REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City

16" Congress
34 Regular Session

6251

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the Social Justice and Human Rights clause of the 1987 Philippine Constitution,
the persons with disability (PWD) sector was identified as one of the groups entitled to
prioritization in health development. It reads:

‘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.

This constitutional provision is further enshrined in Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7277,
otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability”, which secures the
PWDs’ rights to essential health services, including duties by the State to provide
preventive measures and medical treatment.

The results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing showed that there are
1,442,586 PWDs in the country, representing 1.53% of the Philippine population. And
while the Philippines has become home to PWD heroes and leaders, more needs to be done
to ensure that the PWDs’ right to health is protected, promoted, and prioritized.

This bill seeks the mandatory enrollment of all PWDs in the National Health
Insurance Program. As a consequence, all funds necessary in carrying out the
implementation of this proposal shall be sourced from the sin tax collections, in accordance
with the National Revenue Code, as amended by R.A. 10351.

This representation, including the bill’s proponent from the Senate, Senator Ralph G.
Recto, earnestly seeks the speedy passage of the bill.

FREBO D. VARGAS III


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City

16" Congress
34 Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __ 62 51

Introduced by Congressman Alfredo D. Vargas III

AN ACT
GRANTING MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE TO ALL PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY (PWDs), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY", PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Philhealth
Coverage for All PWDs Act of 2015”.

Sec. 2. A new section is hereby added after Section 18 under “Chapter III. HEALTH”
of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Persons
with Disability” to read as follows:

“SEC. 19. MANDATORY PHILHEALTH COVERAGE. - ALL PERSONS WITH
DISABILITY SHALL BE COVERED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM OF PHILHEALTH. FUNDS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE
ENROLLMENT OF ALL PWDS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER
ANY EXISTING CATEGORY SHALL BE SOURCED FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH
INSURANCE FUND OF PHILHEALTH EARMARKED FROM THE PROCEEDS OF SIN
TAX COLLECTIONS AS PROVIDED FOR IN REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10351.”

Sec. 3. The succeeding sections of Republic Act No. 7277, as amended, are hereby
renumbered accordingly.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
shall promulgate, not later than thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the
necessary rules and regulations for its proper and effective implementation.


Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,