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Republic of the Philippines s2ECENVED

House of Representatives ,.... 16 UG 2018
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SEVENTEENTH CON RESS., ev:
First Regular Session

ATION UNIT

HOUSE BILL NO. _ aber § AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The unprecedented drop in the prevalence of leprosy in the country
necessitated the reassessment of all sanitaria by the Department of Health. This
paved way for the conception of the Sanitaria Conversion Plan as part of the DOH
Hospital Upgrading Program. After a series of consultations, the DOH ordered the
expansion of the legal mandates of all existing sanitaria, including that of the Bicol
Sanitarium

Following a steady increase in the number of elderly patients that it caters to,
the conversion and expansion of Bicol Sanitarium intends to specialize in the care of
the adult and ageing population, specifically Geriatric Medicines, the first of its kind in
Philippine public health service.

In order to provide an integrated and comprehensive approach to the health
development of the elderly, it is imperative for the Bicol Sanitarium to secure a
mandate that will convert the sanitarium and expand its services. Through this
measure, the Bicol Sanitarium will be converted and expanded into the Bicol
Regional Geriatric Medical Center (BRGMC) which aims to offer quality, affordable,
accessible, comprehensive and exceptional geriatric healthcare, including health
services to other members of the population.

As a pioneer government medical facility that is dedicated to the care of the
elderly, the BRGMC aims to:


a) administer and operate an integrated medical facility specializing in
services for geriatrics medicine and its sub specialties to complement the
existing leprosy and general clinical care services of Bicol Sanitarium;

b)

pursue excellence in promoting and providing medical, scientific research
and training relative to the diagnosis, care, treatment and rehabilitation of
disease of older persons;

¢

establish a center for research and development in the field of geriatrics
medicine;
d

develop, adopt and implement programs in Geriatric Medicine for
education and training of physicians, nurses, health officers, social
workers and other medical and technical personnel in the practical and
scientific implementation of health services and programs for older
persons; and

e

create and support an environment that encourages holistic approach to
geriatrics health care which shall foster and promote productive ageing.

To give full support to the improvement of the total well-being of the elderly,
immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested

ROLAND |G. ANDAYA, JR.



Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ag”
HOUSE BILL NO. 238?

Introduced by Representative ROLANDO G. ANDAYA, JR.

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE BICOL SANITARIUM IN
THE MUNICIPALITY OF CABUSAO, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR, AND
EXPAND ITS SERVICES TO BECOME THE BICOL REGIONAL GERIATRIC.
MEDICAL CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Bicol Sanitarium
Conversion and Expansion Act.”

SEC. 2. Bicol Regional Geriatric Medical Center. - The Bicol Sanitarium
located in the Municipality of Cabusao, Province of Camarines Sur is hereby
converted and expanded into a geriatric medical center to be known as the Bicol
Regional Geriatric Medical Center (BRGMC).

SEC. 3. Continued Service and Assistance to Leprosy Patients. — The
BRGMC, having the expertise for leprosy treatment and management, shall retain,
maintain and upgrade its Leprosy Management Services until the disease is totally
eradicated.

SEC. 4. Conversion Committee. — There shall be a Conversion Committee,
hereinafter referred to as the Committee, which shall be constituted by the
Department of Health through its Regional Health Office V Director, the Chief of Bicol
Sanitarium, and the Sanitarium’s medical and non-medical personne! through their
legal or duly designated representatives, which shall promulgate the following:



a) Conversion Plan. - The conversion and expansion scheme, including
the proposed timetable for the same, shall be carried out under a conversion plan to
be drawn up by the Committee under the supervision of the Central Office of the
Department of Health.

b) Organizational and Staffing Pattern. — The organizational structure and
staffing pattern of the BRGMC shall be determined by the Committee subject to
evaluation by the Health Human Resource Development Bureau of the Department
of Health, the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and
Management to fully operate its original authorized capacity of a 450-bed facility

SEC. 5. Continued Service and Assistance to General Clinical Care. —
The BRGMC shall continue to support and allow the development and upgrading of
the general clinical services and to support other health facilities by complementing
their services when higher and more sophisticated examination are needed and
available within the institution,

SEC. 6. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. — Facilities, land and buildings,
and equipment acquired by the Bicol Sanitarium, including its present 150 hectare-
land and Bicol Skin Clinic in Legazpi City, as well as its documents, medical and
non-medical records, liabilities and obligations are hereby transferred to the
BRGMC.

SEC. 7. Security of Tenure. — The positions, seniority, security and other
rights of tenure of medical and non-medical personnel of Bicol Sanitarium shall
continue to be honored under the BRGMC.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include
in the Department's programs the operationalization of the BRGMC, the initial
funding of which shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations for Bicol
Sanitarium. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued operation shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Supplementary Funding. — The Department of Health, Regional
Health Office V through its Regional Director and the Medical Center Chief, in
coordination with concerned national and local government units, shall also draw up
mechanism for sourcing supplementary funds to augment the operations of the
BRGMC.



SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain
in full force and effect

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — Alll laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified
accordingly

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in any newspaper of general circulation

Approved,