NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
^Euatf 
of 'll'
)
SENATE
s. No. 255
72 JULlI P 4 -10
RHCEiVED BV; „
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION, 
TRAINING, MAINTENANCE AND UTILIZATION OF THE MEDICAL RESERVE 
CORPS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of the country's 
healthcare system, such as the inability to cope with the surge of patients needing 
medical care due to lack of medically trained personnel.
Similar to a highly skilled reserve force that has been trained to assist the 
standing and regular military force as needed, the country can likewise benefit from a 
reserve force for our healthcare system. A medical reserve force specifically trained to 
supplement the existing human health resources will ease the burden in our healthcare 
system. It will allow our hospitals and medical facilities to handle the extreme demand 
for patient care in times of disaster and health emergencies. It can also ease the 
impact of unemployment in times of such disaster or health emergency, providing 
compensation and other benefits for members of the medical reserve force and 
reskilling them for possible employment in the health sector.1
This measure, which was originally filed by the undersigned in the 18th 
Congress, seeks to create and develop a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) under the
Cosgrove, T, & Driscoll, J. (April 3, 2020). Opinion: We need an army of health workers. So let's get 
the army to train one. Retrieved on May 5, 
2020, from
https://www.politico.eom/news/agenda/2020/04/03/army-of-health-workers-163557.


Health Emergency Management Bureau of the Department of Health. The MRC shall 
be organized in a paramilitary structure that will train medical experts, licensed medical 
professionals, and volunteers to respond to disasters and other health emergencies. 
The MRC shall likewise include members of the Reserve Force of the Armed Forces of 
the Philippines in the Medical Service. Members of the MRC shall be ready for 
deployment in times of health crises in order to augment the capacity of the country's 
healthcare system, and for other such purposes their mobilization is deemed 
necessary.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is urgently sought.
PIA S. CAY^ANO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
255
^enatc
*22 JUL11 P4:10
RliCEtVifQ BV;
S. No.
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
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AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION, 
TRAINING, MAINTENANCE AND UTILIZATION OF THE MEDICAL RESERVE 
CORPS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ^MedicalReserve Corps
Act"
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution 
enjoins the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
health consciousness among them. Section 11 of Article XIII 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 well­
being for all at all ages.
The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of part-time, highly-skilled 
and medically-trained professionals and volunteers that can be mobilized to augment 
the capacity of the country's healthcare system, in order to address public health 
emergencies and provide assistance as may be needed in times of health crises.
Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to maintain a strong, proactive and 
responsive healthcare system at all times, but which can be expanded rapidly by a 
well-trained and well-equipped Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) in times of disaster or 
other health emergencies. Towards this end, the State shall enhance the capacity of 
the country to produce and call on the needed manpower and expand its human health
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resources in times of disasters and health emergencies of both national and local scale 
through the mobilization of the MRC.
Sec. 3. Call to the Medical Reserve Corps Service. - The MRC shall be composed 
of medical experts, scientists, licensed medical practitioners, members of the Reserve 
Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Medical Service, non-medical 
volunteers trained for health emergencies and other necessary skills, with a primary 
mission of supporting the public health system during periods of disasters and other 
health emergencies. The MRC shall be organized, trained, developed and maintained 
to ensure their readiness to immediately respond to the call to service.
Sec. 4. Organization. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall create the MRC 
under Its Health Emergency Management Bureau.
The organization, structure, and manning of the MRC shall be set up with a 
paramilitary structure, and in such a manner that is necessary to make it effective, 
efficient and responsive to local and national disasters and other health emergencies, 
under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Health may prescribe.
Sec. 5. Registration and Training. - The DOH shall draft guidelines for the 
recruitment, selection, compensation, other incentives for joining and continued 
membership, and length of service of the MRC members.
The DOH shall also prescribe a continuing training program for the MRC recruits 
and members, through written, practical and simulation activities, on various aspects 
of health emergency management and response and on the different health 
emergency situations and scenarios, such as but not limited to natural and man-made 
disasters, epidemics, pandemics, and other threats to public health. To this end, all 
recruits must undergo:
(1) Compulsory basic training for a period to be set by the DOH where 
medical experts, scientists, licensed medical practitioners, including 
members of the Reserve Force of the AFP in the Medical Service, as 
necessary, shall undergo training on disaster and health emergency 
response, the organization and structure of the MRC, and such other 
areas as may be prescribed by the DOH. Other volunteers without any 
health specializations will be trained in basic health and medical skills, 
and/or other such skills deemed necessary to respond to health


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emergencies. Recruits shall be given compensation for their time during 
compulsory basic training; and
(2) Continuing training, in coordination with relevant and qualified agencies 
in the public and private sector, including but not limited to the AFP and 
the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, to 
provide the training and other activities that will improve and reinforce 
their skills. All registered members shall undergo continuing training on 
a regular basis to upgrade their proficiency.
Successful completion of compulsory basic training shall be a requisite for 
admission into the MRC. Successful completion of activities in the continuing training 
program shall be a requisite for promotion within the MRC.
Sec. 6. Accounting of Members of the MRC. - All members shall be accounted 
for, and their records and status shall be updated, including their present 
whereabouts, in order to ensure their readiness to the call to service. The DOH may 
tap Local Government Units to assist in the accounting of members.
Sec. 7. Mobilization and Penalties. - The mobilization of the MRC shall be by 
the authority of the Secretary of Health, upon the recommendation of the Director of 
the Health Emergency Management Bureau, in order to meet the needs of a disaster 
or health emergency, whether of local or national scale, and for other purposes 
deemed necessary to respond to threats to public health.
The MRC may be mobilized partially or in full as may be necessary. All members 
when called to service due to mobilization shall continue to receive all pay, allowances, 
and other privileges and benefits from his/her regular employment during the 
mobilization period.
An employer who dismisses or disciplines an employee, or deprives him/her of 
pay, allowances, and other privileges and benefits by reason of his/her training or 
mobilization as provided for in this Act, shall be subject to a fine of not less than Ten 
Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(Php 100,000.00), or imprisonment of not more than two (2) years, or both, at the 
discretion of a court of competent jurisdiction.
If the offense is committed by a corporation, trust, firm, partnership, 
association or any other entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the guilty officer or


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officers of such corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or entity.
Sec. 8. Mobilization Centers. - There shall be established in each province as 
many mobilization centers as needed to which members of the MRC will report when 
mobilization is ordered.
Mobilization centers may be any establishment or facility that can adequately 
house the MRC members, and their equipment and supplies during the period of 
deployment, including but are not limited to multi-purpose halls, gymnasiums, and 
other similar structures, and based on other requirements that the DOH shall 
prescribe. The DOH, in consultation with the local executives, shall likewise prescribe 
the location of the mobilization centers.
Sec. 9. Mobilization Stock. - The minimum essential individual and 
organizational medical equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored and 
maintained to enhance rapid transition to readiness required for employment In the 
shortest possible time.
The DOH shall maintain the necessary capacity to scale up the procurement of 
these equipment and supplies as may be needed during the period of mobilization.
Sec. 10. Enlistment of the AFP. - The AFP may be enlisted by the Secretary of 
Health to provide expertise on the organization and paramilitary structure of the MRC 
for efficient, effective and swift deployment, as well as training to the MRC recruits in 
disaster and emergency response. Further, the Secretary of Health may recommend 
to the President the enlistment of the AFP to supplement the mobilized MRC for the 
purpose of providing logistics and manpower for large-scale operations in times of 
disaster or other health emergency, contact tracing and monitoring of suspected 
cases, enforcing the quarantine of specific areas or facilitating the transport of 
emerging infectious diseases patients, and for such other purposes.
Sec. 11. Demobilization. - When the threat or emergency for which mobilization 
had been ordered has passed, the Secretary of Health shall order the demobilization 
of the MRC, and the mobilized members shall be reverted to inactive status.
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines 
for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 13. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the initial implementation of


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this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DOH as needed. Thereafter, 
funding shall be included in the budget of the DOH under the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby.
Sec. 15. Repeating Clause. - All other 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. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,