HOUSE oF REPRESENTATIVES
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT!
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

9
HOUSE BILL No, 8039

Introduced by Honorable Estrellita B. Suansing

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill provides for the establishment of the Farmers’ Medical Center in the
Municipality of Zaragoza, Province of Nueva Ecija, defining its powers and functions
and appropriating funds therefor.

The country’s agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in propelling economic
growth and development and ultimately eradicating the incidence of poverty
throughout the country. Through the years, the government has been embarking on
vital programs and projects such as the agricultural modernization and agrarian
reform to help farmers and farm workers become economically secure.

‘The establishment of the Farmers’ Medical Center (FMC) further strengthens
the government's commitment to the farmers and farm workers by providing for them
a specialized institution that will render its services and facilities solely for their
benefit. The FMC will function not only as a medical facility but will also engage in
scientific research on diseases afflicting farmers, among others, and publishing such
research; encourage and undertake the training of medical health workers; and
encourage the formation of other organizations on the national, provincial, city,
municipal or barangay level and to coordinate various efforts and activities for the
purpose of achieving a more programmatic approach on the common problems
plaguing our farmers.

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

ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

9
HOUSE BILL No. 839

Introduced by Honorable Estrellita B. Suansing

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FARMERS’ MEDICAL CENTER
(FMC) TO BE LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ZARAGOZA, PROVINCE OF
NUEVA ECIJA, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Creation of the Farmers Medical Center. - There is hereby
created a corporate body, for the primary benefit of farmers, farm workers and their
families to be known as the Farmers’ Medical Center (FMC), hereinafter referred to
in this Act as FMC, which is hereby categorized as a Government Owned or
Controlled Corporation (GOCC).

SECTION 2. Board of Trustees. - The Farmers’ Medical Center shall be
administered by a Board of Trustees which shall be composed of nine (9) regular
members. The appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by
the President of the Philippines. The Board of Trustees shall elect a Chairman from
among themselves, who shall be the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees. The
Medical Director of the Farmers Medical Center shall be appointed by the Board of
Trustees.

SECTION 3. Composition of the Board. - The Board of Trustees shall be
composed of the following members:

a) Three (3) members from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA);

b) Three (3) members from the academe particularly the Allied Medical
Sciences;


©) Three (3) members from the duly registered farming federations and
cooperatives who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture.

Provided, That the Secretaries of Health, Agriculture and Social Welfare and
Development or their duly designated representatives and the Chairperson of the
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PSCO) and the Chairperson of the Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) or their duly designated
representative shall be ex-officio members of the Board.

SECTION 4. Term of Office and Compensation. - The regular members of
the Board of Trustees shall serve for a term of four (4) years. In case of vacancy, the
Board shall be filled by appointment by the President of the Philippines. The
appointee shall only serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

‘The members of the Board of Trustees shall not be compensated but shall be
entitled to receive per diems equivalent to three thousand pesos (P3,000.00) per
Board of Trustees meeting. Provided, That the ex-officio members of the Board of
‘Trustees shall not be compensated nor shall they be entitled to receive per diems for
Board of Trustees meetings.

SECTION 5. Quorum of the Board of Trustees. ~ Six (6) regular members of
the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to transact business and any
decision of such six (6) members on any matter duly presented to the Board of
‘Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the Farmers’ Medical Center.

SECTION 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The purposes and objectives of the
Farmers’ Medical Center are as follows:

1) To construct, establish, operate and maintain a medical center for farmers,
farm workers and their families;

2) To make medical facilities and equipment necessary for prevention and
treatment of diseases accessible and provide chronic, long term, and
palliative services available to patients and implement a community-based
program, in close coordination with local government units, that promotes
preventive healthcare.

3) To promote, encourage, and engage in scientific research on the prevention
and care and/or treatment of common sickness and diseases among
farmer patients and related activities, including sponsorship and conduct
of relevant congresses, conventions, seminars and conferences;

4) To stimulate and/or underwrite scientific researches on the biological,
demographic, social, economic, eugenic, physiological aspects of common
or rare illnesses of patients; and gather, compile and publish the findings
of such researches for public dissemination;


5)

6)

7)

8)

To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and
information on the prevention, treatment, and control of such diseases; to
arouse, enhance and develop public interest or awareness;

To encourage and/or undertake the training of physicians, nurses, medical
technicians, health officers and social workers on the practical and
scientific conduct and implementation of medical services and other
related activities;

To encourage the formation of other organizations on the national,
provincial, city, municipal or barangay level and to coordinate various
efforts and activities for the purpose of achieving a more programmatic
approach on the common problems relative to the objective herein
enumerated; and

To extend medical services to the farmers, farm workers and their families,
to help prevent, relieve or alleviate their sufferings and uplift their living
conditions.

SECTION 7. Powers and Functions. - For the attainment and/or furtherance
of the above mentioned purposes and objectives, the Farmers’ Medical Center, as a
corporate body, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have all the powers and
functions pertaining to a juridical person, and is therefore authorized, among other

things:

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

To acquire, hold and own in any manner, property of whatever nature or
description, and to dispose of such property under any mode of
encumbrance or conveyance;

To enter into, make, perform and carry out contracts of every kind and for
any purpose with any person, firm, association or corporation, whether
public or private, domestic or foreign;

To mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of its
properties;

To solicit, receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of
contributions, whether cash or in kind, from both the public and private
sectors;

To open such accounts in banks and other financial institutions and to
disburse funds or invest the same as the Board of Trustees may direct or
authorize to accomplish or advance the purpose or interest of the Farmers’
Medical Center;


6) To invite foreign medical specialists and similar experts in the various
medical fields to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the Farmers’
Medical Center;

7) To send the personnel of the Farmers’ Medical Center to research
institutes, medical institutes or universities for advance training or
observation and to attend international or regional conventions,
conferences, congresses, and seminars as the Board may deem necessary
to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the Famers’ Medical Center;

8) To adopt a set of by-laws, rules and regulations consistent with existing
laws and the provisions of this Act to govern the administration and
operation of the affairs of the Medical Center;

9) To establish, operate and maintain branches of Farmers’ Medical Center
in other key regions, provinces or cities as may be deemed necessary by
the Board of Trustees in close consultation and coordination with the
Secretary of Department of Health; and

10) To do such other acts and functions as may be necessary for or incidental
to the accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the Farmers’
Medical Center.

SECTION 8. Property of the Farmers’ Medical Center. ~ The property of the
Farmers’ Medical Center shall consist of the real, personal, mixed and other types of
property, now owned or reserved for or may hereafter be given, acquired, transferred
or conveyed to the Farmers’ Medical Center by the Philippine government, its
branches or instrumentalities, any foreign government, as well as by trust,
foundations, corporations, or persons, alien or domestic, in order to carry out its
purposes and objective as set forth in herein.

SECTION 9. Tax Exemptions. ~ All donations, contributions or endowments
which may be made by entities or persons to the FMC shall be exempt from tax of
any nature or kind. The importation of equipment and supplies by the FMC shall
likewise be exempt from tax, duties and tariff of any nature or kind. Furthermore,
the FMC shall be exempt from the payment of taxes, charges and fees being imposed
by the government, its political subdivisions or instrumentalities, including local
government units for equipment purchased for its use.

SECTION. 10. Government Contribution. - The government shall contribute
the necessary land, building, equipment and facilities to the Farmers’ Medical
Center, and shall pay for such obligations for real, personal and mixed properties
arising from such undertaking.


SECTION 11. Assistance from Government Offices. - ‘The Farmers’ Medical
Center may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of
the Government, including government owned or controlled corporations such as but
not limited to the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and
the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), for such assistance as it may need
in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives;

SECTION 12. Appropriations. - The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as contribution of the National
Government for the initial operations and maintenance of the Farmers’ Medical
Center, which shall be appropriated and included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of

Health in consultation with the Secretaries of Social Welfare and Development and
Agriculture shall issue the necessary rules and regulations within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 14. Auditing. ~ The books and accounts of the Farmers’ Medical
Center shall be subject to periodic auditing by the Chairman of the Commission on
Audit or his duly authorized representative

SECTION 15. Annual Report. - The Farmers’ Medical Center shall render to
the President of the Philippines, the Secretary of Health and the Congress of the
Philippines, an annual report of its activities and recommendations.

SECTION 16. Effect of Dissolution of the Center. - If for any reason, the
Farmers’ Medical Center is dissolved, its property remaining at the time of such
dissolution shall revert back to the Philippine government for disposition in
accordance with existing laws

SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, rules and regulations,
issuances or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 18. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof shall continue to be

in full force and effect.

SECTION 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

Republic of the Philippines