Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN of the Lone District of Basilan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State recognizes and guarantees the human rights of all persons 
including their right to health which includes access to adequate health care 
facilities and services. In particular, the 1987 Constitution, Article II, Section 
15 states that “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them." Further, Article XIII, 
Section 11 of the Constitution states that “The State shall 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.” 
The COVID-19 pandemic currently presents an unprecedented 
challenge to the country’s public healthcare system. In Basilan, there are 
currently six (6) hospitals – four (4) in Isabela City and two (2) in Lamitan City 
– but all remain as Level 1 hospitals and with limited capability to treat
critically-ill patients. These hospitals refer those critically ill to fully equipped 
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hospitals such as the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), which is only 
accessible via sea transfer.  
Basilan General Hospital (BGH) is the only DOH retained hospital in 
the island province of Basilan.  BGH is a 100-bed capacity hospital through 
Republic Act No. 8453 otherwise known as “An Act Converting the Basilan 
Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Isabela, Province of Basilan, into a 
Tertiary Hospital under the full administrative technical supervision of the 
Department of Health, increasing its capacity to one hundred (100) beds.” The 
law was passed in 1998.  
Currently, BGH is operating below its authorized bed capacity. Despite 
the limitation, BGH has provided healthcare to people in need. They cater to 
hundreds of patients, especially before the onslaught of the COVID-19 
pandemic.  
The bill therefore seeks the expansion of Basilan General Hospital into 
a tertiary level hospital to be known as the Basilan Medical Center (BMC). The 
BMC is envisioned as a premier hospital with modern facilities and state-of-
the-science medical equipment and technology providing comprehensive, 
quality, and affordable service through its highly skilled and competent 
healthcare professionals and staff.  
With this measure, we endeavor to bring quality healthcare services 
closer not just to the Basileños but also to the whole of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-
Tawi (BASULTA) region as part of further strengthening our frontlines against 
the COVID-19 pandemic. 


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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN 
Lone District of Basilan  


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by HON. MUJIV S. HATAMAN of the Lone District of Basilan 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE BASILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL INTO A TERTIARY LEVEL 
HOSPITAL KNOWN AS THE BASILAN MEDICAL CENTER, UNDER THE DIRECT 
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH), 
INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY, MODERNIZING ITS SERVICES AND FACILITIES, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Basilan Medical Center 
Act.” 
SEC.  2.  The Basilan General Hospital located in Isabela City, Province of 
Basilan is hereby converted and expanded into a tertiary level hospital to be known 
as Basilan Medical Center (BMC), under the direct supervision and control of the 
Department of Health (DOH).  
The authorized bed capacity of BMC is hereby increased to five hundred 
(500) beds. The increase in bed capacity shall be implemented for a period of two
(2) years from the approval of this Act. Any future increase in bed capacity shall
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be consistent with the hospital development plan and its status as tertiary hospital, 
which shall be prepared by the Medical Center Chief of BMC and submitted to the 
Department of Health (DOH). 
SEC.  3.  The existing professional health care services and facilities shall 
also be upgraded and increased correspondingly to conform with the increase in 
its authorized bed capacity as provided for in Section 2 hereof, consistent with 
the requirements of modern medical services and state-of-the-science equipment 
and technology, as reflected in the hospital development plan and its status as 
tertiary hospital.  
SEC. 4. The existing workforce of the BMC, including doctors, nurses, and 
support personnel, shall also be increased correspondingly, consistent with the 
hospital development plan and its status as tertiary hospital.  
The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and in 
consultation with the Medical Center Chief of BMC, shall determine the 
additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up.  
 
SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the 
Department’s programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the 
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 


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SEC.  7.  All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,