinement due to health conditions.
The beneficiaries of the act are land-based OFWs, seafarers, and other sea-based workers.
Dependents refer to a parent, legal spouse, legitimate, illegitimate, or legal adoptee who is unmarried, not over 18 years of age, or over 18 years of age but incapacitated due to mental or physical defects.
"Ang mga OFW ay ating mga modernong bayani, at ang kanilang kapakanan ay isang prayoridad para sa ating bansa," said Go.
He said that through the wards dedicated to OFWs, prompt and efficient healthcare services are ensured for them.
"Hindi lang ito panaginip kundi isang commitment sa ating OFWs," he added.
The Act provides coordination between the DOH the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other concerned government departments and agencies, along with Local Government Units (LGUs), to promulgate rules and regulations for its implementation.
The DOH will determine the number of beds in OFW wards based on the distribution of OFWs in their respective catchment areas.
Go's promise to OFWs in the construction of a dedicated OFW hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga, has already been fulfilled.
