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Republic of the Philippines ‘-” RECEIVED BZN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES oATEY 20200

Quezon City z

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
nouse pit no.8048

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE ALABAT ISLAND DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ALABAT, PROVINCE OF QUEZON INTO A LEVEL Ill
GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE ALQUEREZ GENERAL HOSPITAL
UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines provides that, "The
State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at
affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled,
women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers."

Towards this end, this bill seeks to upgrade the Alabat Island District Hospital in Alabat,
Quezon into a Level III General Hospital in order to address the medical needs of the people of
the Alabat island or Alquerez (Alabat, Quezon, Perez) Inter Local Health Zone.

The Alabat Island District Hospital is a Level 1 hospital and has a bed capacity of twenty-
five (25) beds. This bill seeks to increase its bed capacity amidst its growing population of
15,630 people based on the 2015 census.

Alabat is a Sth class municipality and is politically subdivided into 19 barangays with a
total land area of $7.61 km2 (22.24 sq mi). Like many district hospitals in the country, the Alabat
Island District Hospital, currently the only available health facility in Alabat, lacks emergency
medical equipment to treat complex diseases and illnesses. Most common illnesses in the
municipality are acute respiratory infection, hypertension, gastritis, acute gastroenteritis, infected
wounds, urinary tract infection, arthritis, and stroke. Approximately three (3) patients per month
are admitted for stroke, and since there are no adequate facilities available at the Alabat Island
District Hospital, the patients are required to cross the mainland to receive the appropriate
treatment.

Alabat is approximately 8.10 nautical miles from Atimonan and during emergency
situations, patients are transported from the island to a secondary hospital or terliary hospital by a
hiring a small fishing boat or taking passenger vessel. Patients who require emergency treatment
are transported from the island towards the mainland by a commercial vessel which runs once in
an hour from 5:00 a.m, until 1:00 p.m, Patients who need medical attention outside of this period
are unable to receive treatment unless they are able to find other residents who are in possession
of a fishing boat or ship or who are willing to transport the patients to the mainland. It would
take about 1.5 hours to ship a patient to the mainland and emergency treatment may further be


delayed if no commercial vessel or fishing boat is available. It is unfortunate that if stroke occurs
after the business hours of the commercial vessel, the possibility of death becomes higher!

In order to conform with the policy of the State in providing quality and efficient health
care services consistent with the government’s universal health care agenda, the upgrading of the
Alabat Island District Hospital into a level 3 general hospital is earnestly sought.

Oban,

ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4th District, Quezon

' de la Torre, Gian Paolo, Tapan, Jerchel, Kathleen, Yoshida, Kaori, Cost-benefit Analysis of a Sea
Ambulance Project in the Municipality of Alabat in Quezon Province, Philippines, Graduate School of
Public Policy, University of Tokyo Economic Analysis of Public Policy 2015


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8048

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE ALABAT ISLAND DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF ALABAT, PROVINCE OF QUEZON INTO A LEVEL III
GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE ALQUEREZ GENERAL HOSPITAL
UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Alabat Island District Hospital in the Municipality of Alabat, Province
of Quezon is hereby upgraded into a Level IMI general hospital to be known as the Alquerez
General Hospital, under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

The increase in the bed capacity of the Alquerez General Hospital in the Municipality of
Alabat, Province of Quezon shall be implemented in accordance with the hospital development
plan.

SEC. 2. The existing service professional health care services and facilities are also
hereby upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity increase as provided
in Section | hereof,

SEC. 3. The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and in consultation with the management of
the hospital, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up in the
workforce of the said hospital.

SEC. 4. The chief of the hospital shall develop a hospital development plan to be
submitted to the DOH to reflect the development goals of the hospital, consistent with the
increase in bed capacity and service capability. Request for the staffing requirements, capital
outlay investments and budgetary needs for operations shall be based on the hospital
development plan

SEC. 5. The Secretary of Health shall 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. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health
shall prepare the implementing rules and regulations upon consultation with the Provincial
Government of Quezon and other stakeholders and shall be implemented consistent with the
hospital development plan.

SEC. 7. If any provision or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remaining
parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations inconsistent with this


‘Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette o in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,