The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) eyes nationwide expansion of the OFW Hospital to further provide accessible and quality medical services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.

Pursuant to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the welfare and wellness of OFWs, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the DMW is planning to reach more OFWs across the country by setting up mini clinics at the malls.

 “Gusto rin naming palawigin yung OFW Hospital para hindi lang sya sa San Fernando, Pampanga. So, we intend to develop branches and units, like clinic set-ups in malls—nationwide for the OFWs,” Cacdac said.

The OFW Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga have provided quality medical assistance and services to more than 86,000 in-patient and out-patient since its establishment in 2022.

It is the first and only medical institution in the Philippines that provides comprehensive medical services to OFWs and their dependents.

On December 10, 2024, President Marcos led the groundbreaking of the OFW Hospital Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center to respond to the rising cases and high medical costs in cancer treatment for OFWs and their families.

“Unfortunately, may mga OFWs na nagkakasakit ng cancer. So, the cancer care facility, also with the help of Sec. Ted Herbosa and the DOH (Department of Health), will be constructed this year,” said Secretary Cacdac.

The Secretary assured that the cancer care facility will be finished by the end of 2025 and will be activated in the first quarter of 2026.  Once finished, the facility can serve, on average, around 250-300 cancer patients at any given time.

Secretary Cacdac expressed gratitude over President Marcos’ approval of the OFW Hospital budget that resulted in the administering of more positions, including 200 doctors and nurses, medical staff, and other regular plantilla items.

The OFW Hospital envisions elevating its 50-bed capacity hospital into a premier tertiary center (102-bed capacity) that offers highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic services tailored to the unique needs of migrant workers.

Aside from healthcare, the DMW also offers other facilities and services for the OFWs’ comfort, convenience, and seamless transactions.

In December 2024, the DMW opened its Makati office to serve OFWs in the southern sector of Metro Manila and adjacent provinces.

The office, located at Malugay Street, Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati City, houses the Bagong Pilipinas One-Stop OFW AKSYON Center, which centralizes and delivers essential full-cycle support and assistance to OFWs and their families.

It also houses the 23rd branch of Migrants Brew, a comfortable café for OFWs and their families that offers unlimited free coffee and snacks. The café also features the OFW Children Circle Station, a dedicated area designed to engage and support the dependents of OFWs and to promote a holistic and inclusive environment for OFW families.

At the airports, over 500,000 OFWs were served by the OFW Lounges in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 3.

A total of 630,905 OFW clients were also catered to by 23 branches of Migrants Brew and around 50,000 Filipino seafarers were catered in the Seafarers Hub in Malate, Manila.

 “Our mission to accomplish is to have more facilities that cater to our OFWs to their comfort. And literally to provide welfare services and tighter our employment standards. Again, our rights-based approach. And lastly, sa pagprotekta ‘yung kita nila (OFWs), more financial education literacy, one-stop shop reintegration. ‘Yung pagpapalakas ng ating mga reintegration programs,” Cacdac ended.