EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 
RR1
DQttr »(tbt * fc rru ri
•19 AUG-5 P5 23
R E rFI'/;l^KV:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
IN STITU TIO N ALIZIN G  AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM 
(EMSS), CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the World Health Organization (2017), about 7,000 Filipinos die each 
year, and thousands more are injured or disabled, due to road traffic crashes, with 
rides of motorcycles and two-wheeler bicycles making up a large proportion of these 
statistics. Accidents of all types including road traffic crashes rank fourth among the 
causes of death in all ages and accounts for a significant proportion of Disability 
Adjusted Life Years among Filipinos.
It is thus imperative for the government to pursue mechanisms that seek to reduce 
preventable mortality and morbidity from these incidents. Apart from promoting and 
instituting road safety policies and programs, it is also important to strengthen the 
health system response to these emergency situations. There is an urgent need for 
a more responsive and organized emergency medical services system that can 
ensure that patients needing urgent medical assistance are adequately attended to 
and are provided with a better chance of survival from disability or death. Emergency 
medical services is an essential component in the delivery of a comprehensive health 
services for all Filipinos and is part of our effort to achieve universal health care.
One of the most pressing issues in the field of emergency or pre-hospital care in the 
country is the lack of a national standard of practice to guide implementers, as well 
as the absence of minimum requirements for entry into the service. This proposed 
measure seeks to establish a standard system of emergency medical services (EMS), 
address the need to professionalize and regulate the sector, and enhance the 
provision of emergency medical services in the country.
In addition, the bill proposes the creation of a National Emergency Medical Services 
System Council to formulate and implement policies and develop national standards 
for the provision of emergency medical services that is consistent. It also provides for 
the creation of plantilla positions for EMS personnel in government hospitals and 
health facilities, thus ensuring a pool of EMS providers that are professionalized and


better equipped to serve their patients. The bill also ensures that the provision of 
emergency medical services, including all vehicles, equipment and support services, 
adheres to the standards and guidelines set out by the EMSS Council led by the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Health.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA H O N T IV E R O S ^ ^ ^  
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 
861
of tbr irrufiiop
’19 AUG-5 P5 23
RECEIVLDB^.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
IN STITU TIO N ALIZIN G  AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM 
(EMSS), CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Emergency Medical 
Services System (EMSS) Act".
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people. Pursuant to this policy, the 
government shall institutionalize a comprehensive, accessible, integrated and 
standardized system of emergency medical services and provide an environment that 
will maximize the capability and potential of emergency medical services personnel.
SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act has the following objectives:
(a) To create a national Emergency Medical Services System Council;
(b) To develop and institutionalize an emergency medical services system at the 
national and local government;
(c) To encourage and promote the active participation of the private sector in the 
provision of emergency medical services;
(d) To establish a national standard for an emergency medical services such as, 
training of ems institutions and personnel and establishing standards for design, 
accreditation and regulation of emergency medical vehicles;
(e) To institutionalize the use of 911 as the Nationwide Emergency Hotline Number;


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(f) To establish and provide support services to emergency medical services;
(g) To promote public safety and accessible emergency medical services to the 
people especially those in need of emergency medical services and give priority for 
the under-served and unserved communities; and
(h) To adopt an emergency medical service protocol in times of natural and man­
made disasters.
SEC. 4. Definition o f Terms, -  As used this Act:
(a) Accredited training and assessment institutions refer to organizations,
in good standing with the EMSSC, accredited to offer training programs, courses, 
[and] continuing education and competency-based assessment in emergency 
medical services for EMS personnel that meet the standards established by the 
Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) for uniformed personnel and the 
Emergency Medical Service System Council (EMSSC), hereinafter referred to as 
the Council created under this Act.
{b) Ambulance /  Medical transport vehicle refers to a vehicle designed and 
equipped for transporting sick or injured patients to, from, and between places of 
treatment by land, water or air, affording safety and comfort to the patients and 
avoiding of illness or injury.
(c) Basic Life Support (BLS) refers to a group of actions and interventions 
used to resuscitate and stabilize victims of cardiac and respiratory arrest. These 
BLS actions and interventions includes the recognition of a cardiac or a 
respiratory emergency or stroke, activation of the emergency response system, 
CPR and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction.
(d) Competency-based assessment refers to the confirmation of an EMS 
personnel's capability and capacity to perform one's duties and responsibilities, 
through the process of collective evidence and judgment, in accordance with the 
standards and guidelines established by the council.
(e) Emergency Medical Dispatch refers to the immediate identification and 
prioritization of emergency situations, the timely dispatch of appropriate 
resources, 
providing 
essential 
pre-arrival 
medical 
instructions 
and 
full 
endorsement to the receiving hospital. Dispatch encompasses all aspects of 
communication 
including 
request 
processing, 
coordination 
and 
support, 
documentation and monitoring.
(f) Emergency medical services (EMS) refer to :
(1) Emergency care refers to the independent delivery of pre-hospital 
emergency medical services by appropriately trained and certified EMS


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personnel, usually in a mobile or community setting, in full accordance with 
the Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols established by the 
Emergency Medical Services System Council (EMSSC), hereinafter referred to 
as the Council, created under this Act.
(2) Advance life support refers to a set of life saving protocols and skills 
that extend beyond BLS to further support the circulation and provide an 
advanced airway and adequate ventilation.
(a) Advanced Cardiac Life S upport (ACLS) refers to a group of 
interventions used to treat and stabilize adult victims of life-threatening 
cardiorespiratory emergencies and to resuscitate victims of cardiac 
arrest. These interventions include Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, 
basic and advanced airway management such as tracheal intubation, 
emergency 
medications, 
electrical 
therapy, 
automated 
external 
defibrillation and intravenous (IV) access.
(b) Advanced Traum a Life S upport (ATLS) refers to a group protocol 
for managing trauma victims and designed to maximize management in 
the first hour after trauma and ensure an optimal long-term outcome. 
These interventions include BLS, ACLS, immobilization, venous cannula 
insertion and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for children.
(g) Emergency Medical Services Personnel refers to a trained and certified 
personnel engaged in the provision of emergency medical services during 
emergencies. Responders may either be health professionals or non-health 
professionals.
(h) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System refers to the arrangement 
and coordination of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the effective delivery 
of ems required in the management of medical emergencies; for the management 
and prevention of further incidents or accidents and the broad range of 
emergency care from emergency care to transport in an intensive care setting.
(i) Emergency Response and Care refers to the arrival of resources at the 
scene and the timely initiation and provision of appropriate medical interventions.
(j) Emergency Transport refers to the transporting of a patient to the most 
appropriate and definitive health facility with continued provision of care and 
appropriate interventions en route to the appropriate health facility.
(k) Inter-Agency Referral and Transport refers to the transport of patient 
with EMS personnel, if necessary, from one referring facility or agency to another 
receiving facility or agency for definitive care, as the patient requires, in an event 
that the services are not available in the referring facility.


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(I) Medical Direction refers to the communication between an EMS personnel 
and a physician from the field via radio or other means to obtain instruction on 
further care of a patient.
(l) Medical Emergency refers to any acute or life-threatening condition that 
requires immediate intervention by competent medical personnel.
(m) Medical Oversight refers to the broad understanding of the emergency 
medical system as a whole and ensuring proper policies and procedures exist to 
ensure safe transitions of care and utilization of appropriate resources in the field, 
it is typically performed by a medical director at the local, regional, and national 
levels, in collaboration with regulatory, regional and local medical directors and 
advisory committees.
(n) National Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols refer to 
emergency medical procedures outlining approved clinical practices and therapies 
to be observed by EMS personnel, as established by the Council created under 
Section 5 hereof.
(o) Patient Transport refers to the transport of patients with non-life threating 
conditions to and from medical facilities. In emergency situations, patients are 
transported by the Emergency Medical Services.
CHAPTER I I
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS COUNCIL
SEC. 5. Creation o f the Emergency Medical Services Systems Council. - A
body to be known as the "Emergency Medical Services Systems Council (EMSSC)" is 
hereby created under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
SEC. 6. Powers and Functions o f the EMSSC - The Council shall perform the 
following functions:
(a) To formulate policies governing the field of emergency medical services and 
related institutions;
(b) To develop national standards for the provision of emergency medical services 
to include, among others, the skills and competencies required for EMS personnel 
and the development of mandatory national emergency medical services 
treatment protocols to be observed by EMS personnel and such other entities as 
it may consider appropriate;
(c) To promulgate a Code of Ethics for EMS personnel;
(d) To develop high standards of operation for EMS personnel;


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(e) To develop standards and protocols for the design, construction, outfitting and 
operations of emergency medical vehicles; and
(f) To integrate the training and study of Standard Basic Life Support and first aid 
in different kinds of situations and emergencies in the curriculum of all public and 
private tertiary educational institutions.
(g) To ensure the establishment of a system of networking and coordination 
among all existing government health agencies, LGUs, and private and non­
government medical institutions for the effective implementation of this Act;
(h) To monitor compliance by all LGUs and government and private health 
facilities, of the standards and requirements set out in this Act;
(i) To establish a Secretariat under an Executive Director for the administrative 
and day-to-day operations of the Council;
(j) To create committees and other mechanisms to help expedite the 
implementation of plans and strategies;
(k) 
To 
generate 
resources 
from 
local, 
national 
and international
organizations/agencies, whether government or private sector, for its operation;
(l) To receive and accept donations and other conveyances including funds, 
materials and services by gratuitous title: Provided, That not more than thirty 
percent (30%) of said funds shall be used for administrative expenses;
(m) To prepare an annual budget of the Council and submit the same to the 
President for inclusion in the annual General Appropriations Act;
(n) To advise the President on matters pertaining to EMS;
(o) To investigate complaints against violators of this Act, its rules and regulations 
and policies of the Council;
(p) To request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau or agency of the 
government, including LGUs, to render such assistance as it may require in order 
to carry out, enforce or implement the provisions of this Act;
(q ) To regulate activities inimical to the delivery of emergency medical services; 
and
(r) To promulgate rules and regulations and policies of the Council and enforce 
the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. Membership o f the Council. - The members of the Council shall be


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composed of the following:
(1 ) The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) as Co-Chairperson;
(2) The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as 
Co-Chairperson;
(3) The Director General of the TESDA;
(4) The Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD);
(5) The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC); and
(6) The President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
(7) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education
(8) One representative from medical or health professional organizations
(9) One representative from non-government organizations advocating for 
patient's
rights and welfare
The members of the Council from the government may designate their 
permanent authorized representatives, with a rank not lower than a Director level.
Other relevant stakeholders from the different government offices, private entities 
and civil society organizations (CSOs) who are involved in the practice and 
implementation of emergency medical services can be invited as resource persons or 
representatives in the Council's meetings.
SEC. 8. Compensation and Remuneration. -  The Secretaries of the DILG and 
DOH or their representatives and members of the Council from the government shall 
perform their duties as such without compensation or remuneration, subject to 
reasonable per diem allowances as approved by the Council and subject to existing 
rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). 
Members thereof who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to 
necessary traveling expenses, per diem and representation allowances chargeable 
against funds of the DILG, as approved by the Council, subject to existing rules and 
regulations of the DBM.
SEC. 9. 
The Secretariat -  The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), an attached 
agency of the DILG, shall act as the Secretariat of the Council. The BFP shall be 
strengthened by augmenting its additional manpower and budget for its operations 
as the primary responder in emergency medical care services.
SEC. 10. Meetings, - The Council shall meet at least once every quarter.
SEC. 11. Program Plans, - The Council shall within six (6) months after having 
been officially constituted and finally staffed, adopt and immediately cause to be 
implemented, in coordination with medical and related agencies, a short-range 
program in support of relevant existing projects and activities and, within one (1) 
year, a long-range five (5)-year development program. This development program 
shall be developed and subjected to annual review and revision by the Council, in


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coordination with relevant public and private medical agencies and organizations.
CHAPTER I I I
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL
SEC. 12. Creation o f PiantUia Positions fo r Emergency Medical Services 
Personnel- There shall be created a minimum number of plantilla positions for EMS 
personnel in the following government hospitals/health facilities within the next five 
(5) years upon approval of this Act:
(a) Level 2 and 3 Hospitals -  ten (10) EMS personnel and at least one (1) 
Ambulance Assistant;
(b) Level 1 Hospitals -  six (6) EMS personnel and at least one (1) Ambulance 
Assistant;
(c) Local Government Units -  six (6) EMS personnel; and
(d) Other Health Facilities - as may be deemed necessary by the Council.
Upon the approval of the necessary plantilla positions for EMS personnel, the 
Council shall submit a proposed standard of qualification for positions to the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC) for its approval, pursuant to E.O. No. 292, entitled "The 
Revised Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission". The annual 
financial requirements needed to pay for the salaries of EMS personnel shall be 
included in the annual general appropriations of the respective hospitals, health 
facilities and LGUs.
SEC. 13. Authorized Training Institution. - Training programs, courses and 
continuing education for an EMS personnel shall be conducted by an institution that 
has been recognized by the DOH and granted a Certificate of Program Registration 
(COPR) by the TESDA.
SEC. 14. Code o f Ethics o f EMS Personnel. - The Council, in coordination with 
the appropriate agencies, shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and the 
Code of Technical Standards for EMS personnel to include, among others, duties of 
EMS personnel to emergency medical patients, to the community, and to their 
colleagues.
CHAPTER IV
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM
SEC. 15. Emergency Medical Vehicles - The Council shall adapt and follow the 
DOH 
Administrative Order No. 2018-0001 or the Department's A.O. governing 
licensure of ambulance and ambulance service provider, to provide the public with
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ambulances and other emergency medical vehicles that are easily identifiable, 
nationally 
recognizable, 
properly 
constructed, 
easily 
maintained 
and, 
when 
appropriately equipped, will enable EMS personnel to safely and reliably perform 
their functions as basic and advanced life support providers.
SEC. 16. Emergency dispatch. - All local government units are mandated to 
establish their dispatch centers where constituents can call for all cases of 
emergencies, with adequate and qualified personnel. The dispatch centers shall 
follow the prescribed guidelines on dispatch protocol as determined by the DILG and 
the Council.
SEC. 17. Emergency Response^ Care, and Transport. -  All LGUs shall ensure 
the availability of adequate emergency transport vehicles or ambulances with 
qualified EMS personnel. All emergency transport vehicles and the procedures to be 
undertaken in responding and caring for patients shall follow the prescribed 
guidelines of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Council on ambulance 
services and on emergency response and care.
SEC. 18. Inter-agency Referral and Transport -  The Council shall establish the 
prescribed protocols / guidelines on inter-agency referral and transport.
CHAPTER V
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
SEC. 19. Adoption o f a Nationwide Emergency Hotline Number. - There shall 
adapt the National Emergency 911 Hotline to enable the public to access emergency 
medical services.
SEC. 20. Prohibited Acts and Penalties on Emergency Communications. -
(a) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency hotline number 
with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person who answers the 
telephone call shall be guilty with the first offense and, subject to subsection (c) of 
this section, shall be compelled to attend a seminar on the proper use of the 
nationwide emergency hotline number. Upon commission of the offense for the 
second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less 
than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One thousand pesos 
(P1,000.00). Upon commission of the offense for the third and succeeding times, the 
offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not 
less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months or a fine of not less than 
Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos 
(P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
(b) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency hotline number 
and, upon the call being answered, makes or solicits any comment, request, 
suggestion, proposal or sound which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent.
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shall be mandated to attend a seminar on the proper use of the nationwide 
emergency hotline number for the first offense. Upon commission of the offense for 
the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not 
less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One thousand pesos 
(P1,000.00). Upon commission of the offense for the third and succeeding times, the 
offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not 
less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months or a fine of not less than 
Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos 
(P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
(c) 
A person who gives a false report of a medical emergency or gives false 
information in connection with a medical emergency, or makes a false alarm of a 
medical emergency, knowing the report or information or alarm to be false; or makes 
a false request for ambulance service to an ambulance service provider, knowing the 
request to be false, shall be mandated to attend a seminar on the proper use of the 
nationwide emergency hotline number for the first offense. Upon commission of the 
offense for the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a 
fine of not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five 
thousand pesos (P5,000.00) and payment of damages. Upon commission of the 
offense for the third and succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be 
imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more 
than three (3) years or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but 
not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) and payment of damages, or both, 
at the discretion of the court.
CHAPTER V I 
OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 21. Role o f the LGUs. - The LGUs are hereby mandated to develop and 
institutionalize an emergency medical service system within their area of jurisdiction. 
The Council shall include in its programs, activities that will support and enable the 
LGUs to accomplish such task.
SEC. 22. Enforcement o f the Emergency Medical Services System. - The
DILG, including all relevant agencies, instrumentalities, offices or bureaus of the 
government that are involved in the enforcement of emergency medical services, are 
hereby mandated to render its utmost support for the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 23. Appropriations. - The heads o f agencies concerned shall include in 
their programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 24. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. - Except as otherwise provided, 
the Council, in coordination with the NTC, the TESDA, and the DOH, shall issue and 
promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within


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one hundred twenty (120) days upon constitution of the Council.
SEC. 25. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this 
Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, 
invalidate or impact any other part of this Act.
SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules or 
regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or 
modified accordingly.
SEC. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette ox in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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