Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 10
Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,
Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement
Team under the Department of Health and appropriate funds therefor.

Section 15, Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies) of the
1987 Constitution states:

“SEC. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

Further, Section 11, Article XIII (Social Justice and Human Rights) of the
Constitution also provides:

“SI 11. 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. xxx“

Consistent with the above-cited constitutional provisions, this bill aims to
create and organize a quick response team under the Department of Health (DOH)
primarily to augment the health workforce in times of disasters, public health
emergencies and health threats.

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The COVID-19 pandemic was a phenomenal crisis that resulted in a rapid
increase in healthcare needs. It also revealed the insufficient number of health
staff and the incapacity to react to the huge demand for health services during the
pandemic. The creation of the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team
(HEART) shall comprise a reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented
professionals and volunteers who will be mobilized to maintain the capacity to
meet surges in the demand for additional manpower in the country’s healthcare
system and provide assistance as needed in times of health crises.

Under this proposed measure, the HEART will be composed of individuals
who volunteer and register with the Department of Health, including a) licensed
professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and other
allied fields including those who are retired and those who are no longer practicing
their professions in a health facility setting; b) graduates of medicine and allied
health courses and medical students who have completed a one-year medical
internship but have not yet been issued licenses to practice their respective
professions; and c) other health support workforce including barangay health
workers, whose services are necessary in times of disasters, public health
emergencies and health threats. The volunteers under the HEART program will
receive an allowance from the DOH during the period of actual mobilization.

This bill emphasizes the importance of volunteerism in enhancing the health
and safety of communities. It facilitates the utilization of a medical reserve pool
composed of volunteers who are willing to donate their time and expertise, render
service, and effectively respond to the demand for healthcare services during
public emergencies. This measure will help address the shortage of healthcare
workers during times of crisis.

During the 19th Congress, Rep. Ciriaco “Jun” B. Gato Jr. of the Second
District of Batanes was the principal author of the bill creating the Health
Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART) which was later substituted
by House Bill No. 6518.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


ing G. ROMUALDEZ

JUDE 4 ACIDRE ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ


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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 10

Introduced by Representatives Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez,
Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre

AN ACT
CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY
REINFORCEMENT TEAM UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
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 “Health Emergency
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART)” Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution enjoins
the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the
adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development.
‘The State further reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives and
promote the well-being of Filipinos at all ages.

The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and health-
oriented professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the
capacity to meet surges in the demand for additional manpower in the country’s
healthcare system and provide assistance as needed in times of health crises.


Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to:

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3 a. Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas by
4 maintaining a strong and resilient healthcare system at all times that will
5 immediately, efficiently, and effectively address all potential and actual
6 public health emergencies; and

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b. Promote the spirit of “Bayanihan” and enhance the capacity of the nation

to expand its human health resources in times of disasters, public health

10 emergencies and health threats of both national and local scale through the
1 mobilization of the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team.

12 SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

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4 a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the
15 delivery of health or related services such as the identification, evaluation
16 and prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and
v7 rehabilitation and health systems management. Allied health professionals,
18 shall include, among others, dental hygienists, diagnostic medical
19 sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists,
20 physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech
21 language pathologists;

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23. _-b. Bayanihan refers to the value of communal unity through helping others to
24 achieve a certain goal without expecting anything in return;

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26 c. Deployment refers to the actual movement of workforce to the assigned
27 area within a prescribed period;

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29 d._-Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team refers to a group of
30 individual volunteers who are in the field of medicine, nursing, medical
31 technology, and other allied health-related fields who are ready to be
32 deployed to complement the health workforce in the event of a public
33 health emergency and health threat;

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35 e. Health threat refers to a condition, agent, or incident that greatly impacts
36 the health that leads to disease, accident, injury, and loss of life;

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38 f. Mobilization refers to the process and procedures for activating,
39 assembling, and transporting the needed health workforce to respond to a
40 public health emergency and health threat;


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g. Mobilization center refers to the establishment where the Health
Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team shall report upon receipt of the
order for mobilization, coordinate their mission order and mobilization-
related issues and concerns, and submit their report upon receipt of the
order for demobilization;

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Public health emergency refers to an occurrence that poses an imminent
threat of an illness or health condition as defined in Republic Act No.
11332, otherwise known as Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases
and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act, that:

1, Is caused by any of the following:

i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

vi.

Bio terrorism;

Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated
infectious agent or biological toxin;

A natural disaster;
A chemical attack or accidental release;
A nuclear attack or accident; or

An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and

2. Poses a high probability of any of the following:

ii.

A large number of deaths in the affected population;

A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the
affected population;

Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a
significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people
in the affected population;

International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses
a significant risk to the health of citizens; or

Trade and travel restrictions


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i. Volunteers refer to those who freely register to be members of the HEART.

SEC. 4. Scope. — This Act provides for the organization of the Health Emergency
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team, hereinafter referred to as the HEART, the
development of policies, plans, guidelines, and the implementation of actions
pertaining to the mobilization, services, and protection of the HEART in times of
disasters, public health emergencies and health threats.

SEC. 5. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. — There is hereby
established a HEART under the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the
health workforce in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health
threats. The HEART shall be composed of the following individuals who shall
voluntarily register with the DOH:

a. Licensed professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical
technology, and other allied health fields including those who are retired
and those who are no longer practicing their professions in a health facility
setting. All health and allied health professional organizations may be
tapped for the engagement of professionals who are not affiliated in any
healthcare facility;

b. Graduates of medicine and allied health courses and medical students who
have completed a one-year medical internship and who have not yet been
issued licenses to practice their respective professions, but due to the need
for their services may be issued a limited and special authorization to
render medical services during public health emergencies or health threats
pursuant to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act
of 1959 or as may be amended hereafter; and

c. Other health support workforce, including barangay health workers, whose
services are necessary in times of disasters, public health emergencies and
health threats.

SEC. 6. The Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Promotion
Program. — There is hereby established the Health Emergency Auxiliary
Reinforcement Team Promotion Program, which shall refer to the comprehensive
set of objectives, targets, strategies and activities for the promotion, recruitment
and selection of reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented professionals
and volunteers.

It shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern: the provision
of initiatives that shall underscore the importance of volunteerism to improve the

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health and safety of communities; the utilization of medical reserves pool who
want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies
and to support ongoing preparedness initiatives; and the building of partnerships
and ensuring the sustainability of the HEART with the end goal of maintaining
its capacity to meet surges in the demand for healthcare system and provide
assistance in times of public emergencies.

SEC. 7. Creation of the HEART Board. - A HEART Board, hereinafter referred
to as Board, is hereby created to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of the
HEART. It shall be chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) and composed
of representatives of the following, as members:

a. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
b. Department of National Defense (DND);

c. Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

d. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC);

e. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP);

f. Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and

g. One representative from a non-governmental health professional
organization.

The members of the Board shall designate a representative, with a rank not lower
than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, to represent their respective offices in
the Board: Provided, That the representative must be fully authorized to decide
on behalf of the member-agency.

The AFP shall designate a representative from the Office of the Surgeon General
with a rank not lower than Colonel as its Board representative.

The representative from a non-governmental health professional organization
shall have a two (2)-year term of office. The Board shall select the representative
base on the guidelines it shall promulgate: Provided, That, the non-governmental
health organization is national in scope and has a good track record in providing
emergency health services.

The Board shall establish close coordination with the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine National Volunteer

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Service Coordinating Agency. It may call upon any government office or
instrumentality, including government owned or controlled corporations and
local government units (LGUs), as necessary. The Board may likewise closely
coordinate and collaborate with non-governmental health organizations and the
private sector, especially those with actual programs in the delivery of emergency
health services.

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board, — The Board shall have the
following powers and functions:

a) Define and develop the organization, management, mobilization,
demobilization, and reporting mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for the
HEART;

b) Oversee the effective and efficient functioning of the HEART in
responding to public health emergencies and health threats;

c) Coordinate with concerned national government agencies and other
stakeholders in responding to public health emergencies and health threats;
and

d) Conduct regular meetings every quarter or as often as may be necessary in
times of disasters, during public health emergencies or in the occurrence of
health threats.

SEC. 9. Creation of a HEART Unit. —- A HEART Unit shall be created by the
DOH which shall serve as the secretariat of the Board. It shall oversee program
implementation, including the maintenance of the database or information system
of the HEART.

The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the
HEART unit subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) and in accordance with the civil service laws, rules and
regulations.

The regional counterparts of the HEART Unit shall likewise be allocated
additional staff and personnel to ensure the grassroots implementation of this Act.

All LGUs shall ensure that a HEART Unit shall be operationalized under their
respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which shall
act as mobilization centers in times of disasters, public health emergencies or
health threats.


SEC. 10. Registration and Training. — The Board shall prescribe a
comprehensive guideline for the recruitment and selection of a HEART
volunteer.

The Board shall also prescribe a training program through written, practical, and
simulation activities on various aspects of health emergency management and
response in different health emergency scenarios. To this end, all volunteers must
undergo:

(a) Basic training on disaster and health emergency response; and

(b) Skill enhancement activities with relevant agencies in the both
public and private sector.

Completion of the basic training or acceptable substitute or equivalent
certification shall be a requisite for admission to the HEART.

SEC. 11. Registry and Accounting of Members. - HEART Volunteers shall be
issued with individual registration numbers which shall serve as their
identification during deployment.

A registry or database that contains the names of the volunteers, their registration
numbers, address, contact details and other personal information as may be
necessary, shall be maintained and regularly updated in accordance with Republic
Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act.

The HEART registry or database shall be integrated or linked to existing
registries such as the National Health Workforce Registry pursuant to Republic
Act No. 11223, otherwise known as Universal Health Care Act, Section 25 (c).

All volunteers covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and
contact details on file through the registry system or database as necessary.

SEC. 12. Mobilization. — The Board shall approve the prompt mobilization of
the HEART upon receipt of a request from municipal and city mayors and
provincial governors in connection with a public health emergency, threats to
public health, or a disaster, whether of local or national scale. The HEART may
be mobilized partially or in full, as may be necessary.

The Board shall promulgate a mechanism that shall ensure efficient
implementation of deployment, assignment areas, deployment periods, how
deployment orders are communicated to each volunteer, and to which
mobilization center the volunteers will report taking into consideration Section

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13 on “Accreditation, Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and
National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, and the Private Sector” of Republic Act
No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Act of 2010.

SEC. 13. Deployment Order. ~ The President of the Philippines, upon the
recommendation of the HEART Board through a resolution, may order the
nationwide mobilization of the HEART to augment the health workforce in case
of a declaration of a state of public health emergency, state of calamity, and other
threats to public health.

Orders of deployment sent to the volunteers’ addresses and through the contact
details on file in the registry system or database shall be sufficient notice for
purposes of deployment.

SEC. 14. Mobilization Centers - Mobilization Centers shall be established in
each province as needed where volunteers shall report to once deployment is
ordered.

A mobilization center may be any establishment that can adequately house the
volunteers, their equipment and supplies during the period of deployment,
including a multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, and other similar structures.

The Board shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the location
of the mobilization centers. The concerned municipal and city mayors and
provincial governors shall disseminate information on the location of
mobilization centers to the widest extent possible.

SEC. 15. Essential Emergency Commodities. - The Board shall ensure that the
minimum essential individual and organizational commodities and medical
equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored, and managed to enhance the
rapid transition to readiness required for deployment of HEART teams in the
shortest possible time.

‘The Board shall ensure and maintain its capacity to scale up the procurement of
these equipment and supplies as needed during the period of deployment.

SEC. 16. Incentives. - In recognition and appreciation of the HEART volunteers’
service rendered during the period of actual mobilization, implementing agencies
may provide volunteers with an allowance as may be determined by the
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Budget and
Management, subject to availability of funds, and other existing civil service,

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budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, nothing in this Act, shall be construed as creating an employer-
employee relationship between the government and HEART volunteers.

SEC. 17. Legal Liability. - No volunteer shall be held liable for the death or injury
to any person or for the loss of, or damage to the property of any person where
such death, injury, loss, or damage was proximately caused by the circumstance
of an actual public health emergency or its subsequent conditions.

This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages because of gross
negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct.

SEC. 18. Public Health Emergency Insurance. - The DOH is mandated to
secure an insurance policy that would insure HEART volunteers from injury,
death, damage to, or loss of property, and for any legal liability asserted against
or incurred by the volunteer arising from the lawful performance of his duty.

SEC. 19. Termination of Deployment or Demobilization. - Upon the declaration
of the President, or as determined by the Board that the need for the HEART is
no longer necessary, or upon the expiration of the deployment or end of mission
there being no approved extension thereof, volunteers who are deployed pursuant
to the declaration of a public calamity, a public health emergency or health threat
shall be discharged from the performance of HEART duties.

Upon order of the demobilization of the HEART, the deployed volunteers shall
be reverted to inactive status. Mobilization Centers shall ensure reports on the
mission are duly submitted and the certificate of services rendered pertaining to
the deployment are promptly issued.

SEC. 20. Annual Report. - The HEART Unit shall prepare and submit an annual
report to the Office of the President, through the DOH Secretary, containing the
list of accomplishments, status of the operations and program implementation of
the HEART.

SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the available funds of the implementing agencies
comprising the HEART Board. Thereafter, the funding shall be included in the
budget of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations.. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the HEART Board shall, in consultation with other
stakeholders, promulgate the necessary guidelines for the effective
implementation of this Act.


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SEC. 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected
thereby.

SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 25. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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