First OFW hospital to rise in Pampanga

MANILA, Philippines — Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families can look forward to free medical services. 

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) yesterday said the groundbreaking of the hospital in San Fernando, Pampanga would be held on May 1.

“The hospital will be exclusively for OFWs and their dependents... to provide them with free services when securing their medical certificates, covering laboratory exams and other basic requirements for their overseas deployment,” Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione said.

”We hope that it will be honored by the host countries so we also expect quite extensive negotiations,” Dione added.

The construction of the hospital will be funded by donations and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration with support from the Department of Health and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. The hospital is expected to be completed in about two years.

The provincial government of Pampanga donated the lot where the hospital will be built.

Aside from the groundbreaking of the OFW hospital, the DOLE will conduct simultaneous job fairs in 31 areas across the country in observance of Labor Day.

This year’s theme is ”Pagpupugay sa Manggagawang Pilipino.”