IMMEDIATE FIX. Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration chief Arnell Ignacio (in red) checks one of the wards of the OWWA Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in Alubijid town on Monday (Oct. 24, 2022). Ignacio said plans are underway to renovate the facility. (Courtesy of OWWA Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital Facebook)
MANILA – The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital in the municipality of Alubijid will undergo improvements as soon as possible.
OWWA chief Arnell Ignacio visited the hospital on Monday after it was brought up by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, a native of Cagayan de Oro, during a recent budget hearing.
"Ito kasi ‘yung tinanong ni Senator Pimentel. So, pumunta tayo dito. Tiningnan natin 'yung problema. Mukhang maaayos naman natin (This what Senator Pimentel asked. So, we went here. We looked at the problems. We can fix it)," he said.
During his visit, Ignacio met with local government and OWWA-Region 10 officials to discuss the immediate renovation and bringing in of new facilities for the facility that caters to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
"Kailangan ayusin natin ito para dito sa Mindanao, meron din tayong ospital. Aayusin natin ito para 'yung mga OFW dito ay meron nang mapuntahan (We need to fix this so we can also have a hospital here in Mindanao. We'll fix this so the OFWs can go here)," Ignacio said.
The Department of Budget and Management earmarked PHP10.039 billion for OWWA's Emergency Repatriation Program for 2023 which covers 367,287 OFWs.
Other OWWA programs include the Overseas Employment Regulatory Program, Labor Migration Policy and International Cooperation Program, Maritime Research and Skills Competency Program, and Provision for OFW Hospital, and Diagnostic Center under the Overseas Employment and Welfare Program.
The proposed 2023 National Expenditure Program allots PHP15.2 billion to the Department of Migrant Workers, which has administrative control over OWWA.
Another OFW Hospital in the City of San Fernando City, Pampanga was inaugurated on May 1, a joint effort of the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, local government, and the private sector. (PNA)
