TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. 962
■ 
iBftUP O; tl!-’
25 AUG-5 P4:26
RECEu'cD S'.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE 
THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The global health crisis caused by the novel Coronavirus underscored the 
importance of a fully functioning and efficient health infrastructure, ready to respond 
to public emergencies and attend to a surge of medical concerns. To ensure that the 
population from the urban centers all the way to remote areas has access to quality 
health services, it is imperative that the existing health facilities are modernized and 
fully equipped to serve the requirements of the New Normal.
According to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, "The health system 
is characterized by an inadequate and inequitable access to health facilities. While the 
country has a total capacity of 109,346 hospital beds in 2021, this translates to about 
one bed only per 1,000 population. As of October 2021, only 68 percent of barangays 
are covered by a rural health unit and health center as opposed to DOH's target of 80 
percent. As reported in the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) 2020- 
2040, only 50 percent of Filipinos in 2020 have access to frontline health facilities, i.e., 
within 30 minutes of travel time."1
1 Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 - Philippine Development Plan
1


An article of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) indicated 
that "the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a ratio of 20 hospitai beds 
per 10,000 people, which equates to 2 beds per 1,000 people in a country." 
Unfortunately, the ratio in the Philippines is 0.5 per 1,000.2
This measure aims to rationalize the distribution of capacity and capability of 
health facilities. This bill contains provisions to align all adjustments in bed capacity 
and service capability of each Department of Health (DOH) hospital with the Philippine 
Health Facility Development Plan. This legislation intends to accelerate the much 
needed reforms in the public health sector by empowering the DOH to implement 
expansion and upgrading of hospitals and health facilities under its jurisdiction.
In view of strengthening the delivery of public health services, the immediate 
passage of this bill is recommended.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
PIPS - Philippine Institute for Development Studies


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of !i';'
)
SENATE
S. No. 962
25 AUG-5 P4:26
RfCEr'.'LD EV
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) TO SET AND APPROVE 
THE BED CAPACITY AND SERVICE CAPABILITY OF ALL DOH HOSPITALS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "DOH Hospital Bed
2 
Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act.
3 
Sec. 2. Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. - This Act shall streamline the process
4 
for approving changes in the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service
5 
capabilities of all Department of Health (DOH) hospitals.
6 
Sec. 3. Authority to Approve. - The DOH is hereby authorized to adjust and
7 
approve the authorized bed capacities and corresponding service capabilities of
8 
hospitals under its supervision and control, taking into consideration the development
9 
plans of the hospitals, catchment population, burden of disease, availability of human
10 
resources, health care provider network, and other standards to be determined by the
11 
DOH. The DOH shall, through an administrative issuance, determine the bed
12 
capacities and service capabilities of DOH hospitals, subject to specific guidelines that
13 
shall be issued and promulgated, within three (3) months upon the effectivity of this
14 
Act.
15 
Sec. 4. Annual Report to Congress. — The DOH shall provide Congress, through
16 
the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives and the Committee on


1 
Health and Demography of the Senate, and annual report on hospitals with approved
2 
bed capacities, along with the necessary funding requirements.
3 
Sec. 5.Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP). — The DOH shall
4 
develop the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFDP) to guide the
5 
modernization and development plans of all government health facilities, and in order
6 
to access capital outlay investment through the Health Facilities Enhancement
7 
Program (HFEP) of the DOH and other national government capital outlay investment
8 
mechanisms.
9 
The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs the funding
10 
requirements for the adjustment in bed capacity and service capability of each DOH
11 
hospital in accordance with the PHFDP and the hospital's modernization and
12 
development plan, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
13 
Appropriations Act.
14 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DOH shall formulate
15 
the IRR of this Act within ninety (90) days upon its effectivity.
16 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
17 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
18 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
19 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
20 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
21 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
22 
accordingly.
23 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
24 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,