28/08/2025
๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ, ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐, ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ข๐๐ช๐, ๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families are assured of affordable and quality medicines and health care services following the partnership between the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Philippine Pharma Procurement, Inc. (PPPI).
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac and PPPI President and CEO Maria Blanca Kim B. Lokin signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that paves the way for healthcare access by the OFWs and their families under the โBotika at Bakuna para sa Mamamayanโ initiative, formerly known as Botika ng Bayan.
โPrimary healthcare and reliable delivery of health services are at the heart of our commitment to OFWs and their dependents. This partnership addresses long-requested services and complements the continuing upgrade of our OFW Hospital, which aims to add advanced facilities such as MRI and mammogram units to achieve Level II hospital status,โ said Secretary Cacdac.
Part of the collaboration is the establishment of mini-botikas or small pharmacies, which will start with pilot outlets in Makati that will eventually expand into the BBM Pharmacy Program. These will be operated through OFW cooperatives or franchises to serve as both healthcare access point and sustainable livelihood opportunity for migrant workers and their families.
โAll medicines are legitimate and, most importantly, affordable. That is our mandate and our commitment together with the DMW,โ PPPI President Lokin assured.
Also, under the agreement, 70% of procurement of medicines and medical supplies will be handled by PPPI, while the OFW Hospital will focus on provision of health services.
The full establishment of BBM Pharmacies is also targeted by May 2026 under the phase 2 of the partnership.
Also, future projects under the collaboration include the establishment of a medical waste reduction facility at the OFW Hospital, which is projected to cut waste by 80% and support environmental sustainability.
Dr. Goldwin Z. Posadas, Head of Ancillary Services at the OFW Hospital, meanwhile, noted that the partnership aligns with the governmentโs efforts under Bagong Pilipinas to integrate health, livelihood, and logistics support for OFWs.
The partnership also involves market sampling and study activities beginning September 12, ahead of a Health Forum in October to be held in partnership with The Manila Times.
โThis is not just about medicines and medical equipment supply,โ Lokin added. โWe are committed to bringing pharmacies even to far-flung areas so that OFW families can benefit directly.โ
The collaboration between the DMW, PPPI, and the OFW Hospital represents another concrete step toward accessible healthcare, livelihood support, and sustainable services for OFWs and their loved ones, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensuring the holistic welfare of OFWs and their families.
News Release
Department of Migrant Workers
August 26, 2025