XEPRESENTATIVES

=

' RECENTO
Republic of the Philippines, => 2.8 JUL 2016
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES =
Quezon City [anc SAM
Seventeenth Congress ey

First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No. 1869

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by HON. FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ

This bill which was introduced during the 16th Congress seeks to establish the
SOCCSKSARGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL in the Municipality of Surallah, South Cotabato to
improve access to medical services and a modern health facility for the 4.11 million Filipinos in
Regional XII

During the deliberations and subsequent approval of the bill by both houses of the previous
Congress, it was reported that DOH Region XII presently runs the Cotabato Regional and Medical
Center in Cotabato City where most of its patients come from Cotabato 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 Socesksargen 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. Moreover, by virtue of Executive Order No. 304 which was promulgated
in 2004, which declared Koronadal City as the seat of administration of Region XII, a legal basis
for pressing the need to establish a regional health facility in the Province of South Cotabato has
since become existent for the past twelve (12) years.

Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution provides that the “State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach 0 health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.”
Thus, in consideration of the foregoing reasons, | enjoin all my honorable colleagues from the 17"
Congress to help realize this Constitutional mandate for millions of the Filipinos in Region XII
with a prompt consideration and approval of this measure.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

1869

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Honorable Ferdinand L. Hernandez

ANACT
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:

SECTION 1. There shall be established a general hospital in the Municipality of Surallah,
Province of South Cotabato, to be known as the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital.

SEC. 2. The Department of Health (DOH) in consultation and coordination with local
government officials concerned and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 3. The provincial government of South Cotabato shall provide funding for the
establishment of the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital in the Municipality of Surallah, South
Cotabato. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's programs, subsidy support for
the capital outlay requirements of the said general hospital

SEC. 4. The DOH Regional Director of the Center for Health Development, Region XII,
and the Chief of the SOCCCSKSARGEN General Hospital, in coordination with the concerned
local government units, shall also draw up a mechanism for sourcing supplementary funds to
augment its operations.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette
or in a national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,