MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

Republic of the Phili Mary Tee
‘epublic of the Philippines 03 AU
HOUSE OF REPRESENATATIVES pare:23 AUB 2
Quezon City ime: 2.00 Pm
ay. uly
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House bill No. 251 3

Introduced by Hon. Cristina “Chiqui” Roa-Puno

Explanatory Note

This bill seeks to provide mandatory Philhealth coverage to all persons with disabilities.
Article XIII Section III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that:

The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the
needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State
shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.

The passage of Republic Act 7277 as amended by Republic Act 9442 and further
amended by RA 10754 or the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability ratifies the
commitment of the State to guarantee and prioritize the rights of persons with disability
(PWDs). The World Health Organization’s World Report on Disability in 2011 states that
disability prevalence is high and growing, with over one billion in the world affected.
The report further states that PWDs face widespread barriers in accessing services
(with health services topping this list) and that they have worse health and
socioeconomic outcomes than people without disabilities. In the Philippines alone, the
National Statistics Office reported in its 2010 study that there are 1,443,000 PWDs in
the country or about 1.57% of the population.

Having said so, a mandatory Philhealth coverage will address the PWDs' plight in
accessing health care services that they most often require.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

STINA “CHIQUI” ROA-PUNO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENATATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

2518

House bill No. _

Introduced by Hon. Cristina “Chiqui” Roa-Puno

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE FOR ALL
PERSONS WITH DISABILITY AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R.A. 7277 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR DISABLED PERSONS”

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Philhealth Coverage for Disabled
Persons”

Sec. 2. Section 20 of Chapter III is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 20.- Health services
OCR
(c). Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage-

All persons with disability shall be covered by the national health insurance
program of the PhilHealth. Funds necessary to ensure the enrolment of all persons with
disability not currently covered by any existing category shall be sourced from the
National Health Insurance Fund of PhilHealth from proceeds of RA. 10351, in
accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.

Sec.3. Repealing Clause - Section 34 (h), Article IV of Republic Act 4136 is hereby
amended and, furthermore, any law, executive order, decree, issuance, ordinance, rule
and regulation or any part thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act is also hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

Sec.4. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,