NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2431
/»®ff!;r of fl;.' C:
23 AUG 31 P12 *46
RtCEi'ADD'
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE BASILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL INTO A TERTIARY LEVEL 
HOSPITAL KNOWN AS THE BASILAN MEDICAL CENTER, UNDER THE DIRECT 
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH), 
INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY, MODERNIZING ITS SERVICES AND 
FACILITIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution proclaims that"[t]he State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them." Moreover, Article XIII, Section 11 of the Constitution declares that 
"[t]he State shall pursue a holistic and unified approach to health advancement, 
aiming to provide essential goods, health, and other social services to all at a 
reasonable cost." Towards this end, the State acknowledges and upholds the rights of 
every Filipino to health, by ensuring access to proper health care facilities and services.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique and severe challenge to our nation's 
healthcare system. The pandemic amplified the lack of capacity of many of our health 
care facilities to address traditional types of diseases as well as novel ones. This is 
true especially to the poorest and geographically isolated provinces in the country. 
For instance, the Basilan province houses six hospitals, with four (4) located in Isabela 
City and two (2) in Lamitan City. However, these are all Level 1 hospitals, having 
restricted capabilities for treating critically-ill patients. Such patients are often referred


to more advanced hospitals like the Zamboanga City Medical Center, which is only 
reachable by sea transport.
The Basilan General Hospital (BGH) stands as the sole hospital in Basilan 
retained by the Department of Health (DOH). BGH, equipped with a 100-bed capacity, 
was established through Republic Act No. 8453, titled "An Act Converting the Basilan 
Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Isabela, Province of Basilan, into a Tertiary 
Hospital with the DOH's complete administrative and technical oversight, expanding 
its capacity to one hundred (100) beds." This act was legislated in 1998.
At present, BGH functions below its allocated bed capacity. Notwithstanding 
these constraints, BGH has consistently offered health services to those in distress. 
The facility has attended to numerous patients, more so before the COVID-19 
pandemic struck.
This bill aims to upgrade the Basilan General Hospital to a tertiary hospital, 
proposed to be named the Basilan Medical Center (BMC). We envisage the BMC as a 
leading-edge hospital, equipped with the latest medical amenities and pioneering 
medical instruments, offering top-notch, cost-effective services through its proficient 
and skilled healthcare workers.
Through this initiative, our goal is to bring superior healthcare services closer 
not only to the residents of Basilan but also to the entire Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi 
area, enhancing our defenses against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
OD PADILLA
ROBIN
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 2431
:;.r:
y of rl? rV
23 AUG 31 P12:46
RECEIVED B'-,
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE BASILAN GENERAL HOSPITAL INTO A TERTIARY LEVEL 
HOSPITAL KNOWN AS THE BASILAN MEDICAL CENTER, UNDER THE DIRECT 
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH), 
INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY, MODERNIZING ITS SERVICES AND 
FACILITIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. This Act shall be known as the "Basiian Medical Center Act".
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Sec. 2. The Basiian General Hospital located in Isabela City, Province of Basiian,
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is hereby converted and expanded into a tertiary level hospital to be known as Basiian
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Medical Center (BMC), under the direct supervision and control of the Department of
5 
Health (DOH).
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The authorized bed capacity of BMC is hereby increased to five hundred (500)
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beds. The increase in bed capacity shall be implemented for a period of two (2) years
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from the approval of this Act. Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent
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with the hospital development plan and its status as tertiary hospital, which shall be
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prepared by the Medical Center Chief of BMC and submitted to the Department of
11 
Health (DOH).
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Sec. 3. The existing professional health care services and facilities shall also be
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upgraded and increased correspondingly to conform with the increase in its authorized
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bed capacity as provided for in Section 2 hereof, consistent with the requirements of


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modern medical services and state-of-the-science equipment and technology, as 
reflected in the hospital development plan and its status as tertiary hospital.
Sec. 4. The existing workforce of the BMC, including doctors, nurses, and 
support personnel, shall also be increased correspondingly, consistent with the 
hospital development plan and its status as tertiary hospital.
The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and in consultation with the Medical 
Center Chief of BMC, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be created 
and filled up.
Sec. 5. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the Department's 
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 6. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder 
of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 7. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,