ee
ZAEPRESE

” RECEIVEL

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

19th Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 3217

Introduced by Rep. Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Reference is made to the priority measures mentioned by the President during
his First State of the Nation Address the need to establish an infectious disease
hospital in the different regions of the country, we thus deem it imperative to refile our
bill during the 18" Congress seeking to establish a Philippine National Infectious
Disease Hospital and Research Center in all regions of the country.

The pandemic has emphasized the importance of a dedicated hospital and
research center catering to the treatment, prevention, control, and study or research
of existing and emerging highly infectious diseases whether from natural or man-made
sources to better prepare us for the next deadly outbreak. The highly infectious
disease has brought the whole world, and the Philippines, in particular, to unchartered
territory since the virus is a new strain.

As humans encroached deeper into the wilderness for exploratory and
sometimes exploitative intent in the name of progress and development, we are
exposed to a more varied strain of new viruses and bacteria from wild animals which
can be transferred to humans and jumpstart a pandemic not far from what COVID19
has brought to the world. Modern technology has also provided humans the potential
tools to generate or create such viruses in the laboratories in the pursuit of possibly
developing advantages in highly controversial and unconventional type of warfare.

It is on these grounds that this bill seeks to establish a Philippine National
Infectious Disease Hospital and Research Center in all the regions of the country, in
light of the deadly COVID1 pandemic that has gripped the Philippines and the whole
world.

The proposed Philippine National Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research
Center shall be the principal hospital and research facility responsible for the
treatment, control, prevention, and research of highly communicable diseases in the
Philippines.

It will be established in the different regions of the country so that its services
and facilities can be available throughout the Philippines. It is also tasked to conduct
researches on various infectious diseases and to advocate government actions and
policies to solve medical health problems. It will also seek to improve the management
of infectious diseases including the ill-effects to the health of humans from various
hazardous chemicals



The hospitals and research centers will conduct surveillance and clinical
researches on important pathogens, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and
viruses. The Institution also will perform molecular epidemiology to investigate the
mechanisms contributing the drug resistant pathogens. The proposed bill will address
the lack of institutional capacity to implement comprehensive public health
management programs to protect the public from serious health and socio-economic
problems brought about by fatal infectious diseases like COVID 19

In view of this, passage of this bill is earnestly sought

MARIA VANESSA C. AUMENTADO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

19th Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3217

Introduced by Rep. Maria Vanessa C. Aumentado

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PHLIPPINE NATIONAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL
AND RESEARCH CENTER IN ALL THE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTER (PNIDHRC)

There shall be established an Infectious Diseases Hospital and
Research Center to be known as ‘Philippine National Infectious Diseases
Hospital and Research Center” to be iocated in all the regions of the country.

SECTION 2. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES - The Philippine
National Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Center (PNIDHRC)
shall be administered by a Board of Trustees, composed of seven (7)
members, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines who shall
be the Governing Board of all the hospital facilities of the PNIDHRC in the
different regions of the country

The six appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve with
compensation for a period of five (5) years and until their successors shall have
been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by
appointment by the President of the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve
for the unexpired term. The Board of Trustees of the PNIDHRC shall elect a
Chairman from among themselves, who shall be presiding officer of the Board
of Trustees,


SECTION 3. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - There shall be an
Executive Director who shall be appointed by the Board who will serve as the
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees and shall have the rank of a Bureau
Director, with a salary grade of 30 and with a fixed term of five (5) years,
renewable for another term. The ED shall exercise administrative supervision
of all facilities of the PNIDHRC and primary implementor of policies and
guidelines set by the Board of Trustees with the authority, among others,
appoint, remove, and fix the compensation thereof, subject to the approval of
the Board.

SECTION 4. CHIEF OF HOSPITAL - A hospital facility of the
PNIDHRC shall be headed by a Hospital Chief, appointed by the Board of
Trustees for a period of four (4) years on the basis of search process. The
Hospital Chief shall have the salary grade of 28. The Hospital Chief shall
be under the supervision of the Executive Director.

Sec. 5. APPROPRIATIONS. The sum of Twenty Billion Pesos (Php.
20,000,000,000) shall be appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance
of the hospitals and research facilities of the PNIDHRC including the land
acquisition, construction and the acquisition of hospital and research
equipment, furniture and personnel services. Thereafter, the necessary
amount to support the continued operation and maintenance of the PNIDHRC
shall be appropriated in the Annual General Appropriations Act for the
continued implementation of this Act

Sec. 6. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation

Approved,