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Republic of the Philippines  
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The COVID-19 pandemic and recent public health emergencies have exposed critical 
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gaps in the country’s health workforce, particularly during times of crisis and surge demand. 
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Hospitals and local health facilities were overwhelmed, and many communities faced delayed 
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or insufficient medical assistance due to the lack of readily deployable, trained personnel. 
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This bill seeks to address these challenges by creating the Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team (HEART) under the Department of Health (DOH). The HEART will serve 
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as a national reserve of licensed health professionals, allied health workers, graduates, and 
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trained volunteers who can be mobilized swiftly in times of disasters, health crises, or public 
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health emergencies. 
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The measure establishes a HEART Board, mobilization mechanisms, and training 
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systems; provides for insurance, legal protection, and reasonable allowances for volunteers; 
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and mandates coordination with local government units and relevant agencies to ensure rapid 
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deployment and efficient response. 
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By institutionalizing HEART, this Act strengthens the country’s health emergency 
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preparedness, promotes volunteerism and bayanihan, and ensures that every Filipino has 
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access to timely and adequate health care when emergencies strike. 
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In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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      REP. JERNIE JETT V. NISAY 
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      Pusong Pinoy Partylist 
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September 10, 2025
3:58 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
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House of Representatives 
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Quezon City 
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
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First Regular Session 
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House Bill No. __________ 
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Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay 
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AN ACT 
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CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY REINFORCEMENT TEAM 
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UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS  
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THEREFOR 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team (HEART)” Act. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution enjoins the State to 
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protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
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them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive 
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approach to health development. The State further reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable 
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Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives 
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and promote the well-being of Filipinos at all ages. 
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The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented 
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professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the capacity to meet surges in 
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the demand for additional manpower in the country’s healthcare system and provide assistance 
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as needed in times of health crises. 
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Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to: 
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a. Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas by maintaining a 
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strong and resilient healthcare system at all times that will immediately, efficiently, and 
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effectively address all potential and actual public health emergencies; and 
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b. Promote the spirit of “Bayanihan” and enhance the capacity of the nation to expand its 
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human health resources in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health 
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threats of both national and local scale through the mobilization of the Health Emergency 
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Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the delivery of 
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health or related services such as the identification, evaluation and prevention of 
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diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and rehabilitation and health 
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systems management. Allied health professionals, shall include, among others, dental 
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hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, 
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occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and 
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speech language pathologists; 
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b. Bayanihan refers to the value of communal unity through helping others to achieve a 
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certain goal without expecting anything in return; 
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c. Deployment refers to the actual movement of workforce to the assigned area within a 
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prescribed period; 
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d. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team refers to a group of individual 
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volunteers who are in the field of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and other allied 
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health-related fields who are ready to be deployed to complement the health workforce 
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in the event of a public health emergency and health threat; 
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e. Health threat refers to a condition, agent, or incident that greatly impacts the health that 
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leads to disease, accident, injury, and loss of life; 
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f. Mobilization refers to the process and procedures for activating, assembling, and 
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transporting the needed health workforce to respond to a public health emergency and 
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health threat; 
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g. Mobilization center refers to the establishment where the Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team shall report upon receipt of the order for mobilization, coordinate 
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their mission order and mobilization-related issues and concerns, and submit their report 
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upon receipt of the order for demobilization; 
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h. Public health emergency refers to an occurrence that poses an imminent threat of an 
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illness or health condition as defined in Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as 
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Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern 
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Act, that: 
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1. Is caused by any of the following: 
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i. Bio terrorism; 
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ii. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or 
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biological toxin;  
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iii. A natural disaster;  
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iv. A chemical attack or accidental release; 
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v. A nuclear attack or accident; or 
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vi. An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and 
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2. Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
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i. A large number of deaths in the affected population;  
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ii. A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the affected   population;  
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iii. Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant  
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risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the affected population;  
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iv. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant  risk 
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to the health of citizens; or  
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v. Trade and travel restrictions 
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     i. Volunteers refer to those who freely register to be members of the HEART. 
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SEC. 4. Scope. – This Act provides for the organization of the Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team, hereinafter referred to as the HEART, the development of policies, plans, 
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guidelines, and the implementation of actions pertaining to the mobilization, services, and 
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protection of the HEART in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health threats.  
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SEC. 5. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. – There is hereby established a 
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HEART under the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the health workforce in times of 
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disasters, public health emergencies and health threats. The HEART shall be composed of the 
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following individuals who shall voluntarily register with the DOH: 
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a. Licensed professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and other 
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allied health fields including those who are retired and those who are no longer 
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practicing their professions in a health facility setting. All health and allied health 
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professional organizations may be tapped for the engagement of professionals who are 
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not affiliated in any healthcare facility; 
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b. Graduates of medicine and allied health courses and medical students who have 
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completed a one-year medical internship and who have not yet been issued licenses to 
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practice their respective professions, but due to the need for their services may be 
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issued a limited and special authorization to render medical services during public health 
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emergencies or health threats pursuant to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as 
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the  Medical Act of 1959 or as may be amended hereafter; and 
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c. Other health support workforce, including barangay health workers, whose services are 
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necessary in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health threats. 
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SEC. 6. The Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Promotion Program. – 
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There is hereby established the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Promotion 
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Program, which shall refer to the comprehensive set of objectives, targets, strategies and 
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activities for the promotion, recruitment and selection of reserve force of highly skilled and 
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health-oriented professionals and volunteers. 
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It shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern: the provision of initiatives 
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that shall underscore the importance of volunteerism to improve the health and safety of 
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communities; the utilization of medical reserves pool who want to donate their time and 
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expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to support ongoing preparedness 
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initiatives; and the building of partnerships and ensuring the sustainability of the HEART with 
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the end goal of maintaining its capacity to meet surges in the demand for healthcare system 
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and provide assistance in times of public emergencies. 
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SEC. 7. Creation of the HEART Board. - A HEART Board, hereinafter referred to as Board, is 
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hereby created to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of the HEART. It shall be chaired 
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by the Department of Health (DOH) and composed of representatives of the following, as 
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members: 
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a. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
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b. Department of National Defense (DND); 
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c. Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
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d. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC);  
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e. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);  
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f. Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and 
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g. One representative from a non-governmental health professional organization. 
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The members of the Board shall designate a representative, with a rank not lower than Assistant 
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Secretary or its equivalent, to represent their respective offices in the Board: Provided, That the 
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representative must be fully authorized to decide on behalf of the member-agency.  
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The AFP shall designate a representative from the Office of the Surgeon General with a rank 
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not lower than Colonel as its Board representative. 
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The representative from a non-governmental health professional organization shall have a two 
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(2) -year term of office. The Board shall select the representative base on the guidelines it shall 
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promulgate: Provided, That, the non-governmental health organization is national in scope and 
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has a good track record in providing emergency health services.  
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The Board shall establish close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
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Management Council and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency. It 
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may call upon any government office or instrumentality, including government owned or 
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controlled corporations and local government units (LGUs), as necessary. The Board may 
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likewise closely coordinate and collaborate with non-governmental health organizations and the 
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private sector, especially those with actual programs in the delivery of emergency health 
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services. 
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SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall have the following powers 
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and functions: 
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a) Define and develop the organization, management, mobilization, demobilization, and  
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reporting mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for the HEART; 
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b) Oversee the effective and efficient functioning of the HEART in responding to public 
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health emergencies and health threats; 
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c) Coordinate with concerned national government agencies and other stakeholders in  
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responding to public health emergencies and health threats; and 
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d) Conduct regular meetings every quarter or as often as may be necessary in times of 
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disasters, during public health emergencies or in the occurrence of health threats. 
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SEC. 9. Creation of a HEART Unit. – A HEART Unit shall be created by the DOH which shall 
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serve as the secretariat of the Board. It shall oversee program implementation, including the 
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maintenance of the database or information system of the HEART. 
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The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the HEART unit 
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subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 
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and in accordance with the civil service laws, rules and regulations. 
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The regional counterparts of the HEART Unit shall likewise be allocated additional staff and 
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personnel to ensure the grassroots implementation of this Act. 
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All LGUs shall ensure that a HEART Unit shall be operationalized under their respective Local 
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Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which shall act as mobilization centers in 
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times of disasters, public health emergencies or health threats. 
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SEC. 10. Registration and Training. – The Board shall prescribe a comprehensive guideline 
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for the recruitment and selection of a HEART volunteer. The Board shall also prescribe a 
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training program through written, practical, and simulation activities on various aspects of health 
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emergency management and response in different health emergency scenarios. To this end, 
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all volunteers must undergo: 
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(a) Basic training on disaster and health emergency response; and  
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(b) Skill enhancement activities with relevant agencies in the both public and private sector. 
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Completion of the basic training or acceptable substitute or equivalent certification shall be a 
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requisite for admission to the HEART. 
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SEC. 11. Registry and Accounting of Members. – HEART Volunteers shall be issued with 
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individual registration numbers which shall serve as their identification during deployment. 
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A registry or database that contains the names of the volunteers, their registration numbers, 
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address, contact details and other personal information as may be necessary, shall be 
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maintained and regularly updated in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known 
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as the Data Privacy Act.  
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The HEART registry or database shall be integrated or linked to existing registries such as the 
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National Health Workforce Registry pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as 
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Universal Health Care Act, Section 25 (c).  
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All volunteers covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and contact details  
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on file through the registry system or database as necessary. 
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SEC. 12. Mobilization. – The Board shall approve the prompt mobilization of the HEART upon 
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receipt of a request from municipal and city mayors and provincial governors in connection with 
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a public health emergency, threats to public health, or a disaster, whether of local or national 
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scale. The HEART may be mobilized partially or in full, as may be necessary. 
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The Board shall promulgate a mechanism that shall ensure efficient implementation of  
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deployment, assignment areas, deployment periods, how deployment orders are 
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communicated to each volunteer, and to which mobilization center the volunteers will report 
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taking into consideration Section 13 on “Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster 
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Volunteers and National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, and the Private Sector” of Republic 
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Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
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Act of 2010. 
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SEC. 13. Deployment Order. – The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of 
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the HEART Board through a resolution, may order the nationwide mobilization of the HEART 
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to augment the health workforce in case of a declaration of a state of public health emergency, 
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state of calamity, and other threats to public health. 
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Orders of deployment sent to the volunteers’ addresses and through the contact details on file 
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in the registry system or database shall be sufficient notice for purposes of deployment. 
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SEC. 14. Mobilization Centers - Mobilization Centers shall be established in each province as 
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needed where volunteers shall report to once deployment is ordered.  
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A mobilization center may be any establishment that can adequately house the volunteers, their 
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equipment and supplies during the period of deployment, including a multi-purpose hall, 
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gymnasium, and other similar structures.  
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The Board shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the location of the 
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mobilization centers. The concerned municipal and city mayors and provincial governors shall 
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disseminate information on the location of mobilization centers to the widest extent possible. 
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SEC. 16. Incentives. - In recognition and appreciation of the HEART volunteers’ service 
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rendered during the period of actual mobilization, implementing agencies may provide 
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volunteers with an allowance as may be determined by the Department of Health (DOH), in 
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coordination with Department of Budget and Management, subject to availability of funds, and 
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other existing civil service, budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. 
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Act, shall be construed as creating an employer-
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employee relationship between the government and HEART volunteers. 
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SEC. 17. Legal Liability. - No volunteer shall be held liable for the death or injury to any person 
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or for the loss of, or damage to the property of any person where such death, injury, loss, or 
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damage was proximately caused by the circumstance of an actual public health emergency or 
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its subsequent conditions.  
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This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages because of gross negligence,  
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recklessness, or willful misconduct. 
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SEC. 18. Public Health Emergency Insurance. - The DOH is mandated to secure an 
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insurance policy that would insure HEART volunteers from injury, death, damage to, or loss of 
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property, and for any legal liability asserted against or incurred by the volunteer arising from the 
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lawful performance of his duty.  
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SEC. 19. Termination of Deployment or Demobilization. - Upon the declaration of the 
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President, or as determined by the Board that the need for the HEART is no longer necessary, 
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or upon the expiration of the deployment or end of mission there being no approved extension 
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thereof, volunteers who are deployed pursuant to the declaration of a public calamity, a public 
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health emergency or health threat shall be discharged from the performance of HEART duties. 
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Upon order of the demobilization of the HEART, the deployed volunteers shall be reverted to 
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inactive status. Mobilization Centers shall ensure reports on the mission are duly submitted and 
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the certificate of services rendered pertaining to the deployment are promptly issued. 
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SEC. 20. Annual Report. - The HEART Unit shall prepare and submit an annual report to the 
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Office of the President, through the DOH Secretary, containing the list of accomplishments, 
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status of the operations and program implementation of the HEART. 
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SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall 
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be charged against the available funds of the implementing agencies comprising the HEART 
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Board. Thereafter, the funding shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the annual 
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General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of 
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this Act, the HEART Board shall, in consultation with other stakeholders, promulgate the 
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necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
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invalid, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected thereby. 
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SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other issuances, 
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or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 25. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
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the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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