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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.__________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Julienne L. Baronda  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is home to some of the best specialty hospitals in the region. 
With the Philippine Heart Center, the Lung Center of the Philippines, the Philippine 
Children’s Medical Center, the National Kidney Transplant Institute, and the 
Philippine Cancer Center all providing world class service and affordable and quality 
health care to our people, we are not lagging behind. But what do these specialty 
hospitals have in common? They are all located in Metro Manila. 
The location of these specialty hospitals provides an easy access to Filipinos 
living in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Unfortunately, however, this is not 
always the case with our people living in far-flung provinces including Iloilo. In fact, 
Ilonggos have always faced hurdles and additional challenges whenever they seek 
medical attention from specialty hospitals. It is a sad reality that transportation and 
accommodation costs are at times, too much of a burden for the Ilonggo people, in 
addition to the medical bills that continue to pile up. Worse, because of the increasing 
number of Filipinos trying to avail the service of specialty hospitals, even asking for a 
slot to be accommodated by them or just being scheduled is also an issue. 
Thus, it is the dream of this representation to bring these specialty hospitals 
closer to the people, particularly the Ilonggos and the nearby provinces. The creation 
of specialty hospitals will provide an opportunity for our kababayans to avail topnotch 
service that at present, is only readily available for those near Metro Manila. If we are 
truly a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, then let us make 
this a reality so that our countrymen, rich or poor, will have an equal chance to fight 
for their lives. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Rep. Julienne “Jam” L. Baronda 
District Representative 
December 13, 2022
1:48 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.__________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Julienne L. Baronda  
_____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A SATELLITE SPECIALTY HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF 
ILOILO TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED MEDICAL CARE INCLUDING 
EQUIPMENT, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Iloilo City Satellite 
Specialty Hospital Act”.  
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential 
goods, health and other social services available and adequate to the people at affordable 
cost. To this end, the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health 
development by providing them specialized health services which shall be available and 
accessible to all Filipinos at affordable cost. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following term is defined 
as follows:  
a.
Satellite Specialty Hospital refers to a hospital that targets one area of
medicine and caters to specific illnesses involving the heart, kidney, lungs,
cancer, musculoskeletal system, diseases involving children, and other
specialized treatment.
Sec. 4. Establishment of a Satellite Specialty Hospital in Iloilo City. – A Specialty 
Hospital that would serve as a satellite of the following hospitals is hereby established under 
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the supervision of the Department of Health and shall be located in one center or compound 
in Iloilo City: 
(a) Philippine Heart Center 
(b) Lung Center of the Philippines 
(c) National Kidney and Transplant Institute 
(d) Philippine Orthopedic Center 
(e) Philippine Cancer Center 
(f) Philippine Children’s Medical Center 
(g) Other specialty hospitals. 
The Satellite Specialty Hospital shall be divided into Departments depending on the 
specialized treatment that they cater to. The Satellite Specialty Hospital shall elect its Board 
of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”), with all the Departments equally 
represented and entitled to one (1) seat. The Trustees will then elect from among themselves 
the officers of the Board in accordance with their charter or by-laws. The Departments shall 
be under the authority of the Board with the former reporting directly to the mother units 
concerned on matters pertaining to its specialty. The Satellite Specialty Hospital shall have 
an initial bed capacity of two hundred (200) per Department. 
Sec. 5. Purposes and Objectives. – The purposes and objectives of the Satellite 
Hospital are the following: 
(a) 
To construct, maintain, and operate a Satellite Specialty Hospital in Iloilo 
City; 
(b) 
To provide medical, heart, kidney, liver, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and 
cancer treatment services and care to the general public; to help prevent heart, kidney, liver, 
pulmonary, musculoskeletal and cancer afflictions to the people especially the marginalized 
sectors, without regard to race, creed, color or political belief; 
(c) 
To encourage and provide proper trainings for physicians, nurses, medical 
technicians, health officers, and social workers in dealing with illnesses affecting the heart, 
kidney, liver, pulmonary, musculoskeletal and cancer diseases, including the sponsorship 
and conduct of relevant congresses, conventions, seminars, and conferences; 
(d) 
To conduct scientific research on existing and emerging diseases of the heart, 
kidney, liver, pulmonary, musculoskeletal and cancer diseases and to encourage public 
awareness and participation on general health and physical fitness; 


 
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(e) 
To support educational programs including scholarship grants and to provide 
avenues for universities, hospitals and research institutions to conduct studies and advanced 
trainings; 
(f) 
To encourage the participation of other organizations on the national, 
provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels and to coordinate their various efforts and 
activities for the purpose of achieving a more coordinated program on the common problems 
related to foregoing objectives. 
Sec. 6. Medical Director. The Satellite Specialty Hospital under this Act shall be 
headed by a Medical Director who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
upon the recommendation of the Board. 
The Medical Director shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
(a) 
Execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Board, and be 
responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational functions; 
(b) 
Submit for consideration and approval of the Board proposed measures, 
policies, guidelines and programs as may be deemed necessary or proper for the effective 
implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Act; 
(c) 
Direct and supervise the management, operation and administration of the 
Satellite Specialty Hospital, and may delegate this power and any or some of his 
administrative responsibilities and duties to the other officers of the hospital; 
(d) 
Execute on behalf of the Board, the appointment, promotion, transfer, 
dismissal, and suspension of the officers and employees of the hospital; 
(e) 
Represent the Satellite Specialty Hospital, on behalf of the Board, in all 
dealings with other officers, agencies and instrumentalities of the government, and all other 
persons or entities, whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private; 
(f) 
Recommend to the Board, the appointment, promotion, transfer, dismissal, 
and suspension of the officers and employees of the hospital; and, 
(g) 
Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or 
reposed by the Board. 
Sec. 7. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. – The Board shall determine 
the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Satellite Specialty Hospital 
established under this Act, subject to the evaluation by the Civil Service Commission and of 
the Organization, Position Classification and Compensation Bureau of the Department of 
Budget and Management. 


 
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Sec. 8. Period of Implementation. – The establishment of the Satellite Specialty 
Hospital under this Act shall be completed over a period of five (5) years; Provided, That 
payments for amortization of any outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred under 
this Act may extend beyond this period. 
Sec. 9. Minimum Standards of Construction. – Subject to existing laws, rules, and 
regulations, the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau of the Department of 
Health shall issue guidelines for the minimum design standards of the Satellite Specialty 
Hospital: Provided, That the application for a permit to construct a specialty hospital shall 
be accompanied by a hospital plan: Provided, Further, That no permit to construct a 
specialty hospital can be issued without complying with the minimum standards set forth in 
the guidelines to be issued pursuant to this Section. 
Sec. 10. Procurement. – Procurement of medical equipment and supplies to be used 
by the Satellite Specialty Hospital shall be exempt from the provisions on bidding process 
required under Republic Act No. 9184 or the “Government Procurement Act” and other 
relevant laws: Provided, That the following information and documents related to the 
procurement shall be published in the Government Procurement Policy Board online portal, 
the website of the procuring entity concerned, if available, and at any conspicuous place 
reserved for this purpose within the premises of the procuring entity within seven (7) 
working days from the date of acceptance of the award: 
(i) Project Name; 
(ii) Approved Budget for the Contract; 
(iii) Contract Period; 
(iv) Name of Winning supplier, distributor, manufacturer, contractor or consultant; 
(v) Amount of contract awarded; 
(vi) Notice of Award; 
(vii) Date of award and acceptance; 
(viii) Contract or purchase order; and, 
(ix) A certification stating that the procuring entity exerted all efforts to secure the 
most advantageous price to the government based on existing price data of the agency, the 
DTI or other relevant agencies or preliminary market scanning done by the agency showing 
prevailing market prices and practice. 
Sec. 11. Tax Exemptions and Privileges. – All existing tax exemptions and privileges 
of the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, the Lung Center 
of the Philippines, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the Philippine Cancer Center 


 
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shall be applicable to the Satellite Specialty Hospital.  The importation of medical equipment 
to be used by the Satellite Specialty Hospital shall likewise be exempt from import duties, 
taxes and other fees. 
Sec. 12. Appropriations. – The amount of Five Billion Pesos (Php 5,000,000,000.00) 
is hereby appropriated as contribution of the national government for the establishment, 
operation, and maintenance of the Satellite Specialty Hospital. Thereafter, such sums as may 
be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be incorporated in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sec. 13. Report to Congress. Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Medical Director of the Satellite Specialty Hospital shall present a 
report to Congress detailing its construction plan. 
For this purpose, the Congress shall establish a Joint Congressional Oversight 
Committee composed of five (5) members of each house to be appointed by the Senate 
President and the House Speaker, respectively. This Committee shall determine whether 
such acts, orders, rules and regulations are within the restrictions provided herein. 
Sec. 14. Annual Report. The Satellite Specialty Hospital shall submit an annual 
report of its activities, accomplishments, and recommendations to the mother unit 
concerned, the Department of Health, the President of the Philippines, and the Congress of 
the Philippines. 
Sec. 15. Periodic Review. As the need arises or within five (5) years after its 
effectivity, the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee shall conduct a review of this Act 
for purposes of determining whether remedial legislation is in order. 
Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Health, in 
coordination with the specialty hospitals enumerated in Section 4 hereof, shall promulgate 
rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days from its 
effectivity. 
Sec. 17. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby.  
Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. – All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, 
other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.  
Sec. 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  


 
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Approved,