Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BIDLNO. 7144

Introduced by Representative CIRIACO B. GATO, JR., MD, FPSO-HNS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Those who serve in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) have been called ‘People Giving
Hope,” and indeed, since its establishment in 1907, the PGH has been a beacon of hope to
Filipino patients, especially the indigents. But despite its significant contributions to healthcare,
the PGH is constantly challenged in the provision of essential health services due to lack of
funding. Today, it serves 600,000 patients annually even under adverse conditions such as a
limited bed capacity - 1,100 public beds and 400 private beds - inadequate manpower, and lack
of facilities.

As the PGH remains committed to provide accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to the
Filipino people, it needs the government’s support to undertake a sustained and more
comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization program which includes state-of-the-art medical
equipment, the renovation and expansion of facilities, and advancements in healthcare delivery
and trainings.

Thus, this proposed legislation seeks to ensure that sufficient funding will be received by the
hospital through the creation of the PGH Rehabilitation and Modernization Fund (PRMF) to
fully finance the wide range of health services that it provides.

As the ‘Ospital ng Bayan’ and the country’s premiere training hospital, the government should
extend to the PGH all possible support towards its rehabilitation and modernization to ensure the
delivery of basic social service to the people

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought

CIRIACO B. GATO, JR., MD, FPSO-HNS

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BitLNo, 7144

Introduced by Representative CIRIACO B. GATO, JR., MD, FPSO-HNS

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE REHABILITATION AND MODERNIZATION
OF PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL (PGH), CREATING THE PGH
REHABILITATION AND MODERNIZATION FUND, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION. 1. Title - This Act shall be known as “The PGH Rehabilitation and
Modernization Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — it is hereby declared a policy of the State to modernize the
health care delivery system to a level where it can fully and effectively perform its constitutional
mandate to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.

Towards this end, the State shall undertake the rehabilitation and modernization of Philippine
General Hospital

SEC. 3. Objective. - There shall be established a comprehensive and continuing PGH
Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, hereinafter referred to as the “Program” which shall
have the following objectives:

a)

Establish a modernized and sustainable PGH that can adapt to constantly changing public

health landscape and the needs of the health care sector;

b) provide high quality tertiary hospital services that respond to these changing needs;

©) ensure accountability and transparency in management practices;

d) provide greater awareness by the public of the systems being offered by PGH through
various programs and projects and other related information;

upgrade, modernize, acquire, and procure state-of-the-art medical equipment, the latest

model of clinical apparatus, instruments, the renovation and modernization of its facilities

©)

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and the application of the new technologies to improve the hospital's capabilities in
providing timely and reliable medical services for its patients.

£) improve working conditions of hospital staff with emphasis on their safety and well-
being

SEC. 4. Program Description - The modernization program under this Act shall principally be
an upgrading of the PGH with modern equipment and facilities and strengthening its workforce,
including but not limited to, procurement of the latest and most up-to- date medical instruments,
tools and apparatus; construction and/or repair of major areas such as the emergency room,
patient rooms and wards, operating and delivery rooms, lavatory areas and comfort rooms,
waiting areas, and other physical facilities; repair and repainting of PGH buildings and its
environment; hiring of additional personnel with permanent positions; and regularization of
contractual and job order employees.

SEC. 5. The PGH Rehabilitation and Modernization Council. - There is hereby created a
Council to be known as PHG Rehabilitation and Modernization Council (PRMC) which shall be
composed of the following:

The Secretary of Health as its Ex-Officio Chairman;

UP PGH Director as Co-Chairman,

Representatives of academic and medical community of UP-PGH as members ; and
other stakeholders as maybe determined by the Council.

Bene

The Council shall formulate and adopt a comprehensive program and guidelines to undertake
rehabilitation and improvement of PGH, which includes inventory of deficiencies in its hospital
materials, equipment, furniture, and fixtures.

SEC. 6. The PGH Rehal

itation and Modernization Fund. —

There is hereby created the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Rehabilitation and Modernization
Fund which shall be used exclusively to fund the modernization program provided under this
Act.

In addition to the regular appropriations and increases for the hospital under the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA), the national government is hereby mandated to allocate and
appropriate One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) which shall comprise the said fund, and
which thereafter include whatever funds maybe made available from.

Provided, that all unexpended funds, after the completion of the work and/or procurement
authorized for each fiscal year, shall at once revert to the National Treasury to the credit of the
appropriation provided for under this Act and shall not be withdrawn from it nor expended
except for the purpose indicated herein,

Such unexpended balance for any fiscal year shall be added to the appropriation for the next
fiscal year and expended accordingly.


‘The modernization Fund shall be administered in accordance with government auditing rules and
regulations and procedures.

SEC. 7. Bidding. - Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, funds allocated under
the provision of this Act shall be executed through public bidding in accordance with the existing
government rules and regulations.

SEC. 8. Annual Report. - The Secretary of Health and the Director of the Philippine General
Hospital (PGH) shall submit to the Office of the President and the Congressional Committees on

Health, a quarterly report on the progress of the modernization program for the duration of its
implementation

SEC. 9. Separability. - Should any provision of this Act will be found unconstitutional by a
court of law, such provision shall be severed from the remainder of this Act, and such action
shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,