Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE UPGRADE, MODERNIZATION AND CONVERSION
OF THE COTABATO PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN THE PROVINCE OF COTABATO
INTO
THE
COTABATO
PROVINCE
REGIONAL
HOSPITAL
UNDER
THE
CONTROL, MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness.1 The Constitution further 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.2
Corollary to this, under the new Universal Health Care Act,
it is imperative upon the
government to provide all Filipinos access to a comprehensive set of quality and cost-effective,
promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services without causing
financial hardship, and prioritize the needs of the population who cannot afford such services.3
The right to health is a basic human right. It is imperative upon the state to provide medical
services to address the need of every citizen, and narrow the gap in terms of accessing these
services. One of the problems being faced in public health care is the lack of services and bed
capacity in several of our public hospitals, one of which is the Cotabato Provincial Hospital,
which only has a 123-bed capacity.
This bill seeks to modernize and upgrade Cotabato Provincial Hospital into a tertiary level
regional hospital. The upgrade is necessary to ensure that the people of Cotabato have access to
vital health resources and medical services they urgently require. With the passage of this law,
we are unwaveringly committed to securing the highest standard of healthcare for our
constituents.
HON. MA. ALANA SAMANTHA TALIÑO SANTOS
Representative, 3rd District of Cotabato
1 Sec 15, Art III, 1987 Constitution
2 Sec 11, Art XIII, 1987 Constitution
3 Sec 2(b), RA 11233
June 19, 2023
11:50 am
8551


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No. _______
Introduced by Honorable Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE UPGRADE, MODERNIZATION AND CONVERSION
OF THE COTABATO PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN THE PROVINCE OF COTABATO
INTO
THE
COTABATO
PROVINCE
REGIONAL
HOSPITAL
UNDER
THE
CONTROL, MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Upgrade to Regional Hospital. – The Cotabato Provincial Hospital is hereby
upgraded, modernized and converted into a Regional Hospital, to be known as the COTABATO
PROVINCE REGIONAL HOSPITAL.
Section 2. Bed Capacity, Health Care Services, and Facilities. –
The authorized bed
capacity shall be upgraded into three hundred (300) with the capability of a tertiary level hospital.
The existing professional health care services and facilities are also hereby upgraded and
increased to conform with and be commensurate to its bed capacity,
consistent with the
hospital’s development plan.
Section 3. Department of Health. – Upon its upgrading and modernization, the Cotabato
Province Regional Hospital shall be under the direct control, management and supervision of the
Department of Health (DOH).
Section 4. Plantilla Positions and Human Resources. – The DOH, in coordination with
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC)
and in consultation with the hospital’s management, shall determine the human resources and
additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up in the workforce of the said hospital.
Section 5. Hospital Development Plan. – The Chief of Hospital shall develop a hospital
development plan to be submitted to the DOH reflecting therein the developmental plans of the
hospital, capital outlay investments, staffing requirements, and budgetary needs, consistent with
the increase in bed capacity and service capability.
Section 6. General Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment
into law and thereafter.
Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DOH shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 8. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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