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Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular
HOUSE BILL N
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez Tr.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The  World  Health  Organization  established  in  1948  that  every
human  being,  regardless  of  race,  religion,  political  belief,  economic  or  social
condition, has the fundamental right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of
health. In pursuit of this goal, member countries, including the Philippines, have
dedicated  their  efforts  to  providing  timely,  adequate,  affordable,  and  quality
healthcare to their citizens. Over the years, the global community has collaborated
through treaties, international cooperation, multisectoral involvement, and the
implementation  of  Millennium  Development  Goals  (MDGs)  and  Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve this standard.
In the Philippines, significant legislative measures, reforms, programs, and
partnerships with national and international stakeholders have been introduced
to improve the health standards of Filipinos. Notable achievements include the
comprehensive iodization of table salt, which reduced the incidence of goiter, the
successful eradication of polio through massive immunization campaigns, and the
reduction of premature deaths among youth by increasing tobacco prices through
sin taxes.
More recently, the Universal Health Care  (UHC)  Act was promulgated
during the administration of Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, aiming to
ensure universal access to timely and adequate healthcare for all Filipinos. This
legislation provides basic financial protection against the burdensome costs of
healthcare, which can be as debilitating as the diseases themselves. Given the
current agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s administration, focused on
full   economic   recovery   and   pandemic   resilience,   the   full   and   efficient
implementation of the UHC Act is of crucial importance.
One of the key implementers  of the UHC law is the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation, commonly known as PhilHealth. Before the passage of the
UHC Law, efforts were made to enhance accountability within PhilHealth by


shortening the term of its president from six years to one year. However, the
subsequent UHC legislation failed to address the crucial issue of leadership and
governance  within  PhilHealth,  leading  to  confusion  about  the  role  of  its
President/CEO.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital role of PhilHealth in
providing benefits and coverage to protect Filipinos from the financial burdens of
healthcare. Therefore, the success of PhilHealth and the achievement of Universal
Health  Care  in  the  Philippines  are  closely  intertwined.  Ensuring  effective
leadership and governance in PhilHealth is parainount.
This bill represents a crucial step in the current administration's agenda to
improve public tmst in government agencies and enhance services for the Filipino
people. By establishing the President/CEO of PhilHealth as a Cabinet Secretary
with   a   fixed   six-year   term,   the   bill   empowers   PhilHealth   to   implement
multisectoral   and   radical   reforms   that   will   endure   beyond   the   current
administration.   The   President/CEO's   attendance   at  Cabinet  meetings   will
facilitate coordination with other agency heads and enable prompt resolution of
concerns by elevating them to the President's attention.
This bill not only seeks to align and bridge the gap between the amended
NHIC law and the UHC law but also aims to ensure that the leadership and
governance  of PhilHealth  are  insulated  from  political  pressures,  allowing for
continuous programs and reforms despite changes in administration. Given that
the quality of care and implementation of UHC can be significantly enhanced
through good governance and stable leadership in PhilHealth, the approval of this
measure is urgently sought.
To  effectively  address  the  urgency  and  improve  the  organizational
structure of PhilHealth, it is essential to remove its status as an attached agency of
the Department of Health and place it directly under the control and supervision
of  the  President  of  the  Philippines.  This  change  will  further  underscore  the
importance of clarity and establish a direct line of accountability to drive the
success of PhilHealth and ensure the delivery of quality healthcare to all Filipinos.
HON. ANTz#EgfaDOT.GOLEz,R.
Malasahit at Bayandhan Party list


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Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No.8585
Introduced by Rep. Anthony Rolando T. Golez |r.
AN ACT AMENDING ARTICLE IV, OF REPUBLIC ACT. NO. 9241, AN ACT
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL HEALTrl INsuRANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL
FILIPINOS AND EXTABLISHING TTIE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE
cORpORATION FOR TIIE puRpOsE, AND AMENDING CHAPTER in, OF
REPUBLIC  ACT NO. 11223, AN ACT INSTITUTING UNIVERSAL IIEALTII
CARE FOR ALL FILIPINOS, PRESCRIBING REFORMS IN TIIE  HEALTII
CARE SYSTEM, AND APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be_  it  enacted in  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of Rapresentatives  Of the  Repultic  Of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act No.11223 otherwise known as ``AN ACT
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL IIEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL
FILIPINOS AND EXTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE IIEALTII INSURANCE
CORPORATION FOR TIIE PURPOSE", is hereby amended to read as follows:
``Section 14.  Creation and Nature Of the  Corporation - There is hereby
created a Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, which shatl have the
status Of a tax±xenpt gor}erri:ment corporation attached to the Dcpartmont
Of Health for polity coordination and guidance under the direct supervisiprt
and control o.f the Office o.f the President of the Riepublic o.f the Philippines.
SECTION 2. Section 13 of the Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as ``AN
ACT  INSTITUTING  UNIVERSAL  IIEALTII  CARE  FOR  ALL  FILIPINOS,
PRESCRIBING   REFORMS   IN   TIIE      IIEALTII   CARE   SYSTEM,   AND
APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR", is hereby amended to read as follows:
``Section 13. Creation and Nature Of the Corporation PhilHealth Board of
Directors. -
(a) The PhilHealth Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board,
is  hereby  reconstituted  to  have  a  maximum  Of thirteen  (13)  members,
consisting of the fio[lowing:
(1) froe  (5)  ex  officio members,  ramcty:  the  Seoretary  Of Health,
Seoretary of Social Welfare and Developnent, Seoreta:ry of Budget


and Management,  Seoretary  of Finance,  Seoretary  of Labor  and
Employment;
(2)  three  (3)  expert  panel  members  with
ertise  in  am
combination  o.f the  fotlowing  fields_:_ pubhc  health,  management,
finance,  health  economics,  health  in_formatics,  biostatistics,  data
analytics,   actuarial   sciences,   or   in   any   .held   or   specialty   qs_
determined by the Board to aid in the ef f icient implementatwh apd_
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(3)   froe   (5)   sectoral   panel   members,   representing   the   direct
contri:butors,  indirect  contributors,  empkyers  group, health care
providers to be endorsed by their i'iational associations Of health care
institutions and health care professionals, and representative Of the
elected  local  chief  executives  to  be  endorsed  by  the  League  of
Provinces Of the Philippines, League of Cj.ties Of the Phitippines and
League of Municipalities Of the Philippines.. Provided, That at least
one  (1)  Of the  expert panel  menbers  and at least  two  (2)  of the
sectoral panel members are women.
ThesectoralandexpertpanelrnembersrmstbeFiitpinecttizensandofgood
moral character.
The   expert   panel   members   must:   (i)   be   of  recog.I'rized  probity   and
independence  and must have  distinguished themselves professionatry in
public,  civic  or  academic  service;  (ii)  be  in  the  active  practice  Of their
professions for at least seven (7) years; and (iii) not be appointed within one
(1)yearafterlosingintheimrnediatelyprecedingelections,whetherregular
or special.
fo) The Sccrctary of Health President and CEO o.f the Corporaton shall be
an ex officio voting Chairperson of the Board
(c)  AIl  appointive  nembers  of the  Board  shall  be  required  to  undergo
tralring in health care financing, health systems, costing health services
and HTA prior to the start of their term. Noncomphance shall be a ground
f or dismissal.
Within  thirty  (30)  days following  the  effoctivity  of this  Act,  the  Governance
Commission for Goverrl:I'i'lent-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) shall, in
accordance  with  the  provisions  Of  Republic  Act  No.  10149,  promulgate  the
nomination and selection process for appointive members of the Board with a clear
set of qualifications, credentials, and recommendation from the concerned sectors."
SECTION 3. Section 18 of the Republic Act No. 7875 is hereby repealed by Section
13 of Republic Act No. 11223, as hereby amended.
SECTION 4. Section 14 of the Republic Act No.11223 is hereby amended to read
as follows:


``.Sfction  14.  The   Prestdent   and   Chief  Executive   Officer   (CEO)   of
PhilHealth. -a)A#:##[#irleTthetennpo#gt#f:herstphehit#:£:%E#
CEO  o.f  PhilHealth  from  the  Board's  non-ex  officio  members,
hereinafter  referred  to  as  the   President  and  CEO,  upon  the_
recommendation Of the Board. The President and CEO shall not be_
I_emoved  .from  office,  except  in  accordance  with  existing  laws:__
A:ppointnenttoanyvacaneyshallbeoulyfortheunexpiredportion_
of the term Of the predecessor.
b)D?i:f±±±±£F#he::;#:::?=::reca#£:i:ntcoEeSrfesc#i]ts##=±::±±#
decisions.  His  functions  are  as  follows:  (1)  to  act  as  the  chip_I
executive  o.fficer  o.f PhilHealth;  and  (2)  to be  responsible  for  the
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(3)  to regularly report  to the  President o.f the  Philippines on the
operations   and   rlca:nagenent   o.f   PhilHealth   as   well   as   the
implementaticm of the Undlersal Heal_th Care  Act and other related
laws within its urisdiction.
c)   Q,ualifications- The President and CEO must be a Filipino citizen
and must possess adequate and appropriate training and at least
seven   (7)   years   o.f  experience   in   the   frold  of  public  health,
management,froance,andhealthecorrorhicsoracombinationofany
Qfiblb±s__expertise.
d)   Prohibition- To avoid confoict o.f interest, the  President and CEQ_
must not be irrvoived in any health care institution including as
owner or member o.f its board, and the President and CEO must not
be an elected public official at the time o.f his/her appointment or
have previously participated in a general election one (1) year prior
hbisiferavpointment.
e)   Rank and Salary - The  President and CEO, upon appointnent,
shall have  the rarck equivalent to  a  Cabinet  Secretary  and  shall
receive the corresponding salary and all other bonuses fixed under_
relevant laws, payables .from the f unds o.f PhilHealth.
The appointment o.f the President and CEO shall no longer require the
concurrence o.f the Commj,ssion o.f A:ppointnents and shall immediately
take e.ffect upon appointment by the President o.f the Philippines."
SECTION 5. Section 19 of the Republic Act No. 7875 is hereby repealed by Section
14 of Republic Act No. 11223, as hereby amended.


SECTION 6. Rapcfl J..#g CJ¢wsc-All acts, executive orders, memorandum circulars
/ guidelines and other issuance or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION  7.  £#gcfi.t„.fry-  This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved'