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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6473

HOUSE BILL NO, ___

Introduced by HON. RENE LOPEZ RELAMPAGOS
1 District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article IT (Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of the 1987
Constitution of the Philippines specifically states that: “The State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”
‘This is discussed under Article XIII, Sections 11 to 13, as an aspect of social justice. (See
also [V RECORD of the Constitutional Commission of 1986 904-909, 912-916) ‘The
Philippines is party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Alma
Declaration of 1978 which recognize health as a fundamental human right. Health is
defined as the state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity.(II RECORD of the Constitutional Commission at
119)

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines specifically
provides: “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. There shall be priority for the
needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State
shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” The key concepts on this
section are “integrated and comprehensive” and “affordable.” Integration connotes a
unified health delivery system, a combination of public and private sector, and a blend
of western medicine and traditional health care modalities. _Comprehensiven
includes health promotion, disease prevention, education, and planning. These
premised on the understanding that the high level of health of a people and of a country
can be achieved only through a combination of social, economic, political and cultural
conditions. (Id at 119-120)

Free medical care should be extended to paupers, a concept which means those
who have no source of livelihood, or, even if they have sources of livelihood, live a hand-
to-mouth existence. (II RECORD 718) It should be noted that, although the right to
health should be enjoyed by all, Sections 11 to 13 of Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution
of the Philippines express a clear bias for the underprivileged. (Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.,
‘The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines: A Commentary 2009 ed.)

‘The Bohol Provincial Hospital was constructed under Act No. 3114 and was
officially opened on October 19, 1929. It was designated as a Regional Teaching and
‘Training Hospital for Region VII pursuant to Administrative Order No. 38, series of
1980 by the Ministry of Health. It was then renamed from Bohol Provincial Hospital to
Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) in 1984 per Batas Pambansa
Big. 640.

The GCGMH started with an eight (8) bed capacity when it opened in 1929
Later, to accommodate the increasing number of patients in Tagbilaran City and in the
neighboring, municipalities, the bed capacity was increased to one hundred fifty (150),



then to two (200) and finally to two hundred twenty five (225) beds under Republic Act
No. 7266 which was enacted on March 20, 1992.

After more than twenty (20) years, there has been no increase in bed capacity
despite the rapid population growth in Tagbilaran City and in the Province of Bohol.
With the said population growth of the city and the province, along with the increase in
number of patients, there are instances that patients in GCGMIH have to share beds.
This gave rise to lot of diseases and medical problems closely associated with
tion, which naturally cause the continuing increase in the number of indigent
patients needing medical treatment at the GCGMH. It is not difficult to imagine that a
considerable number of patients are not accommodated at once and many have to wait
for their turn due to lack of available bed space in GCGMH.

‘Together with the filing of this bill to increase the bed capacity of GCGMH is the
upgrading of medical facilities and equipment. Statistical records show that the number
of patients needing higher level of radiologic examination results is increasing due to the
apparent number of victims from vehicular accidents. Based on case study reports for
the last five (5) years, transport accident is one of the top ten (10) causes of mortality
and morbidity.

In the Surgical Department of GCGMH, more state of the art equipment have to
be acquired to meet the standard requirement for quality patient care in a level four (4)
hospital like the GCGMH. Being a regional hospital for Region 7, it is aiming for a
quality medical service not only to the Boholanos but to the whole Visayas Region.

‘The hospital has now grown up tremendously after 83 years of serving the sick
Boholano people. Number of major services has increased from three (3) to four (4) to
meet the needs of the patients.

bill seeks to increase the bed capacity of Governor Celestino Gallares
‘pital (GCGMH) in Tagbilaran City, Province of Bohol from two hundred
) to four hundred ten (410) beds, amending for the purpose Republic

Memorial H.
twenty five (
Act 7266.

In the light of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is strongly
recommended.

(
RENE He RELAMPAGOS


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

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS.
‘Third Regular Session

Anz
nous sino. 9473
Introduced by HON, RENE LOPEZ RELAMPAGOS,

1 District, Bohol

AN ACT
INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF GOVERNOR CELESTINO GALLARES
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (GCGMH) IN TAGBILARAN CITY, PROVINCE OF
BOHOL FROM TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE (225) TO FOUR HUNDRED.
N (410) BEDS, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS MEDICAL
UPGRADING IT RVICES, FACILITIES AND
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7266 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Increase in Authorized Bed Capacity. — The authorized bed
capacity of Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH) is hereby
increased from two hundred twenty five (225) to four hundred ten (410) beds, amending
for the purpose Republic Act No.

2. Increase of Manpower Requirement. ~ The existing manpower
requirement of GCGMH is correspondingly increased to conform with Section 1 hereof
‘The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall determine and
approve the additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up upon prior
consultation and recommendation by the

3. Upgrade of and
Prot onal Health Care Servic — The existing service facilities and
professional health care services of the GCGMH are hereby upgraded to conform with
and be commensurate to the increase in authorized bed capacity as provided in Section 1
hereof. ‘The GCGMH shall submit to the DOH its proposed development plan and the
additional clinical departments and special units it requires to meet the increased
authorized bed capacity.

Ss 4. Period of Implementation. — The increase in authorized bed
capacity from two hundred twenty five (225) to four hundred ten (410) beds shall be
implemented for a period of not more than five (5) years from the approval of this Act.

SEC. Implementation and Appropriation. — The Secretary of Ilealth
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.  Effectivity Clause. — 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,