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Republic of the Philippines Ges
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES A RECE IVED
Quezon City = oare: &

TIME.

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS BY:

‘Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No,_ 7018

Introduced by HON. MANUEL F. ZUBIRI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Tourism contributes largely to our gross domestic product, having generated 10.5% of our
gross domestic product in 2015". Given the Department of Tourism's effort and investment
into marketing the Philippines as a palatable destination for both locals and foreigners alike,
the country managed to capitalize on its archipelagic features and tropical climate by
developing the capacity of our beaches, mountains, and caves to accommodate activities
peculiar to their respective locations. Though the sector has managed to considerably
develop, the basic services reducing the risk of accidents, medical or not, have not been
amply provided

Just recently, Karen Davila reported her son figured in an accident in Siargao, incurring
wounds he would not have otherwise suffered had the surfing instructor been accredited by
the Department of Tourism. To add salt to injury, there were no available first aid
personnel, no life guards present, the nearest hospital was 45 minutes away via travel by
vehicle, and there were no vaccines available in the hospital for tetanus, a common health
risk in coral-laden beaches. Her child — a special needs child at that — had to endure an
hour without medical attention or treatment.

This is not an isolated case. Last year, two Czech nationals drowned in Kayangan Lake” in
Coron. The lake did not have the requisite number of lifeguards, public display signs that
tell visitors do's and don't's, and divers which can form search and rescue teams. Just this
year, another tourist from Hong Kong perished because a boat's propeller fatally hit his
head while he was diving’. These are accidents which may have been mitigated or
prevented if proper protocols were in place and if medical services were readily available

' Villegas, Bernardo, “Tourism: Next engine of growth", Manila Bulletin,
http://2016.mb,com,ph/2016/05/01/tourism-next-engine-of-growth/, Accessed 2 April 2018
2 Philippine News Agency, “Coron suspends tourism operations in Kayangan Lake”
httos://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/17/coron-suspends-tourism-operations-in-kayangan-lake/,
Accessed 2 April 2018

3 Chiu, Peace, "Hong Kong tourist dies after being hit by boat in dive spot”, South China
Morning Post, http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health
environment/article/2133749/hong-kong-tourist-dies-after-being-hit-boat-while, Accessed 2
April 2018



within the area. In 2015, a local tourist was pronounced dead on arrival after possibly
having stepped on a stonefish in Coron, Palawan’.

These accidents clearly highlight a need for the (1) stricter enforcement of protocol already
in place and (2) a facility which provides medical services within the proximity of major
tourist spots where tourists are exposed to all kinds of physical and medical risk. A saying
goes: Prevention is better than cure. There are times, however, when risk cannot fully be
prevented either due to negligence or fortuitous event.

A clinic that can treat a full array of common injuries due to accidents will help in providing
immediate medical care especially in activities where risk cannot be eliminated, such as
surfing, diving, spelunking, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, trekking, swimming, etc.
Though barangays have their respective rural health units, these are rarely near tourist
attractions where injuries sought to be prevented usually happen. Nearby clinics will help
provide materials to disinfect any wounds, provide immediate treatment to the injured, and
provide both locals and tourists a facility in case any ut
prove to be advantageous as clinics can store as much asic and necessary materials and

fard incidents occur. This will

medicine to treat injuries commonly occurring in tourisy/spots.

MANUEL F/ ZUBIRI

4 Abadicio, Camille, “Death of tourist in Palawan raises questions on safety”, CNN
Philippines, http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2015/08/20/Coron-Palawan-tourist-death:
Siete-Picados.himl, Accessed 2 April 2018



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative MANUEL F. ZUBIRI

AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT CLINIC FOR EVERY
MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and

promote the right to health and instill health consciousness among them. It is also the policy
of the State to promote a tourism industry that is responsible and favorable to the local and
international communities, strengthening the country's attraction as a tourism destination
and eventually paving the way for other benefits that may result from a global view of the

country.

In line with the policy to protect the people's right to health and to ensure a robust

tourism industry, the State shall make it mandatory for local government units to establish

clinics near major tourist attractions.

mean:

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall

(a) “DILG" shalll refer to the Department of Interior and Local Government;

(b) "DOH" shall refer to the Department of Health;

(c) “DOT” shall refer to the Department of Tourism;

(d) “Emergency Medical Services” shall refer to a network of services coordinated to
provide aid and medical assistance from the scene to the most appropriate and
definitive health facilities, involving personnel trained in stabilization,
transportation, and treatment of trauma or medical cases in the pre-hospital
setting;

(e) “Major tourist attraction” shall refer to a tourist attraction mandated to have a
clinic, as determined by the DOT on the basis of the number of visiting tourists,
the number of accidents and casualties in the tourist attraction, the nature of
activities conducted or hosted in the tourist attraction, and the risk involved in
such activities conducted in the said tourist attraction.

(f) “Tourist attraction” shall refer to a place of interest where tourists visit for its
inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or
built beauty, offering leisure or amusement;


SECTION 3. Establishment of Clinics. - Each city or municipality where a major
tourist attraction is located shall be required to establish a permanent clinic within 500
meters to one kilometer of the major tourist attraction. Such clinics shall provide medical
care peculiar to the risks and injuries which may occur in the major tourist attraction, as well

as emergency medical services.

SECTION 4. Notice. — Each major tourist attraction shall indicate the following
details through signs near its entrance and two conspicuous places:

(a) Directions to the clinic;

(b) Its distance from the clinic;

(c) The contact number of the clinic.
The signs shall be in both the Filipino and English languages.

SECTION 5. Information Dissemination. — The city or municipality where the
major tourist attraction is located shall likewise create an information campaign to ensure
the local and foreign tourists are duly apprised of the location of the clinic.

SECTION 6. Inspection. - The DOT shall conduct an annual inspection to
ascertain whether major tourist attractions comply with the notice requirements and whether
they implement the DOT's prescribed safety and security protocol. It shall also ascertain
whether the city or municipality where the major tourist attraction is located continuously
implements the information campaign relating to the existence of the clinic and the services
offered thereby.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The Secretaries of the DOH, DOT, and the DILG
shall include in their respective Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and from
internally generated funds of the DOH.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH, in consultation
with the DOT and DILG, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement this
Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
memoranda, rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions not affected thereby.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, parts of laws, decrees, presidential
issuances, proclamations, orders, ordinances, and administrative regulations in conflict with
the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.


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SECTION 12. 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,