Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Our health workers have been at the forefront of our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic since 
its onset in March 2020. Despite the challenges brought about by the limitations and weaknesses 
of our healthcare system, medical frontliners rallied and kept working for the service of every 
Filipino. Medical frontliners are our nation’s line of defense against COVID-19 and future public 
health emergencies.  
In recognition of the invaluable service of medical frontliners in the country’s response to public 
health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, this measure seeks to make essential goods, 
health, and other services available to them at a more affordable cost. Considering the hazards, 
they face in the fulfillment of their duties which not only puts their physical well-being at risk but 
also their capacity to provide for themselves and their families, it is only apt that the State ensure 
and look after their welfare. Because public health emergencies largely affect economies, medical 
frontliners must be given some protection to ensure their wellbeing. 
Under this proposed measure, medical frontliners are entitled to a twenty percent (20%) discount 
on goods and services which includes public transport facilities, health services, accommodation 
and dining, and physical fitness facilities.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 22, 2022
8:01 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
GRANTING DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES TO MEDICAL FRONTLINERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This act shall be known as the “Medical Frontliners Discount Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure 
the welfare of medical workers in recognition of their indispensable role in the healthcare system 
of our country, particularly in times of a pandemic or public health emergency. Towards this end, 
the State shall adopt a program to make essential goods, health, and other services available to 
them at an affordable cost.  
The provisions and benefits of this Act shall be given to public and private medical workers who 
are actively engaged in treating patients affected by a pandemic or national health emergency. 
The provisions of this Act shall only apply during a pandemic or public health emergency as 
declared by the National Government.  
SECTION 3. Public Transport Facilities. – All government-owned and controlled corporations 
or private entities, owning, operating, or managing public transport facilities, whether land, sea, 
or air, shall give priority to the medical frontline workers, and provide them with at least twenty-
percent (20%) discount on all transportation fare within the Philippines. 
SECTION 4. Health Services. – Medical frontline workers shall also be entitled to a discount of 
at least twenty percent (20%) on fees or charges for hospital, medical, and dental services 
rendered by public and private medical institutions and practitioners.  
Drugstores and drug companies shall extend to the medical frontline workers a discount of not 
less than twenty percent (20%) on the cost of medicines and supplemental vitamins, as 
prescribed by a registered medical or dental practitioner. 
SECTION 5. Hotels, Lodging Houses, Restaurants, and Eateries. – Medical frontline 
workers shall be granted a minimum discount of twenty percent (20%) on rentals for lodging in 
hotels, motels, inns, pension, or other lodging houses and on the cost of food served in cafes, 
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cafeterias, refreshment parlors, restaurants, soda fountain bars, carinderia, or food caterers, and 
other similar establishments. 
SECTION 7. Physical Fitness Facilities. – Any hospital, gym, or other facility offering physical 
fitness programs shall extend to medical frontline workers at a twenty percent (20%) discount. 
SECTION 8. Limitation on discount privileges and other benefits. – The discount 
privileges and other benefits mentioned in this Act shall apply only to the personal account of the 
public school teacher in payment for services and goods used by him or her. These shall not 
extend to his or her relatives or companions who are not qualified beneficiaries under this Act. 
SECTION 9. Availment. – Medical frontline workers qualified under this act may avail of the 
discount privileges upon presentation of a valid identification card issued by their employer, a 
Professional Regulation Commission Professional ID Card, and a supporting document issued by 
the employer stating that they are engaged in the treatment of patients affected by a pandemic 
or national health emergency.   
SECTION 10. Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Health, in coordination with the 
other concerned government agencies, coordination with other stakeholders, shall issue the rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 11. Penalties. – Any person who refuses to extend the privileges and benefits granted 
under this Act to medical frontliners entitled thereto after request and proper identification of who 
unduly takes advantage of any such privileges or benefits, or who violates any of the rules and 
regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act, shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional or a 
fine of not less than two hundred pesos (PhP 200.00) nor more than six thousand pesos (PhP 
6,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. 
In case the offender is a corporation, cooperative, partnership or association, the penalty shall 
be imposed upon the president, manager, or officers thereof who had knowingly permitted or 
were otherwise responsible for the commission of the offense. If it can be shown that such refusal 
to grant discount privileges is a corporate decision, all the members of the board shall be held 
liable.  
In case of a succeeding offense, the penalties of both imprisonment and fine shall be imposed in 
the maximum period. In addition thereto, such shall be sufficient cause for the immediate 
cancellation of the professional license or permit to operate the business or medical 
establishment.  
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect.  
SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, or rules and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.  
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 


Approved,