Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bn No. - 2821

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY REINFORCEMENT TEAM UNDER
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The report by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB), an
independent monitoring and advocacy body that aims to assess the world’s
ability to protect itself from health emergencies and identify critical gaps to
preparedness across multiple perspectives, warns that humankind is stumbling
toward the 21st-century equivalent of the 1918 influenza pandemic, which
affected one-third of the world’s population and killed approximately 50 million
people.

Based on the report, only one third of countries have the capacities
required under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and that the great
majority of national health systems would be unable to handle a large influx of
patients infected with a respiratory pathogen capable of easy transmissibility and
high mortality.

As pointed out in the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) Mission report, the
Philippines, due to its location, is one of the most natural-disaster prone
countries in the world and in the past decade the country has faced challenges in
making solid progress in infectious disease control. Given this situation, the
country’s preparedness in times of public health emergencies is significantly
necessary such as during pandemics and natural disasters.

The COVID-19 pandemic has, for instance, exposed the weaknesses of the
country's healthcare system, among them is the inability to cope with the surge
of patients needing medical care due to lack of medically-trained personnel.

Health professionals are essential to the functioning of health systems,
expanding health care coverage, and attaining the right to the greatest possible
level of health are based on their availability, accessibility, acceptance, and
quality.


The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates a projected shortfall of
10 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle income
countries.*

According to the WHO data, the Philippines had six medical physicians per
10,000 people in 2017, which is below than the ideal ratio of ten doctors per
10,000 people (WHO, 2018). The country's doctor-to-population ratio is also
lower than in other Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam (8 per 10,000),
Thailand (8 per 10,000), and Timor Leste (8 per 10,000).?

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Human Resources for
Health Network (HRHN), an inter-agency policy and program support network
led by the Department of Health (DOH) estimated a shortage of about 290,000
health workers in the country.

To address the problem of health human resources shortage in times of
disasters, public health emergencies and health threats, this bill seeks to
establish a Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team under the
Department of Health (DOH) to augment the health workforce.

This significant measure recognizes the country’s 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.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

iAawrl4
MARIE D. MONTES
xababaihan Kabalkatan para s2 Kapakanan
‘at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-st

a 5 who.int/health-topics/health-workforce#tab=tab_1 Accessed on 04 July
2025

2 Human Resource for Health in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Does the
Philippines Have Enough?, University of the Philippines Population Institute, Research
Brief No. 8, 17 August 2020 (https://wi \d.edu.ph/research/covid-19/rb8)

Accessed on 04 July 2025



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2821

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Health Emergency
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART)" Act.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — Article I, 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:

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

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
emergencies and health threats of both national and local scale through the
mobilization of the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team (HEART).

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


a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the
delivery of health or related services such as the identification, evaluation and
prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and
rehabilitation and health systems management.

Allied health professionals, shall include, among others, dental hygienists,
diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational
therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech
language pathologists;

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

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

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

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

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

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;

h. 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 the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health
Events of Public Health Concern Act”, that:

1. Is caused by any of the following:

i. Bio-terrorism;
ii, Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicate!
infectious agent or biological toxin;

iii, A natural disaster;

iv. A chemical attack or accidental release;

V. A nuclear attack or accident; or

vi. An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and

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


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

ili. 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;

iv. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a

significant risk to the health of citizens; or
v. Trade and travel restrictions;

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

SECTION 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:


a. the provision of initiatives that shall underscore the importance of
volunteerism to improve the health and safety of communities;

b. 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

c. 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 27 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
Service Coordinating Agency. It may call upon any government office or
instrumentality, including government owned or controlled corporations and local
government units (LCDs), 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, ail 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
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 honoraria and/or allowances
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, 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.

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

Approved,