Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to health of the people and instill health 
consciousness among them. Furthermore, Article XIII Section 11 states 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 
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, 
sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free 
medical care to paupers.” 
For the past years, the country had to face the COVID-19 pandemic. It has 
greatly exposed the vulnerabilities and weaknesses of our health care system, among 
which is the severe shortage of healthcare workers. Unfortunately, this was further 
exacerbated during period of surges in the number of patients, especially those seeking 
emergency and in-patient services. The situation posed a dual threat as it endangered 
the lives of overburdened healthcare workers and placed an immense strain on an 
already stretched healthcare system. The bill is among the proposed measures intended 
to ensure that our healthcare system remains resilient during public health emergencies. 
The Philippines has been ranked as the world’s most disaster-prone nation for 
sixteen consecutive years1. It is vulnerable to damage caused by extreme weather 
events, earthquakes and other natural hazards. Healthcare workers play a vital role in 
disaster response as they provide immediate care to those who are injured during 
disasters and offer psychosocial support. The bill seeks to ensure that trained auxiliary 
healthcare workers can be rapidly deployed as part of the country’s disaster response 
efforts.  
The proposed measure was passed on third and final reading in the House of 
Representatives during the 19th Congress but was not approved before the Senate due 
to lack of material time.  
1 Business World. Philippines is still most disaster-prone country for 16th straight year. Available at 
https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2024/09/10/620230/philippines-is-still-most-disaster-prone-
country-for-16th-straight-year/ (Last accessed July 25, 2025). 
August 12, 2025
8:00 am
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For the foregoing reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
EDSEL A. GALEOS 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Edsel A. Galeos 
AN ACT CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY 
REINFORCEMENT TEAM UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:  
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Health Emergency 
1 
Auxiliary Enforcement Team (HEART) Act.” 
2 
3 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution 
4 
enjoins the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
5 
health consciousness among them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the 
6 
adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. The 
7 
State further reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 
8 
particularly SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure health lives and promote well-
9 
being for all at all ages. 
10 
11 
The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and medically 
12 
trained professional and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the capacity to 
13 
meet surges in the demand for the country’s healthcare system and provide assistance 
14 
as may be needed in times of health crises. 
15 
16 
Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to: 
17 
18 
a.
Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas by
19 
maintain a strong and resilient healthcare system at all times that will
20 
immediately, efficiently, and effectively address all potential and actual
21 
public health emergencies; and 
22 
23 
b. Promote the spirit of “Bayanihan” and enhance the capacity of the nation to
24 
expand its human health resources in times of disasters, public health
25 
emergencies and health threats of both national and local scale through
26 
mobilization of Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. 
27 
28 
SECTION 3. Definition of terms. – As used in this Act: 
29 
30 
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a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the 
1 
delivery of health or related services such as identification, evaluation and 
2 
prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and 
3 
rehabilitation and health systems management. Allied health professionals 
4 
shall include, among others, dental hygienists, diagnostic medical 
5 
sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, 
6 
physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech language 
7 
pathologists; 
8 
 
9 
b. Bayanihan refers to the value of communal unity through helping others to 
10 
achieve a certain goal without expecting anything in return; 
11 
 
12 
c. Deployment refers to actual movement of workforce to the assigned area 
13 
within a prescribed period; 
14 
 
15 
d. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team refers to a group of 
16 
individual volunteers who are in the field of medicine, nursing medical 
17 
technology and other allied health-related fields who are ready to be deployed 
18 
to complement the health workforce in the event of a public health emergency 
19 
and health threat; 
20 
 
21 
e. Health threat refers to a condition, agent, or incident that greatly impacts the 
22 
health that that leads to disease, accident, injury, and loss of life; 
23 
 
24 
f. Mobilization refers to the process and procedures for activating, assembling, 
25 
and transporting the needed health workforce to respond to a public health 
26 
emergency; 
27 
 
28 
g. Mobilization center refers to the establishment where the Health Emergency 
29 
Auxiliary Reinforcement Team shall report upon receipt of the order for 
30 
mobilization, coordinate their mission order and mobilization-related issues 
31 
and concerns, and submit their report upon receipt for the order for 
32 
demobilization; 
33 
 
34 
h. Public health emergency refers to an occurrence that poses an imminent threat 
35 
of an illness or health condition as defined in Republic Act No. 11332, 
36 
otherwise known as Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health 
37 
Events of Public Health Concern Act, that: 
38 
 
39 
(1) Is caused by any of the following: 
40 
 
41 
(i) 
Bio terrorism; 
42 
 
43 
(ii) 
Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated 
44 
infectious agent or biological toxin; 
45 
 
46 
(iii) 
A natural disaster; 
47 
 
48 
(iv) 
A chemical attack or accidental release; 
49 
 
50 
(v) 
A nuclear attack or accident; or 
51 
 
52 


(vi) 
An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials and 
1 
 
2 
(2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
3 
 
4 
(i) 
A large number of deaths in the affected population; 
5 
 
6 
(ii) 
A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in 
7 
the affected population; 
8 
 
9 
(iii) 
Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses 
10 
a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of 
11 
people in the affected population; 
12 
 
13 
(iv) 
International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that 
14 
poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of other 
15 
countries, or 
16 
 
17 
(v) 
Trade and travel restrictions. 
18 
 
19 
i. Volunteers refer to those who freely register to be members of the HEART. 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 4. Scope. – This Act provides for the organization of the Health 
22 
Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team, hereinafter referred to as HEART, the 
23 
development of policies, plans, guidelines, and the implementation of actions pertaining 
24 
to the mobilization, services, and protection of the HEARS in times of disasters, public 
25 
health emergencies and health threats. 
26 
 
27 
SECTION 5. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. – There is 
28 
hereby established a HEART under the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the 
29 
health workforce in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health threats. 
30 
The HEART shall be composed of the following individuals who shall voluntarily 
31 
register with the DOH: 
32 
 
33 
a. License professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical 
34 
technology, and other allied health fields including those who are retired and 
35 
those who are no longer practicing their professions in a health facility 
36 
setting. All health and allied health professional organizations may be 
37 
tapped for the engagement of professionals who are not affiliated in any 
38 
healthcare facility; 
39 
 
40 
b. Graduates of medicine and allied health courses and medical students who 
41 
have completed a one-year medical internship and who have not yet been 
42 
issued licenses to practice their respective professions, but due to the need 
43 
for their services may be issued a limited and special authorization to render 
44 
medical services during public health emergencies or health threats pursuant 
45 
to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act of 1959 or 
46 
as may be amended hereafter; and 
47 
 
48 
c. Other health support workforce, including barangay health workers, whose 
49 
services are necessary in times of disasters, public health emergencies and 
50 
health threats.  
51 
 
52 


SECTION 6. The Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team 
1 
Promotion Program. – There is hereby established the Health Emergency Auxiliary 
2 
Reinforcement Team Promotion Program, which shall refer to the comprehensive set 
3 
of objectives, targets, strategies and activities for the promotion, recruitment and 
4 
selection of reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented professionals and 
5 
volunteers. 
6 
 
7 
It shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern: the provision 
8 
of initiatives that shall underscore the importance of volunteerism to improve the health 
9 
and safety of communities; the utilization of medical reserves pool who want to donate 
10 
their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to support 
11 
ongoing preparedness initiatives; and the building of partnerships and ensuring the 
12 
sustainability of the HEART with the end goal of maintaining its capacity to meet 
13 
surges in the demand for healthcare system and provide assistance in times of public 
14 
emergencies. 
15 
 
16 
SECTION 7. Creation of the HEART Board. – A HEART Board, hereinafter 
17 
referred to as Board, is hereby created to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of 
18 
the HEART. It shall be chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) and composed of 
19 
representatives of the following, as members: 
20 
 
21 
a. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
22 
 
23 
b. Department of National Defense (DND); 
24 
 
25 
c. Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
26 
 
27 
d. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC); 
28 
 
29 
e. Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP); 
30 
 
31 
f. Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and 
32 
 
33 
g. One 
representative 
from 
a 
non-governmental 
health 
professional 
34 
organization. 
35 
 
36 
The members of the Board shall designate a representative, with a rank not lower 
37 
than Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, to represent their respective offices in the 
38 
Board; Provided, that the representative must be fully authorized to decide on behalf of 
39 
the member-agency. 
40 
 
41 
The AFP shall designate a representative from the Office of the Surgeon General 
42 
with a rank now lower than Colonel as its Board representative. 
43 
 
44 
The representative from a non-governmental health professional organization 
45 
shall have a two-year term of office. The Board shall select the representative based on 
46 
the guidelines it shall promulgate; Provided, that the non-governmental health 
47 
organization is national in scope and has a good track record of providing emergency 
48 
health services. 
49 
 
50 
The Board shall establish close coordination with the National Disaster Risk 
51 
Reduction and Management Council and the Philippine National Volunteer Service 
52 


Coordinating Agency. It may call upon any government office or instrumentality, 
1 
including government owned or controlled corporations and local government units 
2 
(LGUs), as necessary. The Board may likewise closely coordinate and collaborate with 
3 
non-governmental health organizations and the private sector, especially those with 
4 
actual programs in the delivery of emergency health services.  
5 
 
6 
SECTION 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall have the 
7 
following powers and functions: 
8 
 
9 
a. Define 
and 
develop 
the 
organization, 
management, 
mobilization, 
10 
demobilization, and reporting mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for the 
11 
HEART; 
12 
 
13 
b. Oversee the effective and efficient functioning of the HEART in responding 
14 
to public health emergencies and health threats; 
15 
 
16 
c. Coordinate with concerned national government agencies and other 
17 
stakeholders in responding to public health emergencies and health threats; 
18 
and 
19 
 
20 
d. Conduct regular meetings every quarter or as often as may be necessary in 
21 
times of disasters, during public health emergencies or in the occurrence of 
22 
health threats.  
23 
 
24 
SECTION 9. Creation of a HEART Unit. – A HEART Unit shall be created by 
25 
the DOH which shall serve as the secretariat of the Board. It shall oversee program 
26 
implementation, including maintenance of the database or information system of the 
27 
HEART. 
28 
 
29 
The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
30 
HEART unit subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and 
31 
Management (DBM) and in accordance with the civils service laws, rules and 
32 
regulations.   
33 
 
34 
The regional counterparts of the HEART Unit shall likewise be allocated 
35 
additional staff and personnel to ensure the grassroots implementation of this Act. 
36 
 
37 
All LGUs shall ensure that a HEART Unit shall be operationalized under their 
38 
respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which shall act as 
39 
mobilization centers in times of disasters, public health emergencies or health threats. 
40 
 
41 
SECTION 10. Registration and Training. – The Board shall prescribe a 
42 
comprehensive guidelines for the recruitment and selection of a HEART volunteer. 
43 
 
44 
The Board shall also prescribe a training program through written, practical, and 
45 
simulation activities on various aspects of health emergency management and response 
46 
in different health emergency scenarios. To this end, all volunteers must undergo: 
47 
 
48 
a. Basic training on disaster and health emergency response; and 
49 
 
50 
b. Skill enhancement activities with relevant agencies in both public and private 
51 
sector. 
52 


 
1 
Completion of the basic training or acceptable substitute or equivalent 
2 
certification shall be a requisite for admission to the HEART. 
3 
 
4 
 
SECTION 11. Registry and Accounting of Members. – HEART Volunteers 
5 
shall be issued with individual registration numbers which shall serve as their 
6 
identification during deployment 
7 
 
8 
 
A registry or database that contains the names of the volunteers, their 
9 
registration numbers, address, contact details, and other personal information as may 
10 
be necessary, shall be maintained and regularly updated in accordance with Republic 
11 
Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act.  
12 
 
13 
 
The HEART registry or database shall be integrated or linked to existing 
14 
registries such as the National Health Workforce Registry pursuant to Republic Act No. 
15 
11223, otherwise known as Universal Health Care Act, Section 25 (c). 
16 
 
17 
 
All volunteers covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and 
18 
contact details on file through the registry system or database as necessary.  
19 
 
20 
 
SECTION 12. Mobilization. – The Board shall approve the prompt 
21 
mobilization of the HEART upon receipt of a request from municipal and city mayors 
22 
and provincial governors in connection with a public health emergency, threats to 
23 
public health emergency, threats to public health, or a disaster, whether of local or 
24 
national scale. The HEART may be mobilized partially or in full, as may be necessary.  
25 
 
26 
 
The Board shall promulgate a mechanism that shall ensure efficient 
27 
implementation of deployment, assignment areas, deployment periods, how 
28 
deployment orders are communicated to each volunteer, and to which mobilization 
29 
center the volunteers will report taking into consideration Section 13 on “Accreditation, 
30 
Mobilization, and Protection of Disaster Volunteers and National Service Reserve 
31 
Corps, CSOs, and the Private Sector” of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as 
32 
the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. 
33 
 
 
34 
SECTION 13. Deployment Order. – The President of the Philippines, upon 
35 
recommendation of the HEART Board through a resolution, may order nationwide 
36 
mobilization of the HEART to augment the health workforce in case of a declaration of 
37 
a state of public health emergency, state of calamity, and other threats to public health. 
38 
 
39 
Orders of deployment sent to the volunteers’ addresses and through the contact 
40 
details on file in the registry system or database shall be sufficient notice for purposes 
41 
of deployment.  
42 
 
43 
SECTION 14. Mobilization Centers. – Mobilization Centers shall be established 
44 
in each province as needed where volunteers shall report to once deployment is ordered. 
45 
 
46 
A mobilization center may be any establishment that can adequately house the 
47 
volunteers, their equipment, and supplies during the period of deployment, including a 
48 
multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, and other similar structures.  
49 
 
50 
The Board shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the location 
51 
of the mobilization centers. The concerned municipal and city mayors and provincial 
52 


governors shall disseminate information on the location of mobilization centers to the 
1 
widest extent possible.  
2 
 
3 
SECTION 15. Essential Emergency Commodities. – The Board shall ensure that 
4 
the minimum essential individual and organizational commodities and medical 
5 
equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored, and managed to enhance the rapid 
6 
transition to readiness required for deployment of HEART teams in the shortest possible 
7 
time. 
8 
 
9 
The Board shall ensure and maintain its capacity to scale up the procurement of 
10 
these equipment and supplies as needed during the period of deployment. 
11 
 
12 
SECTION 16. Incentives. – In recognition and appreciation of the HEART 
13 
volunteers’ service rendered during the period of actual mobilization, implementing 
14 
agencies may provide volunteers with an allowance as may be determined by the 
15 
Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Budget and 
16 
Management, subject to availability of funds, and other existing civil service, 
17 
budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the 
18 
foregoing, nothing in this Act, shall be construed as creating an employer-employee 
19 
relationship between the government and HEART volunteers. 
20 
 
21 
SECTION 17. Legal Liability. – No volunteer shall be held liable for the death 
22 
or injury to any person or for the loss of, or damage to the property of any person where 
23 
such death, injury, loss or damage was proximately caused by the circumstances of an 
24 
actual public health emergency or its subsequent conditions. 
25 
 
26 
This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages because of gross 
27 
negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct. 
28 
 
29 
SECTION 18. Public Health Emergency Insurance. – The DOH is mandated 
30 
to secure an insurance policy that would insure HEART volunteers from injury, death, 
31 
damage to, or loss of property, and for any legal liability asserted against or incurred by 
32 
the volunteers arising from the lawful performance of his duty.  
33 
 
34 
SECTION 19. Termination of Deployment. – Upon the declaration of the 
35 
President, or as determined by the Board that the need for the HEART is no longer 
36 
necessary, or upon the expiration of the deployment or end of mission there being no 
37 
approved extension thereof, volunteers who are deployed pursuant to the declaration of 
38 
a public calamity, a public health emergency or health threat shall be discharged from 
39 
the performance of HEART duties. 
40 
 
41 
Upon order of demobilization of the HEART, the deployed volunteers shall be 
42 
reverted to inactive status. Mobilization Centers shall ensure reports on the mission are 
43 
duly submitted and the certificate of services rendered pertaining to the deployment are 
44 
promptly issued. 
45 
 
46 
SECTION 20. Annual Report. – The HEART Unit shall prepare and submit an 
47 
annual report to the Office of the President, through the DOH Secretary, containing a 
48 
list of accomplishments, status of the operations and program implementation of the 
49 
HEART.  
50 
 
51 
 
52 


SECTION 21. Appropriations. – The funds necessary for the initial 
1 
implementation of this Act shall be charge against the available funds of the 
2 
implementing agencies comprising the HEART Board. Thereafter, the funding shall be 
3 
included in the budget of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act.  
4 
 
5 
SECTION 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days 
6 
from the effectivity of this Act, the HEART Board shall, in consultation with other 
7 
stakeholders, promulgate the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of 
8 
this Act.   
9 
 
10 
SECTION 23. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
11 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
12 
affected thereby. 
13 
 
14 
 SECTION 24. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
15 
regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
16 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
17 
 
18 
SECTION 25. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
19 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
20 
 
21 
Approved,   
22