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2 DIAf,II,A'FBUITEIIT
Bill'on OFW
* :r ey d-rAiiadnmi!.!4titfri.i!A:i::i::ai
n less than l0 minutes. the House
-.l Committee on Ways and Means
I approved on Thesda-y the measu-re
Iseeking tax exemplions for the
)roposed hospital for overseas Filipino
vorkers (OF'l s).
The panel agreed to exempt from
lonor's tax all grants, endowments,
lonations, and contributions which
nay be made by persons or entities
o the proposed OFW Hospital. It also
rxempts from value-added tax (VAT)
Lnd customs duties the importation of
nedical equipment and machineries,
spare parts, and other medical equip-
ment for ihe hospital.
During the hearing, Speaker Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo, principal author
of House Bill 9194, personally asked
the committee to speed the measure's
approval.
"I would like to request the com-
mittee to approve the automatically
referred bill," she said after the Depad-
ment of Finance (DOF), Department of
Health, and the National Tax Research
Center (NTRC) rallied behind the pas-
sage of the measure.
' Before approving the measure,
reelected Sorsogon Rep. Er,elina Escu-
National News
dero recommended that Section 8 ofthe
bill or the tax provision states that "that
all grants, requests and endowments,
donations afld contributions made to
the Of'W Hospital to be used actu-
ally, dilectly or exclusivelv bv the OFW
hospit4l shall be exempt from donor's
Lax anil the same shall be considered
as allowable deduction from the gross
income ofthe donor in accordance with
the provisions of the National Internal
Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and
the importation of medical equipment
and machineries, spare parts and other
medical equipment which are used
solely and exclusively for the operation
\ PAqe -o?,t
Wednesday, May 29,2019
"I1l try to have the committee re-
port done now so we can take it up thid
afternoon," she said.
She expressed hope that the bili
I
would be passed before Congress ad-
of the OFW Hospital and are not avail"- journs next week. If not, she will asli
able locally shall be exempt from value- theiru arres
allies lnin [ne
the incoming lgth uonl
lncomrng ISth Con
added tax and customs dutiep." gress it.
ss to file it. I
Arroyo accepted Escudero's rec- House Bill9194 tasks the OFW l{os]
ommendation, which was eventually pital to provide comprehensive healttj
adopted by the panel. care services to 4ll migrant workerd
The bill was approved by the House who are Oversead'Workers
Overseid Welfare
Committee on Health, chaired by re- Administration (OWWA) contributors
elected Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, and . and their legal dependents. The OFW
the House Committee on Appropria- Hospital. which shall be under the tull
tions, chaired by outgoing Camarines administrative and technical supervi.J
Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr. last sion of the DOH, shall conduct medical
Monday. examinations to ensure the physical
Arroyo said she wanted the bill to and mentil capability ofwould-be over-
be immediately calendared forplenary seas contract workers duly covered by
discussion. an approvedjob order.