NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)

House Bill No._ 266

Introduced by Representative Christian Tell A. Yap

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world next to the United States,
China, India and Indonesia, according to a study conducted by the Geneva-based United Nations
Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the Belgian-based Centre on the Epidemiology of
Disasters (CRED) covering the period between 1995 and 2015. The country endured 274 natural
calamities over the past twenty years.

Among the natural calamities occurred, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake jolted Bohol in 2013 with
a total of 222 individuals were reported dead, 976 injured, and eight missing. Following the Bohol
quake, the country faced the strongest and deadliest typhoon in its history. Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)
entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on November 6 with 6,300 deaths reported.

This shows that the country is prone to risks and emergency cases brought by natural and man-
made calamities. Thus, we need a more responsive and organized pre-hospital and emergency care

system to help us with a coping mechanism and reduce casualties arising from such instances

This bill seeks to institutionalize an emergency medical service system and establish a national

standard for emergency medical services in the local and national levels of government.



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NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

266

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Christian Tell A. Yap

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM (EMSS),
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Shore Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Emergency Medical Services

System (EMSS) Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people. Pursuant to this policy, the government shall
institutionalize a comprehensive, accessible, integrated and standardized system of emergency
medical services and provide an environment that will maximize the capability and potential of

emergency medical services personnel.
Pp

SEC. 3. Objectives. -

Fhis Act has the following objectives:

(a) To create a national Emergency Medical Services System Council;

(b) To develop and institutionalize an emergency medical services system at the national,

regional and local levels of government;

(©) To encourage and promote the active participation of the private sector in the provision

of emergency medical services;

(@ To establish a national standard for an emergency medical services including, but not
limited to, accreditation of EMS institutions and/or training of EMS personnel, establishing,

standards for design, accreditation and regulation of emergency medical vehicles;


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(© To institutionalize the use of 911 as the Nationwide Emergency Hotline Number;

() To adopt an emergency medical service protocol in times of natural and man-made

disasters;

@ To promote public safety and accessible emergency medical services to the people

especially those in the under-served and unserved communities; and

(h) To establish and provide support services, both internal and external, to emergency

medical services.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — As used this Act:

@ Accredited training and assessment institutions refer to organizations, in good
standing with the Emergency Medical Service System Council (EMSSO), accredited to offer
training programs, courses, continuing education and competency-based assessment in
emergency medical services for EMS personnel that meet the standards established by the
E

ISSC, hereinafter referred to as the Council created under this Act and, in case of.

uniformed personnel, in coordination with the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSO).

(b) Ambulance/Emergency medical vehicle refers to a vehicle designed and equipped
for transporting sick or injured patients to, from, and between places of treatment by land,

water or air, affording safety and comfort to the patients and avoiding the aggraviation of

illness or injury.

(©) Basic Life Support (BLS) refers to a group of actions and interventions used to
resuscitate and stabilize victims of cardiac and respiratory arrest. These BLS actions and
interventions includes the recognition of a cardiac or a respiratory emergency or stroke,
activation of the emergency response system, CPR and relief of foreign-body airway

obstruction.

(@) Competency-based assessment refers to the confirmation of an EMS personnel’s
capability and capacity to perform one’s duties and responsibilities, through the process of
collective evidence and judgment, in accordance with the standards and guidelines

established by the Council.

(c) Emer Medical Dispatch refers to the immediate identification and prioritization
gency ‘pal Pp

of emergency situations, the timely dispatch of appropriate resources, providing essential

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pre-arrival medical instructions and full endorsement to the receiving hospital. Dispatch
encompasses all aspects of communication including request processing, coordination and

support, documentation and monitoring

() Emergency medical services (EMS) refer to:

(1) Emergency care refers to the independent delivery of pre-hospital emergency
medical services by appropriately trained and certified EMS personnel, usually in a
mobile or community setting, in full accordance with the Emergency Medical
Services Treatment Protocols established by the Emergency Medical Services System

Council (EMSSC), hereinafter referred to as the Council, created under this Act.

(2) Advance life support refers to a set of life saving protocols and skills that extend
beyond BLS to further support the circulation and provide an advanced airway and

adequate ventilation.

(@) Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) refers to a group of interventions

used to treat and stabilize adult victims of life-threatening cardio respiratory

emergencies and to resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest.

(b) Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) refers to a group protocol for
‘managing trauma victims and designed to maximize management in the first

hour after trauma and ensure an optimal long-term outcome.

(© Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) refers to a system of critical care

procedures and facilities, such as intensive care nursery, for the basic and

y ill or injured infants and children.

(@ Neonatal Advanced Life Support (NALS) refers to a group of
interventions for the basic and advanced treatment of injured and critically ill

new bor infants.

@ Emergency Medical Services Personnel refers to a trained and certified personnel

engaged in the provision of emergency medical services during emergencies.

(h) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System refers to the arrangement and
coordination of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the effective delivery of EMS
required in the management of medical emergencies; for the management and prevention of

further incidents or accidents and the broad range of emergency care from emergency care

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known as the "Emergency Medical Services Systems Council (FE.

to transport in an intensive care setting.

(@) — Emergency Medical Technician refers to the EMS personnel who provide basic
emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access

emergency medical system.

() Emergency Response and Care refers to the arrival of resources at the scene and the

timely initiation and provision of appropriate medical interventions.

(&) Emergency Transport refers to the transporting of a patient to the most appropriate
and definitive health facility with continued provision of care and appropriate interventions

en raute to the appropriate health facility.

() Inter-Facility Referral and Transport refers to the transport of patient with medical
escort, from one referring facility or agency to another receiving facility or agency for
definitive care, as the patient requires, in an event that further appropriate services are not

available in the referring facility

(m) Medical Direction refers to the communication between an EMS personnel and a

physician from the field via radio or other means to obtain instruction on further care of a

patient.

(0) Medical Emergency refers to any acute or life-threatening condition that requires

fe intervention by competent medical personnel.

(National Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols refer to emergen:

medical procedures outlining approved clinical practices and therapies to be observed by

EMS personnel, as established by the Council created under Section 5 hereof.

CHAPTER IL
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS COUNCIL

SEC. 5. Creation of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Council. - A body to be

[SSC)" is hereby created under the

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the EMSSC. - The Council shall perform the following

functions:


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(a) ‘To formulate policies on EMS systems;

(0) To develop national standards of emergency medical services to include, among others, the
skills and competencies required for EMS personnel and the development of mandatory national
emergency medical services treatment protocols to be observed by EMS personnel and such

other entities as it may consider appropriate:

(6) To promulgate a Code of Ethics for EMS personnel;

(@ To develop appropriate standards of operation for EMS personnel;

(©) To develop standards and protocols for the design, accreditation, construction, outfitting and

operations of emergency medical vehicles;

() To ensure the establishment of a system of networking and coordination among all existing
government health agencies, LGUs, and private and non-government medical institutions for

the effective implementation of this Act;

(@) To establish a Secretariat, pursuant to Section 9 of this Act, under an Executive Director for

the administrative and day-to-day operations of the Councils

(h) To create committees and other mechanisms to help expedite the implementation of plans
and strategies;

() To generate resources from local, national and international organizations/agencies,

whether government or private sector, for its operation; and receive and accept donations and
other conveyances including funds, materials and services by gratuitous title: Provided, That not

more than thirty percent (30°%) of said funds shall be used for administrative expenses;

() To prepare an annual budget of the Council, through the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), and submit the same to the President for inclusion in the annual General

Appropriations Act;

(b) To advise the President on matters pertaining to EMS;

() To investigate complaints of motu propio and impose penalties for the violation against any

of the provisions of this Act;

(m)'To request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau or agency of the government,

including LGUs, to render such assistance as it may require in order to carry out, enforce or

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implement the provisions of this Act;

(n) To regulate activities inimical to the delivery of emergency medical services; and

(0) To promulgate rules and regulations and policies and enforce the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 7. Membership of the Council. - ‘The members of the Council shall be composed of the
following:

(1) The Secretary of the DILG or duly authorized representative as Chairperson of the Councils

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) or duly authorized representative as Co-
Chairperson;

(8) ‘The Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)

or duly authorized representati

(4) ‘The Chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) or duly authorized

representati

(9) The President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) or duly
authorized representative; and
(6) The President of the Philippine College of Emergency Medicine (PCEM) or duly authorized
representative;
(7) One (1) representative of a national organization or society of emergency medical technicians

(EMT’s) who will undergo a nomination and sclection process by the Council;

‘The Executive Director of the Emergency 911 Office, as created by Executive Order No,
36-2018, and the Director General of TESDA, shall be required to participate in all meetings of the
Council. Relevant stakcholders from the different government offices, private entities and civil
society organizations (CSOs) who are involved in the practice and implementation of emergency

medical services can be invited as resource persons or representatives in the Council's meetings.

SEC. 8. Compensation and Remuneration. — ‘The Secretaries of the DILG, DOH and
DICT shall perform their duties as such without compensation or remuneration, subject to
reasonable per diem allowances as approved by the Council and subject to existing rules and
regulations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Members thereof who are not
government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary travelling expenses, per dient and
representation allowances chargeable against funds of the DILG, as approved by the Council,

subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM.

SEC. 9. The Secretariat. ~The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), an attached agency of the
DILG, shall act as the Secretariat of the Council. The BFP shall be strengthened by augmenting its

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additional manpower and budget for its operations.

SEC. 10. Meetings. - The Council shall meet at least once every quarter.

SEC. 11. Program Plans. - The Council shall within six (6) months after having been
officially constituted and finally staffed, adopt and immediately cause to be implemented, in
coordination with medical and related agencies, a short-range program in support of relevant
existing projects and activities and, within one (1) year, a long-range five (5)-year development
program. This development program shall be developed and subjected to annual review and revision

by the Council, in coordination with relevant public and private medical agencies and organizations.

SEC. 12. Accreditation. - The Council shall issue authorization for the following:

(@) Accreditation of training institutions for EMS personnel; and

(b) Accreditation of emergency medical vehicle providers.

CHAPTER III
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL

SEC. 13. Creation of Plantilla Positions tor Emergency Medical Services Personnel
‘There shall be created a minimum number of plantilla positions for EMS personnel in the following

government hospitals /health facilities within the next five (5) years upon approval of this Act:

(a) Level 3 Hospitals Five (5) EMS personnel and at least one (1) Ambulance Assistant;

(b) Level 1 and 2 Hospitals — Three (3) EMS personnel and at least one (1) Ambulance

Assistant;

(© Local Government Units: -

(1) Highly-urbanized city (HUQ) — Ten (10) EMS personnel and at least one (1)

Ambulance Assistant;

(2) Component city — Bight (8) EMS personnel and at least one (1) Ambulance
Assistant;

(3) First to third class municipality — Four (4) EMS personnel and at least one (1)
Ambulance Assistant;

(4) Fourth to sixth class municipality — ‘Two (2) EMS personnel and at least one (1)

Ambulance Assistant; and


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(@) Other Health Facilities - as may be deemed necessary by the Council.

Upon the approval of the necessary plantilla positions for EMS personnel, the Council shall
submit a proposed qualification standard for positions to the Civil Service Commission (CSO) for its
approval, pursuant to E.O. No, 292, entitled “The Revised Administrative Code of 1987 on the Civil
Service Commission”. ‘The annual financial requirements needed to pay for the salaries of EMS
personnel shall be included in the annual general appropriations of the respective hospitals, health
facilities and LGUs.

SEC. 14, Authorized Training Institution. - Training, programs, cours

and continuing
education for an EMS personnel shall be conducted by an institution that has been granted a
Certificate of Program Registration (COPR) by the TESDA, in case of technical non-degree courses
falling under the TESDA jurisdiction, and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) for
uniformed personnel. ‘The requirements prescribed by the Council shall serve as the minimum
requirement for program registration. The DOH can provide training programs for EMS personnel:
Protided, ‘That these shall be in accordance with the standards set by the Council.

CHAPTER IV
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM

SEC. 15. Emergency Medical Vehicles. - The Council shall develop minimum

requirements for the design, construction, performance, equipment, testing and appearance of

‘emergency medical vehicles. As such, only emergency medical vehicles shall be allowed to displ

the word "Ambulance" and the universally-accepted "Star of

fe" symbol. It shall also provide for
the operation protocols of said vehicles. ‘The Council shall design a specification and an
accreditation systems and procedures, subject to the existing regulations of the DOH on licensure of

medical vehicles,

SEC. 16. Emergency dispatch. - All local government units are mandated to establish their
dispatch centers where constituents can call for all cases of emergencies, with adequate and qualified
personnel. The dispatch centers shall follow the prescribed guidelines on dispatch protocol as

determined by the Council.

SEC. 17. Emergency Response, Care, and Transport. ~ All LGUs shall ensure the

availability of adequate emergency transport vehicles or ambulances with qualified EMS personnel.

All emergency transport vehicles and the procedures to be undertaken in responding and caring for
patients shall follow the prescribed guidelines of the Council on ambulance services and on

‘emergency response and care.


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SEC. 18. Inter-facility Referral and Transport. — The Council shall establish the
prescribed protocols/guidelines on inter-facility referral and transport, in accordance with

appropriate medical direction.

CHAPTER V
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

SEC. 19. Adoption of a Free National Emergency 911 Hotline Number. - ‘There shall
only be one (1) free national emergency 911 hotline number to enable the public to access

emergency medical servi

s. The operations of the national emergency 911 hotline number shall be

under the DILG, in coordination with the Council.

SEC. 20. Compliance. - It shall be the duty of every telecommunications to provid:

subscribers with access to the national emergency 911 hotline number in accordance with the

implementing rules and regulations to be adopted pursuant to this Act.

SEC. 21. Prohibited Acts and Penalties on Emergency Communications. -

(@) Any person making a telephone call to an emergency hotline number who annoys,

uses, threatens or harasses any person who is answering the telephone call shall be guilty with the
first offense and, subject to subsection (¢) of this section, shall be compelled to attend a seminar on
the proper use of the nationwide emergency hotline number. Upon commission of the offense for
the

cond time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less than Five

hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). Upon commission of
the offense for the third and succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with
a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months or a fine
of not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos

(P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

(b) Any person making a telephone call to an emergency hotline number and, upon the call
being answered, making or soliciting any comment, request, suggestion, proposal or sound which is
obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent, shall be mandated to attend a seminar on the proper use
of the nationwide emergency hotline number for the first offense. Upon commission of the offense
for the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less than
Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). Upon
commission of the offense for the third and succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction,
be imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6)
months or a fine of not less than ‘Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand

pesos (P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.


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(© A person giving false report of a medical emergency or giving false information in
connection with a medical emergency, or making false alarm of a medical emergency, knowing, the
report or information or alarm to be false; or making a false request for ambulance service to an
ambulance service provider, knowing the request to be false, shall be mandated to attend a seminar
on the proper use of the nationwide emergency hotline number for the first offense. Upon
commission of the offense for the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed
with a fine of not less than ‘Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00) and payment of damages. Upon commission of the offense for the third and succeeding
times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not less
than one (1) year but not more than three (3) years or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00) but not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) and payment of damages, or both,

at the discretion of the court.

CHAPTER VI
OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 22. Role of the LGUs. - ‘The LGUs are hereby mandated to develop and
institutionalize an emergency medical service system within their area of jurisdiction. The Council
shall include in its programs, activities that will support and enable the LGUs to accomplish such
task. Non-compliance by public officials of the provisions of this Act shall be subject to

administrative sanctions under civil service regulations.

SEC. 23. Establishment of the EMSS Fund — There is hereby established an EMSS Fund
which may be sourced from fees, donations and grants, to be administered by the Council, and
subject to COA regulations. ‘The amount collected shall be used to augment the budget for the
EMSS operations of LGUs, particularly for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas
(GIDAs), and the Council’s administrative functions, provided, that not more than thirty percent

(30%) of said funds shall be used for administrative expenses.

SEC. 24. Appropriations. - ‘The amount needed for the implementation of this Act shall be

included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 25. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - ‘The DILG, in consultation with the
DOH, DICT, DO}, and Philippine Red Cross, shall issue and promulgate the rules and regulations
to implement the provisions of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days upon constitution of

the Council.

SEC. 26. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act shall

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be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impact any other

part of this Act.
SEC. 27. Transitory Clause. ~ Pursuant to Sections 4 (a) and 14 of this Act, all existing
ules of TESDA pertaining to the accreditation of EMS personnel shall remain effective until new

sets of the rules are established.

SEC. 28. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules or
regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly.
SEC. 29. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the

Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

i