@ Weanesaay, May 29, 2ot9

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3 House p?nels approve

dedicated horpidifr. OFW
By JASPER E,uMANUEL y ARCALAS 9@jearcalas
The Department of Health (DOH)
shall
oversee the administrative and
technical
supervision of the OFW hospital.
The DOH is rasked to include in
its
annual budget proposal the funding
re_
quirements for the operation ofthe
OFW
hospital.
The OFW hospital will also partici_
pate-in providing health_care cJverage
in relation to the implementation
of the
Universal Health Care Act.
In addition, the Department of
Labor
and Employment (DOLE)_OWWA
shall
. This k now the third commitree level
that the bill hurdled in just rwo risks associated with the nature
of their
atso be tasked to strengthen its
exist_
days. The ing health-care benefits and medical
same measure was approved emptoyment s...The country needs as_
by House to do sistance programs to provide
more, especiaily in paving better subsidies
on Health and Appropria_ access, to the_hospital for qualified OFWs
-..:.Tn,"::
tlons last Monday. and in providing higher qualir y
ofhealth legal-dependent patients.
and
care, Arroyo said during the hearing
House Bill 9194 seek s to ( rea on
te a hos .
prtal that will "promote the OFWs,well- luesday. .lionThe construction for the p400_mil_
OFW hospiLal in pampanqa started
Under the bill. the hospital
oerng rn recognition of their
importance ,
have at leasr tcrtiary level of
would on May 1 with Arroyo and Llbor Sec_
ano rontribution (o economic develop_ care and retary.Silvestre Bello
ment and nation-buildine.,' wou [d be developed consistent
with the
III leading the
groundbreaking ceremony.
"Despite i-prouem"its rreatth care needs of I he OFWs and
in occupa_ their The construction cost ior the health_
dependents.
h:-"1,1 and safety wortdwide, care facili[y is free as it is shouldered
l:::l
Uf Ws su ffer from t,.i,t]l serve as r he primary
tsloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc.
by
agrowing list ol physi ._-.]h" l.3.nit3
reterral The
rat and mental_health problems hospitaj for repatriatei OFWs
due to hospital is being built on land donated
neeorng medical assisIa nce and
support. by Pampanga Gov. Lilia pineda.

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