REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 8819

Introduced by
Representative SHIRLYN L. BANAS-NOGRALES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the bounden duty of the State to provide the best quality and affordable health
care services to the people and to bring these health services to the people in the most
convenient and efficient possible way. This responsibility was embedded in Article XIII,
Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution’.

Relatively, with the passage of Republic Act No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care
Law that aims to automatically enroll all Filipino Citizens in the National Health Insurance
Program and prescribes complementary reforms in the health system?, it is high time for
Region XII to develop and construct a Medical Center that is well-equipped to provide the
medical needs, care and services that are responsive to the needs of the people.

The Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital, the present local public hospital in General
Santos City, has stretched to the limit its capabilities in providing the health requirements of
its patients. It has been the only hospital of its kind that caters to the healthcare needs of the
general public especially the underprivileged. For several years now, it has more than 100%
hospital bed occupancy rate. The hospital’s high occupancy rate is further exacerbated by the
inadequacy of modern equipment, facilities and similar resources, thus, cannot address the
more specialized services for complex diseases and illnesses of its patients consisting mostly
of indigents and underprivileged members of the community.

The existing city government-run hospital once transformed into a state-of-the-art
medical facility will house the following institutes: the Center for Disease Control, Lung
Center, Kidney and Transplant Center, Heart Center, Trauma Center, Burn Center, Dialysis
Center, Birth Center, Imaging and Radiology Center, Orthopedic and Other Rehabilitation
Centers, Wellness Center, Blood Banks, Clinics and Medical Offices, and the like. The
establishment of these centers will bring the much-needed health services closer to the people
of Region XII in the most convenient, affordable and efficient possible ways.

‘Seen The Sat shall adopt an intgaed an comprehensive approach health developmen whic shall endenvor to make esata
goods, health and other ees available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the
hderprvlcged sick, elder). abled, women and children. The Ste hall endeavor to provide fee medial car to papers.

3 World Health Organization: UHC Actin the Philippines: a new dawn for health care, \4 March 2019,



Added to that, the increasing or growing population? of Region XII
(SOCCSKSARGEN), which was around 4,545,276 based on the 2015 Census of Population,
is alarming considering the lack of sufficient and proper medical facilities. More medical
facilities, experts and equipment are clearly needed by patients in the SOCCSKSARGEN.
This need for sufficient and better medical services have forced the people in the region,
especially the patients, to seek medical help elsewhere, usually in Manila, Davao City, or
other places which are quite far from their residences. Long-distance travel for medical
attention would not only be too physically rigorous on the part of the patient but also too
costly for most patients and families as this would require medical, travel, board and lodging
expenses for the patients and their loved ones who would need to accompany the patient.

These common scenarios clearly and definitely would discourage our average citizens
from going to hospitals and receiving the proper medical attention. Instead, they may opt to
just stay home because traveling out of town would be too expensive and taxing on the body
despite their need for medical assistance.

Designating Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital as a regional medical center is also in line
with the Duterte administration’s pursuit of its Kalusugan Pangkalahatan program,
otherwise known as the Universal Healthcare Law. Universal healthcare is not just about
making health service accessible, but also providing quality healthcare that can be only made
possible with new technologies, knowledge, and services.

The additional financing and expanded capacity shall cover the centers for fatal
diseases, the expanded bed capacity, establishment of a research center to aid in health
service and treatment, educational and training programs in coordination with medical
educational institutions, knowledge exchange programs, and other areas where health
services shall be optimized, improved, and updated regularly.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

AB
SHIRLYN L. BANAS-NOGRALES

» Philippine Statistics Authority Population of Region XII - SOCCSKSARGEN (Based oa the 2015 Census of Population), Reference
‘Number: 2016-077, Release Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CrTY, METRO MANILA

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. s819

AN ACT
CONVERTING DR. JORGE P. ROYECA CITY HOSPITAL IN GENERAL SANTOS
CITY INTO A MEDICAL CENTER TO BE KNOWN AS THE GENERAL SANTOS
CITY MEDICAL CENTER, UPGRADING ITS PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE
SERVICES AND FACILITIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Introduced by

Representative SHIRLYN L. BANAS-NOGRALES

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

Section 1. The Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital in General Santos City is hereby
converted into a medical center to known as the General Santos City Medical Center. The
medical center shall be under the supervision and control of the Department of Health.

Section 2. The existing service capability, professional health care services and
medical staff complement of Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital is also hereby upgraded and
increased to conform with and be commensurate to the requirements of a medical center.

Section 3. The bed capacity of Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital shall be increased
from two hundred (200) to six hundred (600) beds to accommodate the institution's
requirement as a medical center. It shall be immediately implemented upon the approval of
this Act.

Section 4. The Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Budget
and Management and the Civil Service Commission, and in consultation with the
management of the hospital, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be created
pursuant to this Act.


Section 5. The Chief of the Medical Center shall develop a plan to be submitted to
the Department of Health to reflect the development goals of the hospital, consistent with the
increase in bed capacity and service capability. Requests for the staffing requirements, capital
outlay investments, and budgetary needs for operations shall be based on the regional medical
center development plan.

Section 6. The Medical Center shall be encouraged to conduct health research and
development, training and education, and other similar activities with existing medical
rescarch and educational institutions, both foreign and domestic. It shall be allowed to accept
grants that contribute to its health research, capacity-development, or educational interests.
The aforementioned activities shall be subject to relevant rules, laws, or regulation of the
Republic of the Philippines.

Section 7. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department's
programs the funding requirement for the implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such
amount as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the medical center shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

To further strengthen the capacity of the General Santos City Medical Center in
service capability, medical equipment, professional health care services, medical staff
complement, research and development, training and instruction, and the establishment of
Centers for Disease Control, Lung, Kidney, Dialysis and Transplant, Heart, Trauma, Burn,
Birth, Imaging and Radiology, Orthopedic and Other Rehabilitation, Wellness, Blood Bank,
Clinics and Medical Offices, and the like, an initial budget in the amount of P500,000,000.00
for the establishment of General Santos City Medical Center shall be appropriated
immediately upon the approval of this Act.

Section 8. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of
Health shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations upon consultation with the City
Government of General Santos and other stakeholders and shall be implemented consistent
with the medical center development plan.

Section 9. If any provision or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid,
the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 10. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazatte or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,