1
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DIABETES AND 
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2000, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) predicted that 
by 2025, there would be 320 million diabetics globally. However, in its 
2015 Diabetes Atlas, the IDF reported that there were already 415 million 
diabetics aged 20-79. Clearly, diabetes is exceeding projected rates and 
growing around the world.1  The IDF further estimated that by 2040, the 
global figure will rise to 642 million – or one in 10 adults, if there is no 
appropriate response to resolve the growing diabetes epidemic around 
the world. 
In the Philippines, at least 6 million Filipinos have been diagnosed 
to have diabetes but the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education 
Foundation, warned that this figure could reach 12 million or even more 
by 2040 because of undiagnosed diabetes cases.2 The Philippines’ 2013 
National Health and Nutrition Survey revealed that diabetes is a major risk 
1 2016, March 29. The Philippines is now a diabetes hotspot. Retrieved from: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/225706/the-philippines-is-now-a-diabetes-
hotspot/ (date last accessed: July 9, 2019). 
2
 2016, 
August 
13. 
6 
million 
Pinoys 
have 
diabetes. 
Retrieved 
from: 
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/805812/6m-pinoys-have-
diabetes#ixzz4ccdTjsbs (date last accessed: July 9, 2019). 
November 7, 2022
8:05 am
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factor among Filipino adults ≥ 20 years of age with a prevalence rate of 
5.4% (Paz-Pacheco and Jimeno, 2015).3 
 
Worse, more and more young Filipinos are diagnosed with diabetes. 
There were reports that even five-year old children were already 
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.4 The DOH stated that diabetes is one of 
the leading causes of mortality in the Philippines. 
 
Many experts have attributed the increase of diabetic incidence in 
the Philippines to the lifestyle and culture of Filipinos and, to a great 
extent, to stress in the workplace. For example, BPO employees who work 
at night or have graveyard shift have higher risk of getting the disease 
according to the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation. 
The DOH also mentioned that even traffic jams raise diabetes risk.5 
 
Unfortunately, the IDF’s diabetes scorecard for the Philippines 
showed that the low level of diabetes-related health expenditures has 
prevented a very small proportion (0.9%) of diabetes related deaths. Thus, 
there is a need to increase the funding for diabetes prevention and 
treatment.  
 
In view of the foregoing, this bill seeks to establish the Philippine 
Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology (PCDE) to ensure that the full 
range of services for diabetes care, prevention and cure are given to the 
millions of Filipinos afflicted with diabetes through a more focused 
allocation of funding. The Center will also further enhance the noble 
undertaking of research in diabetes and the training of medical and 
technical personnel in the field of Endocrinology. 
 
Diabetes care, prevention and cure should be a priority concern of 
the government because diabetes and other endocrine diseases exact a 
huge toll on our human resources. After all, the 1987 Constitution provides 
the duty of the state to secure the wellbeing of the people by providing 
them specialized health services. A specialized institution, similar to the 
Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center of the Philippines and the 
National Kidney and Transplant Institute, which will focus on diabetes, 
metabolism and endocrinology can significantly address the worsening 
incidence of diabetes here in the Philippines and lessen the impact of 
 
3 Elizabeth Paz-Pacheco and Cecilia Jimeno. Diabetes Care in the Philippines. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies Volume 
30, No. 2 (2015). Retrieved from: http://asean-endocrinejournal.org/index.php/JAFES/article/view/267/667  
 
4 2018, October 18. Managing Diabetes. Retrieved from: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/10/18/managing-diabetes/ (date last accessed: July 9, 2019).  
5 2016, March 27. Traffic jams raise diabetes risks. Retrieved from: http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2016/03/28/1566912/traffic-jams-raise-diabetes-risk (date last 
accessed: July 9, 2019).  


 
 
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diabetes and its complications on families, workers, healthcare system, 
and the economy. 
 
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


4
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ____ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
EDUARDO ‘BRO. EDDIE’ C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT  
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DIABETES AND 
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
1 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
2 
3 
SECTION 1. State Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect 
4 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
5 
consciousness among them by providing specialized health services and 
6 
research, education and training facility responsive to the country’s health 
7 
needs and problems. 
8 
9 
Hence, it is the primary concern of the government to assist and 
10 
provide material and financial assistance in the establishment of a 
11 
specialty hospital for Filipinos suffering from diabetes and promote 
12 
diabetes care, prevention and cure all over the country. 
13 
14 
SEC. 2. Creation of the Philippine Center for Diabetes and 
15 
Endocrinology. – There is hereby created a body corporate to be known 
16 
as the Philippine Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology (PCDE), under 
17 
the control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH), which 
18 
shall serve as the lead tertiary-level care center in the screening, 
19 
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. 
20 
21 
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The PCDE shall have its principal office in Metro Manila, and may 
1 
have such branch offices, hospitals, clinics or subsidiaries in Visayas and 
2 
Mindanao and other areas in the Philippines, as it may deem proper and 
3 
necessary.  
4 
 
5 
SEC. 3. Purpose and Objectives. – The PCDE shall have the 
6 
following purposes and objectives: 
7 
 
8 
a) 
To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer and operate 
9 
such integrated medical institution or institutions which shall 
10 
provide an organized system of care, comprehensive and 
11 
optimal treatment for patients with diabetes and other endocrine 
12 
problems;  
13 
 
14 
b) 
To conduct nationwide screening and diagnosis of diabetes, 
15 
obesity and the components of the metabolic syndrome; 
16 
 
17 
c) 
To promote, encourage and engage in medical and scientific 
18 
research on the prevention, care, and treatment of diabetes and 
19 
other endocrine diseases, and gather, compile, and publish the 
20 
findings of such researches for public dissemination; 
21 
 
22 
d) 
To encourage, undertake and assist conferences, fora, 
23 
conventions, seminars, workshops and training programs for 
24 
physicians, nurses, health officers, medical technologists, 
25 
social workers and medical and technical personnel on the 
26 
practical and scientific implementation of health care services 
27 
to diabetic patients; 
28 
 
29 
e) 
To assist universities, hospitals and research institutions in their 
30 
studies on diabetes and other endocrine diseases and other 
31 
related fields, to encourage and grant scholarships for 
32 
advanced training and specialization in medical care and 
33 
management in diabetes and related fields and to support and 
34 
finance educational programs of value to public health; 
35 
 
36 
f) 
To encourage the formation of other organizations at the 
37 
national, provincial, city and/or local levels, and to coordinate 
38 
the various efforts and activities of such organizations for the 
39 
purpose of achieving a more effective approach to the common 
40 
problem relative to the purposes and objectives enumerated 
41 
herein; and 
42 
 
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g) 
To encourage telemedicine by establishing networks through 
1 
internet facilities to link physicians at the local level or barrio 
2 
doctors to specialists who can provide inputs to care of diabetic 
3 
patients, especially in underserved and geographically isolated 
4 
and disadvantaged areas, with due regard to the requirements 
5 
of the Data Privacy Act of 2012. 
6 
 
7 
SEC 4. Powers and Functions. – For the attainment and/or 
8 
furtherance of the purposes and objectives of this Act, the PCDE, as a 
9 
body corporate, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have the 
10 
powers pertaining to a duly organized juridical entity, and the following 
11 
powers and functions in addition to those provided for in this Act: 
12 
 
13 
a) To acquire, own, hold, use, lease, grant, mortgage, pledge, sell, 
14 
assign, convey, transfer, exchange, dispose or otherwise deal 
15 
with, real and/or personal properties of every kind and nature, 
16 
including shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, securities 
17 
and other evidences of indebtedness or obligations of other 
18 
corporations, whether domestic or foreign, and whether 
19 
government or private; 
20 
 
21 
b) To solicit and receive donations, endowments and funds in the 
22 
form of contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the 
23 
public and private sector; 
24 
 
25 
c) To award, enter into, make, execute, perform and carry out 
26 
domestic or foreign contracts of whatever kind and nature; 
27 
 
28 
d) To open accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to 
29 
disburse such funds or invest the same as the Board may direct 
30 
to accomplish or advance the purposes or interests of the PCDE, 
31 
and to obtain loans, borrow funds and/or arrange financing or 
32 
credit assistance of whatever kind and nature from all sources, 
33 
whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private; 
34 
 
35 
e) To levy, assess and collect such fees, charges and assessments 
36 
as may be necessary or proper to support, finance and maintain 
37 
its operations; 
38 
 
39 
f) To invite diabetes specialists and similar experts in the various 
40 
medical fields to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the 
41 
PCDE and to also support the trainings, seminars, conferences 
42 
and conventions of its medical personnel in research and medical 
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institutes or universities, be it local or international as the Board 
1 
may deem necessary and in line with the principles of the 
2 
Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), to accomplish the 
3 
purposes and objectives of the PCDE; 
4 
 
5 
g) To adopt and use a corporate seal; 
6 
 
7 
h) To sue and be sued in its corporate name; 
8 
 
9 
i) To adopt its by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with 
10 
law of the provisions hereof to govern the administration and 
11 
operation of the affairs of the PCDE; and 
12 
 
13 
j) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be 
14 
necessary, related or incidental to carry out the purposes and 
15 
objectives of this Act.  
16 
 
17 
SEC. 5. The Board of Trustees; Composition; Term and 
18 
Compensation. – The PCDE shall be governed, and its activities and 
19 
properties shall be directed, controlled and managed, by a Board of 
20 
Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board.  
21 
 
22 
The Board shall be composed of the following:  
23 
 
24 
a) Secretary of Health as ex-officio Chairperson;  
25 
 
26 
b) Chief of Hospital as Vice-Chairperson; 
27 
 
28 
c) one (1) Undersecretary of the DOH;  
29 
 
30 
d) one (1) representative from the Office of the President;  
31 
 
32 
e) one (1) representative from the Department of Budget and 
33 
Management (DBM);  
34 
 
35 
f) one (1) representative from the Philippine Society of 
36 
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEM); 
37 
 
38 
g) one (1) representative from the academe; and 
39 
 
40 
h) one (1) member from the civil society who shall be a person of 
41 
known probity in the community and is active in civil and 
42 
community work.  
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1 
The members of the Board shall serve for a term of three (3) years, 
2 
with a right to hold-over such position until their respective successors 
3 
shall have been duly appointed and qualified. The representatives from 
4 
the medical community, academe and the civil society shall be appointed 
5 
by the President.   
6 
 
7 
The President of the Philippines may, however, remove any 
8 
member of the Board for cause. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the 
9 
Board, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the 
10 
unexpired term of the member replaced. 
11 
 
12 
All members of the Board shall receive compensation or per diem in 
13 
accordance with current standards set by the Department of Budget and 
14 
Management (DBM) and as may be determined by the DOH. 
15 
 
16 
SEC 6.  Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall 
17 
have the following powers and functions: 
18 
 
19 
a) To formulate policies, guidelines and programs to effectively 
20 
implement and carry out the purposes and objectives of this Act; 
21 
 
22 
b) To prescribe, review and revise the amount of the fees, charges, 
23 
and assessments levied and collected for the support and 
24 
maintenance of the operations of the PCDE; 
25 
 
26 
c) To control the management, operation and administration of 
27 
PCDE; 
28 
 
29 
d) To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary 
30 
or proper for the effective exercise of powers and functions as 
31 
well as the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of the 
32 
PCDE and its officers and employees; 
33 
 
34 
e) To authorize such expenditures of the PCDE as may be 
35 
necessary or proper for the effective management, operation and 
36 
administration of the PCDE; 
37 
 
38 
f) To adopt the annual and supplemental budget of receipts and 
39 
expenditures of the PCDE; and 
40 
 
41 


 
 
9
g) To appoint, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the officers 
1 
of the PCDE occupying executive and senior management 
2 
positions. 
3 
 
4 
SEC 7. Officers of the PCDE. – The Board shall determine the 
5 
officers of the PCDE who shall be appointed by the Chief of Hospital of 
6 
the PCDE, subject to confirmation by the Board. The PCDE may have an 
7 
Executive Vice-President and such Vice-Presidents and Assistant Vice-
8 
Presidents as may be required for the effective operation of the PCDE. 
9 
 
10 
SEC 8. The Chief of Hospital, Term and Remuneration. – The 
11 
Chief of Hospital of the PCDE shall be appointed by the President of the 
12 
Philippines for a term of five (5) years. The Chief of Hospital shall be a 
13 
licensed physician, have a Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration or 
14 
related course, and has at least five (5) years of experience in a 
15 
supervisory/managerial position. The salary of the Chief of Hospital of the 
16 
PCDE shall be fixed by the Board, subject to the approval of the President 
17 
of the Philippines.  
18 
 
19 
SEC 9. Powers and Duties of the Chief of Hospital. – The Chief 
20 
of Hospital shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the PCDE. He shall 
21 
exercise the following powers and duties: 
22 
 
23 
a) To execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by 
24 
the Board, and to be responsible for the efficient discharge of 
25 
management and operational functions; 
26 
 
27 
b) To submit for the consideration and approval of the Board 
28 
proposed measures, policies, guidelines and programs as he/she 
29 
may deem necessary or proper for the effective implementation 
30 
of the purposes and objectives of this Act; 
31 
 
32 
c) To direct and supervise the management, operation and 
33 
administration of the PCDE. For this purpose, he/she may 
34 
delegate any or some of his/her administrative responsibilities 
35 
and duties to the other officers of the PCDE; 
36 
 
37 
d) To execute, on behalf of the PCDE, all contracts and agreements 
38 
which the PCDE may enter into, and to execute, accomplish and 
39 
deliver any and all documents relative to such contracts and 
40 
agreements; 
41 
 
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e) To represent the PCDE in all dealings with other offices, agencies 
1 
and instrumentalities of the Government, and all other persons or 
2 
entities, whether domestic or foreign, government or private; 
3 
 
4 
f) To appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend, or otherwise 
5 
discipline the officers and employees of the PCDE, except those 
6 
appointed by the Board; and 
7 
 
8 
g) To exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may 
9 
be vested or reposed upon him/her by the Board. 
10 
 
11 
SEC 10. Assistance from the Government. – The PCDE may call 
12 
upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the 
13 
Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations 
14 
(GOCCs), local government units (LGUs), and state universities and 
15 
colleges (SUCs) for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of the 
16 
purposes and objectives of this Act. 
17 
 
18 
SEC 11. Authority of the Chief of Hospital in Emergencies. – In 
19 
case of emergencies which require immediate action by the Board, and 
20 
there is no sufficient time to call a meeting thereof, the Chief of Hospital, 
21 
with the concurrence of three (3) other members of the Board, may decide 
22 
on any matter or take any action within the authority of the Board itself. 
23 
 
24 
SEC 12. Donations to the PCDE. – The PCDE is hereby authorized 
25 
to solicit and receive donations, grants, contributions, gifts or endowments 
26 
from all sources, whether foreign or domestic, government or private, 
27 
without the need of securing a permit, approval or registration from any 
28 
government agency. 
29 
 
30 
SEC 13. Exemption from Fees, Duties and Taxes. – The PCDE 
31 
is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other internal revenue 
32 
taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges 
33 
and assessments levied by the Government and its political subdivisions, 
34 
agencies and instrumentalities, unless they are not actually, directly, and 
35 
exclusively used for charitable purposes. Notwithstanding any provision 
36 
of law to the contrary, all donations, grants, contributions, gifts or 
37 
endowments which may be made by entities or persons to the PCDE shall 
38 
be exempt from income and gift taxes, and the same shall be further 
39 
deductible in full for purposes of computing the maximum amount 
40 
deductible under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as 
41 
amended. 
42 
 
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SEC 14. Funding. – The amount of Ten Billion Pesos 
1 
(Php10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the revenues of the 
2 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to defray the 
3 
initial operational expenses of the PCDE. Thereafter, the necessary 
4 
amount to support the continued operation and maintenance of the PCDE 
5 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
6 
 
7 
SEC 15. Annual Report. – The PCDE, through its President, shall 
8 
submit an annual report on its accomplishments and activities to the 
9 
President and both houses of Congress on or before April 30 of each year. 
10 
 
11 
SEC 16. Applicability of the Other Laws and Issuances. – The 
12 
provisions of the Revised Corporation Code, insofar as they are not 
13 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and with the purposes and 
14 
objectives for which the PCDE is formed, shall apply suppletorily in the 
15 
corporate governance affairs of the PCDE. 
16 
 
17 
Likewise, the PCDE, its officials and employees, shall be subject to 
18 
civil service laws and pertinent rules and regulations issued by the Civil 
19 
Service Commission.  
20 
 
21 
SEC 17. Medical Assistance Package. – The Board is hereby 
22 
mandated to formulate a medical assistance package for indigent and 
23 
financially incapable patients.  
24 
 
25 
SEC. 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty 
26 
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in close coordination 
27 
with the Department of Science and Technology, National Economic 
28 
Development Authority, University of the Philippines-Philippine General 
29 
Hospital, and other stakeholders, such as the Philippine Society of 
30 
Endocrinology and Metabolism (PSEM), shall promulgate the rules and 
31 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
32 
 
33 
SEC 19. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this 
34 
Act is subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions 
35 
hereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
36 
 
37 
SEC 20. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
38 
proclamations and administrative regulations, or any parts thereof 
39 
inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked, repealed, or modified 
40 
accordingly. 
41 
 
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SEC. 21. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
1 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers 
2 
of general circulation. 
3 
 
4 
Approved, 
5