The Filipino community has launched a signature campaign to press for the establishment of the Overseas Filipino Workers' (OFW) Hospital in the Philippines.

Community leaders and individuals attended the launching of the drive on Thursday, which seems to be only the preamble to a long-term campaign to press the Philippines government to finally establish this long desired medical facility.

"The signature campaign will not stop until we are sure that the Filipino authorities have started to lay the foundations of the hospital," said Romeo Gulapa, Chairman of the Global OFW Foundation, the campaign's initiator.

The foundation, in co-ordination with Filipino communities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore, has so far collected 2,000 signatures, but aims to reach most of the 7.2 million Filipinos living abroad.

The OFWs have been yearning for the creation of the hospital for a long time, but noprevious Filipino administration made any move towards the project.

They now claim that medical care funds indirectly collected from them through several fees and taxes should be set aside to implement the project.

"We expect our government to at least provide us with adequate medical care, which represents an issue of major concern for us," Gulapa said.

He said most Filipino workers live abroad without their families and when in need of specialised health care, or when afflicted with acute diseases, they avoid travelling back to the Philippines where treatments entail the complete loss of one's life savings.

The signatures will be presented by Gulapa to the Filipino authorities soon. The foundation's initiative will also be presented to the son of the Philippines president, Miky Arroyo.

Gulapa's journey is also aimed at registering the Global OFW Foundation, renamed GOFIL, in the Philippines and make the authorities aware of the determination of its members.

Jose Ampeso, Philippines Consul General, said the initiative is of outstanding importance and all the community should be united in supporting it.

"The OFWs have a vision and a common project, which will be successful as long as they remain united and stand by it. This is a challenge for unity," he said.

A website has been started by GOFIL - www.gofil.net - where Filipinos can sign on line to support the campaign for the hospital.

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