Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4904

Introduced by: HON. SALVIO B. FORTUNO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Constitution explicitly provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to
health of every Filipino and shall instill health consciousness among them.

In pursuance of these expressed Constitutional mandates, the government shall adopt a
system wherein all indigent residents of barangays nationwide shall be given free medicines to
be distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through the
barangay health centers nationwide. The recipients shall be limited only to those who are not
receiving the cash dole outs given by the government through the Conditional Cash Transfer
Program being undertaken by the DSWD.

This situation will not only appease those indigent residents who are excluded from
receiving such cash dole outs for not being qualified under the prescribed guidelines. But this
will effectively provide indigent residents who have been denied access even to basic medicines
by reason of poverty.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
.

ly Lacey
REP. SALVIO B. FORTUNO.
Fifth District, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4904

Introduced by: HON. SALVIO B. FORTUNO.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE BASIC MEDICINES IN ALL BARANGAYS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION L. Short Title.— This Act shall be known as the “Free Basic Medicines Act of 2011”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to put to reality the
mandates to protect and promote the right to health of every Filipino in order to determine how the State
values the sovereign people. Towards this end, the government implements a system of distributing free
basic medicines to indigent residents of all barangays nationwide.

SEC. 3. Distribution of Free Medicines. ~ There shall be distributed free basic medicines to
indigent barangay residents to be undertaken by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) through barangay health centers: Provided, however, That those who are recipients of the
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program by the DSWD shall not be covered by this Act.

SEC. 4, Definition. — As used in this Act, the term indigent residents shall refer to those who
have no visible means of income and those whose family income shall not exceed fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00).

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DSWD, in coordination with the Liga ng
mga Barangay, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations that will provide a system of
distribution that all beneficiaries shall not be deprived of the benefits under this Act.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be charged against
the annual appropriations of the DSWD.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in any
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,