CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
2692 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
'15 
I'1AR12 P3:20 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SOCCSKSARGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN 
THE MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF THE SOUTH 
COTABATO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Pursuant to the constitutional mandate of the State to 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, this 
proposed measure seeks to establish the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital in the 
Municipality of Surallah, Province .of South Cotabato to widen access of 4.11 million 
constituents in the region to medical services and modern health facilities. 
The Department of Health in Region XII presently runs the Cotabato Regional and 
Medical Center in Cotabato City but most of its patients come from said City and 
Maguindanao province, which is part of the Autonomous Region in the Muslim 
Mindanao (ARMM). This has meant that patients from most parts of Region XII who 
need special medical attention are brought to Davao City instead of Cotabato City due to 
distance and security concerns, effectively rendering SOCCSKSARGEN with no regional 
health facility of its own. 
A feasibility study provided by the Provincial Health Officer and DOH Center for Health 
Development (CHD) -XII has recommended the establishment of a separate regional 
health facility for Region XII. Economic and public health benefits are likely to proceed 
from the establishment of the Soccsksargen General Hospital, according to the 
feasibility study. Among the expected benefits include reduced morbidity, lower 
mortality and savings in terms of medical expenses in the region. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
F 


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. CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
2692 
S. B. No. _"""-"''-' 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FRANKLIN M. DRILON 
'15 
MAR 12 P3 :20 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE SOCCSKSARGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN 
THE MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF THE SOUTH 
COTABATO, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SEC. 1. SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital Establishment -
The 
SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital in the Municipality of Surallah, Province of South 
Cotabato, is hereby created to serve as the regional health facility of the Department of 
Health in Region XII or the SOCCSK,SARGEN area. 
SEC. 2. 
Establishment 
Plan. 
The 
establishment 
of 
the 
SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital shall be carried out by the Central Office of the 
Department of Health in consultation and coordination with local government officials 
and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). 
SEC. 3. 
Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately 
include in the Department's programs the operationalization of the SOCCSKSARGEN 
Genenil Hospital, the initial funding of which shall be charged against its current year's 
appropriations. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued operation shall be 
included in the annual General ApP'ropriations Act, 
SEC. 4. 
Supplementary Funding. -
The Center for the Health 
Development XII Regional Director and the Chief of the SOCCSKSARGEN General 
Hospital, in coordination with concerned local government units, shall also draw up a 
mechanism for sourcing supplementary funds to augment the operations of the 
SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital. 
SEC. 5. 
IUfectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) national newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,