Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Reynolds Michael T. Tan 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION AND UPGRADE OF CALBIGA 
RURAL HEALTH UNIT INTO A SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN CALBIGA, 
SAMAR, UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Section 15 Article III, declares that “the State 
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them”. Section 11, Article XIII thereof also provides 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 a priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, 
disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to 
paupers.”  
Currently, Samar has seven (7) hospitals, three (3) infirmaries1, and 30 rural health 
units. The hospital bed-to-population ratio is 1:2,514 while the rural health units-to-
population ratio is 1:21,371.2 This is extremely problematic as per the Department of 
Health – to meet the health needs of the population, the current supply of hospital beds 
must increase to 2.7 per 1,000 population.3 Health stations, Rural Health Units (RHUs), 
and Health Centers (HCs) are supposedly the entry points of individuals, families, and 
communities into the health system. In practice, however, patients go directly to hospitals 
and other specialized clinics, resulting in large health system inefficiencies. 
Thus, this bill seeks to rehabilitate, upgrade and convert Calbiga Rural Health Unit 
into a modern Super Health Center that will cater to the medical needs of the residents and 
its neighboring towns. This bill aims to provide a higher standard of care than a regular 
rural health center meant to address the demands of the community considering the ongoing 
public health issues, such as lack of access to better healthcare facilities, and prevent the 
rise in hospital occupancy in regional hospitals.  
REYNOLDS MICHAEL T. TAN 
1 http://ro8.doh.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/HOSPITAL-and-INFIRMARY-REGION-8.pdf 
2 Province of Samar: Social Services. Samar News. https://samar.lgu-ph.com/socialservice.htm Accessed on 
25 October 2022 
3 Department of Health. (2020). Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020- 2040. Manila, Philippines: 
Department of Health. 
https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/publications/DOH_PHILIPPINE%20HEALTH%20FACILITY%20DEVEL
OPMENT%20PLAN%202020_2040_0.pdf 
August 11, 2025
4:00 pm
3474


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Reynolds Michael T. Tan 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION AND UPGRADE OF CALBIGA 
RURAL HEALTH UNIT INTO A SUPER HEALTH CENTER IN CALBIGA, 
SAMAR, UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Calbiga Super Health 
Center Act”. 
SECTION 2. State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right 
to health of all Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. Towards this 
end, the State shall adopt a people-oriented approach to the delivery of health services 
that are centered on people’s needs and well-being. 
SECTION 4. Facilities and Services. - The Super Health Center will have amenities, 
facilities, and services that will cater to basic tests and the primary care needs of the 
residents and its neighboring towns which include, among others, an outpatient 
department, laboratory, x-ray, ultrasound, birthing services, dental, diagnostic, 
pharmacy, and emergency services. 
SECTION 5. Calbiga Super Health Center. - The modernization project of Calbiga 
Rural Health Unit into a Super Health Center shall be under the Department of Health's 
Health Facilities Enhancement Program. 
SECTION 6. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of 
the year of its enactment and every year thereafter. 
SECTION 7. Implementation. - The DOH, in consultation and coordination with other 
concerned agencies, shall formulate, identify, and promulgate the implementing 
guidelines, rules, and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved, 
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