Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 492

i\TRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill, which was filed during the 16" and 17 Congress, seeks to convert President
Ramon Magsaysay Provincial Hospital which is situated in the Municipality of Iba in the
Province of Zambales into a 300-bed capacity tertiary public hospital to be known as the Ramon
Magsaysay Regional Medical Center and upgrade and modernize the existing facilities of the
said health institution in order that it will become more responsive to the health needs not just of
the people of the Second District of Zambales but also of the entire Region IIL

The present set-up of the said medical facility limits its capacity to effectively and
efficiently provide and address the pressing health concerns of the people of Zambales. It is
common knowledge in the Province of Zambales that when a patient needs medical intervention
or procedure to avert an impending medical crisis, he/she must travel for at least an hour or at
least 60 kilometers to the nearest tertiary hospital. This eats up a large chunk of the patient’s
budget which should instead be intended for his/her medical, surgical or therapeutic
interventions.

Advanced medical and surgical procedures cannot be performed in the existing provincial
hospital because of its limited and dilapidated facilities ~ a fact that deters medical practitioners
from utilizing its facilities and services. The limited financial resource of the provincial
government to respond to the needs of this medical institution is a hindrance to the improvement
and modernization of the said hospital

It is in full cognizance of Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution which
provides that the “State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
health consciousness among them” and Article XIII, Section 11 which states that the state shall
“...endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people

at affordable cost” that this bill is being filed.

CHPRYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA
Re sentative
2™' District, Zambales

Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 492

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF IBA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES INTO THE RAMON
MAGSAYSAY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING
ITS FACILITIES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 Ramon Magsaysay Regional
Medical Center Charter of 2019.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health, instill health consciousness among the people and advance the
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development and research.

SEC. 3. Conversion, Upgrading and Modernization into a Regional Medical Center. —
‘The Ramon Magsaysay Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Iba, Province of Zambales is
hereby converted into a 300-bed capacity, tertiary public hospital to be known as the Ramon
Magsaysay Regional Medical Center and shall hereinafter be referred to as the Medical Center.
‘The Medical Center shall upgrade and modemize its existing equipment and facilities to ensure
that it shall be responsive to the health needs of the people of Region Ill. It shall, likewise,
endeavor to be abreast with the latest available biomedical and research facilities that shall be
made available to patients at minimal cost.

SEC. 4. Scope and Coverage of the Regional Medical Center. — For purposes of this Act,
the scope and coverage of Regional Medical Center shall be the treatment and study of all
cardio-pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, neurologic, endocrinologic, integumentary, musculoskeletal
and other diseases of infectious, non-infectious or autoimmune nature with special attention to
diseases that present differently in this geographical region as compared to other regions.
Provided, That the Department of Health (DOH) may include such other pertinent diseases in
consultation with the Advisory Board that is herein created.

SEC. 5. Organization. - The Regional Medical Center shall be organized as follows:

(a) The Regional Medical Center shall be operated as a special project of the DOH in
Region II. The Secretary of Health shall promulgate policies for and exercise overall
supervision over the Medical Center;

(b) The Medical Center shall be headed by a Medical Director who shall be assisted by
two (2) assistant directors, all of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary of the DOH. The
Medical Director shall be responsible for the implementation of policies and the immediate
management of the programs and operations of the Institute; and


(c) The assistant directors shall assist the Medical Director in the performance of his
operational duties, and shall perform such other functions as may be directed by the Medical
Director. One (1) assistant director shall be tasked to overlook the policy, planning and
monitoring activities of the Institute, while the other shall be responsible for support staff
services.

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions. ~ The Regional Medical Center shall have the following
powers and functions:

(a) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and prevention of diseases that
are major causes of mortality and morbidity in Region III;

(b) Conduct clinical trials aimed at better understanding and control of diseases;

(c) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical personnel in the control
of common diseases not just in the Region but in the country as well;

(d) Provide high-quality tertiary care to both inpatients and outpatients suffering from
tropical diseases included within the scope of the Institute’s research activities;

(e) Participate in technical cooperation program in coordination with the DOH’s
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in research activities in the diagnosis, control and
prevention of tropical diseases;

(8) Apply for, receive and accept bequests, grants and donation of funds, equipment,
materials and services needed for the attainment of its objectives; and

(g) Perform such other related activities as may be assigned by the DOH.

SEC. 7. Personnel. — The Regional Medical Center shall have its technical and
administrative support. The officers and employees of the Medical Center shall be appointed by
the Secretary of Health, upon recommendation of the Advisory Board, in accordance with
existing laws governing such. Consultants may be drawn from the public and private sectors on
consultancy or contractual basis and shall be granted honoraria or allowances at such amounts as
may be determined in accordance with existing rules and regulations.

SEC. 8. Advisory Board. ~ There shall be in the Medical Center an Advisory Board to be
administered under the direction of the Secretary of Health to be composed of the following
officials or their duly designated representatives:

(a) The Secretary of the DOH or the duly designated representative;

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology or the duly designated
representative;

(c) The Medical Director of the Medical Center;

(d) One (1) representative from the association of medical research organizations to be
appointed by the Secretary of Health; and

(e) One (1) representative from the Philippine Medical Association.
The functions of the Advisory Board shall be:

(1) Formulate and recommend to the Secretary of Health policies, programs, standards
and guidelines for the effective and efficient operation of the Medical Center;

(2) Review, endorse and recommend to the Secretary of Health the annual budget plan;


(3) Advise the Medical Center on the creation and implementation of its vision and
missions;

(4) Report annually to the Secretary of Health on its activities and, whenever necessary,
make recommendations in relation to the performance of the Medical Center; and

(5) Recommend to the Secretary of Health the appointments of officers, personnel and
consultants of the Medical Center.

SEC. 9. Biomedical Research Functions. - The functions of the Medical Center
involving biomedical research will be undertaken together with applicable appropriations,
records, equipment, property and such personnel as may be necessary. Provided, that, the
conduct of any biomedical research in the Medical Center shall be upon the approval of an ethics
review committee created for the purpose.

SEC. 10. Funding. — The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the
Department’s appropriation funds necessary for the implementation of this Act which shall be
charged against the current year’s unappropriated balance of the Department of Health. An
appropriation of one hundred million pesos (P100,000,000.00) shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act of the year succeeding the implementation of this Act and fifty million pesos
(P50,000,000.00) thereafter for four (4) years or until the provisions of this Act are fully
implemented is hereby set aside for the purpose of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary for
the continued operation of the Ramon Magsaysay Regional Medical Center shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act of the Republic of the Philippines.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause — Batas Pambansa No. 78 and other related laws are hereby
amended, modified or repealed accordingly

SEC. 12. Separability Clause — If any provision of this Act may be declared invalid or
inoperable, the remaining provision hereof that are not affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,