Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _1519

Introduced by: REP. FERJENEL G. BIRON, M.D.

“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DON VALERIO PALMARES SR. MEMORIAL
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE COMPONENT CITY OF PASSI, PROVINCE OF
ILOILO, INTO A LEVEL-2 HOSPITAL, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY,
PLACING IT UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, formerly Passi District
Hospital, was created by virtue of R.A. No. 6040. It is a Level 1 hospital operating only
at a twenty-five (25) bed capacity since it began its operations in 1973. Sometime in
1992, Republic Act No. 7263 was passed upgrading the hospital to a capacity of fifty
(50) beds, however, due to the hospital's devolution to the Provincial Government of
lloilo in 1993, such increase in bed capacity was never executed.

At present, Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, caters patients
not only from Passi City but also from the neighboring Municipality of San Enrique,
and additionally from the Municipalities of Duefias, San Rafael, a part of Calinog and
even Dumarao, Capiz. The incapacity of the hospital to accommodate the sick with
the quality, immediacy, and efficiency of healthcare that is the right of every Filipino,
is evident. This situation highlights the urgent need to expand and upgrade the hospital
in anticipation of increasing demand within the district.

The hospital sits on a one-hectare property, which offers significant potential
for development. This space can be fully utilized through the construction of essential
infrastructure such as a perimeter fence, a warehouse, additional or expanded wards,
and other key facilities. Likewise, acquiring advanced equipment and enhancing

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service delivery are crucial to ensuring accessible, efficient, and high-quality
healthcare. However, the hospital currently lacks the financial capacity to undertake
these much-needed improvements.

In view of the foregoing, this Representation seeks to nationalize the Don
Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, upgrade its classification to Level 2,
and increase its bed capacity from twenty-five (25) to two hundred (200). Furthermore,
this measure proposes to allocate appropriate funding for the improvement of
healthcare services, acquisition of modern medical equipment, expansion of facilities,
and strengthening of the hospital workforce through its inclusion in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

This bill was filed by the same Representation in the 19" Congress and was
referred to the Committee on Health.

In the interest of advancing public health and ensuring equitable healthcare
access for all, the immediate passage of this bill is earnest

', FERJENEL G. BIRON, M.D.
Fourth District of lloilo


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _1519

Introduced by: REP. FERJENEL G. BIRON, M.D.

“AN ACT CONVERTING THE DON VALERIO PALMARES SR. MEMORIAL,
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE COMPONENT CITY OF PASSI, PROVINCE OF
ILOILO, INTO A LEVEL-2 HOSPITAL, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY,
PLACING IT UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL 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. The Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in the
Component City of Passi, Province of lloilo, is hereby converted into a Level-2 hospital,
which shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health
(DOH).

SEC. 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial
District Hospital shall be increased from twenty-five (25) beds to two hundred (200)
beds. Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the hospital
development plan that shall be prepared by the Chief of Hospital of the Don Valerio
Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital and submitted to the DOH.

SEC. 3. The existing professional health care services, equipment, and facilities
of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital shall also be upgraded to
conform with and be commensurate to the increase in bed capacity as provided for in
Section 2 hereof.

SEC. 4. The existing workforce of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial
District Hospital, which includes doctors, nurses and support personnel, shall be
increased correspondingly.


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SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOH shall, after consultation with the Chief of
Hospital of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, and in
coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, and
the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, determine the additional new
Positions to be created and filled up.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately 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. 7. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential issuances
which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,