Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._1587

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DIABETES AND
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recent data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows
that diabetes stands as the fifth major cause of death in the Philippines. More
than four million Filipinos are living with this sickness and the prevalence of
diabetes have been increasing over the years. Nevertheless, studies have
shown that sickness can be managed through access to proper treatment and
education.

Thus, this bill allows a more holistic approach in preventing and treating
diabetes. With the establishment of the Philippine Center for Diabetes and
Endocrinology (PCDE), a specialized institution, research, care, and treatment
will be focused on diabetes and endocrinology. The diabetic population will be
ensured a full range of services for diabetes care, prevention, and cure.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative /Tingog Sinirangan

Rep. JUDE/A. ACIDRE
Representative, Tingog Sinirangan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bill No.__1587__

Fee

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. JUDE A. ACIDRE

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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DIABETES AND
ENDOCRINOLOGY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. State Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them by providing specialized health services and research, education, and
training facility responsive to the country’s health needs and problems.

Hence, it is the primary concern of the government to assist and provide
material and financial assistance in the establishment of a specialty hospital for
Filipinos suffering from diabetes and promote diabetes care, prevention, and
cure all over the country.

Section 2. Creation of the Philippine Center for Diabetes and
Endocrinology. — There is hereby created a body corporate to be known as
the Philippine Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology (PCDE), under the
Department of Health (DOH), which shall serve as the lead tertiary-level care
center in the screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes.


The PCDE shall have its principal office in Metro Manila, and may have
such branch offices, hospitals, clinics, or subsidiaries in Visayas and Mindanao
and other areas in the Philippines, as it may deem proper and necessary.

Section 3. Purpose and Objectives. — The PCDE shall have the
following purposes and objectives:

a) To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer, and operate
such integrated medical institutions which shall provide an organized
system of care, comprehensive and optimal treatment for patients
with diabetes and other endocrine problems;

b) To conduct nationwide screening and diagnosis of diabetes, obesity,
and the components of the metabolic syndrome;

c) To promote, encourage and engage in medical and scientific
research on the prevention and treatment of diabetes and other
endocrine diseases and gather, compile, and publish the findings of
such research for public dissemination;

d) To encourage, undertake and assist conferences, fora, conventions,
seminars, workshops and training programs for physicians, nurses,
health officers, medical technologists, social workers, and medical
and technical personnel on the practical and scientific
implementation of health care services to diabetic patients;

e) To assist universities, hospitals, and research institutions in their
studies on diabetes and other endocrine diseases and other related
fields, to encourage and grant scholarships for advanced training and
specialization in medical care and management in diabetes and
related fields and to support and finance educational programs of
value to public health;

f) To encourage the formation of other organizations at the national
provincial, city and/or local levels, and to coordinate the various
efforts and activities of such organizations for the purpose of
achieving a more effective approach to the common problem relative

and

to the purposes and objectives enumerated hereil


g) To encourage telemedicine by establishing networks through internet
facilities to link physicians at the local level or barrio doctors to
specialists who can provide inputs to care of diabetic patients,
especially in underserved areas, with due regard to the requirements
of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Section 4. Powers and Functions. - For the attainment and/or
furtherance of the purposes and objectives of this Act, the PCDE as a body
corporate acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have the following powers
and functions in addition to those provided for in the other sections of this Act:

a) To acquire, own, hold, use, lease, grant, mortgage, pledge, sell,
assign, convey, transfer, exchange, dispose or otherwise deal with,
real and/or personal properties of every kind and nature, including
shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, securities and other
evidence of indebtedness or obligations of other corporations,
whether domestic or foreign, and whether government or private;

b)

To solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form
of contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and
private sectors;

c) To award, enter, make, execute, perform, and carry out domestic or
foreign contracts of whatever kind and nature;

To open accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to
disburse such funds or invest the same as the Board may direct to
accomplish or advance the purposes or interest of the PCDE, and to

d)

obtain loans, borrow funds and/or arrange financing or credit
assistance of whatever kind and nature from all sources, whether
domestic or foreign and whether government or private;

) To levy, assess, and collect such fees, charges and assessments as
may be necessary or proper to support, finance and maintain its
operations;

f) To invite diabetes specialists and similar experts in various medical
fields to train the personnel, trainees, or residents of the PCDE and
to support the trainings, seminars, conferences, and conventions of

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its medical personnel in research and medical institutes or
universities, be it local or international, as the Board may deem
necessary and in line with the principles of the Philippine
Qualifications Framework (PQF), to accomplish the purposes and
objectives of the PCDE;

To adopt and use a corporate seal;

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i) To adopt its by-laws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with law
or the provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation
of the affairs of the PCDE; and

j) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary,
related, or incidental to carry out the purposes and objectives of this
Act.

To sue and be sued in its corporate name;

Section 5. The Board of Trustees; Composition; Term and
Compensation. - The PCDE shall be governed, and its activities and
properties shall be directed, controlled, and managed by a Board of Trustees,
hereinafter referred to as the Board, which shall be composed of a Chairperson
and six (6) members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines.

At least one (1) member shall come from the Philippine Society of
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEM) and at least one (1) from the
academe. The Chairman of the PCDE shall be appointed from among the
members of the Board.

All the members of the Board shall serve for a term of three (3) years,
with a right to hold-over such position until their respective successors shall
have been duly appointed and qualified. The President of the Philippines may,
however, remove any member of the Board for cause. Whenever a vacancy
shall occur in the Board, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold
office for the unexpired term of the member replaced.


All members of the Board shall receive compensation in accordance with
current standards set by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
and as may be determined by the DOH.

Section 6. Powers and Functions of the Board. ~ The Board shall
have the following powers and functions:

a)

To formulate policies, guidelines, and programs to effectively
implement and carry out the purposes and objectives of this Act;
To prescribe, review, and revise the amount of the fees, charges,
and assessments levied and collected for the support and
maintenance of the operations of the PCDE;

b)

¢)
d

To control the management, operation, and administration of PCDE;
To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary or
proper for the effective exercise of power and functions as well as
the discharge of the duties and responsibilities of the PCDE and its
officers and employees;

To authorize such expenditures of the PCDE as may be necessary

e)

or proper for the effective management, operation, and
administration of the PCDE;
f) To adopt the annual and supplemental budget of receipts and
expenditures of the PCDE; and
To appoint, remove, suspend, or otherwise discipline the Officers.

9)

Section 7. Officers of the PCDE. - The Board shall determine the
officers of the PCDE who shall be appointed by the President of the PCDE
subject to confirmation by the Board. The PCDE may have an Executive Vice-
President and such Vice-Presidents and Assistant Vice-Presidents as may be
required for the effective operation of the PCDE.

Section 8. The President, His Term and Remuneration. - The
President of the PCDE shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
for a term of three (3) years. The salary of the President of the PCDE shall be
fixed by the Board, subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines.

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Section 9. Powers and Duties of the President. - The President of
the PCDE shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the PCDE. He shall exercise
the following powers and duties;

a) To execute the policies, guidelines, and programs approved by the
Board, and to be responsible for the efficient discharge of
management and operational functions;

To submit for the consideration and approval of the Board proposed
measures, policies, guidelines, and programs as he/she may deem

b)

necessary or proper for the effective implementation of the purposes
and objectives of this Act;

To direct and supervise the management, operation, and
administration of the PCDE. For this purpose, he/she may delegate

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any or some of his/her administrative responsibilities and duties to
the other officers of the PCDE;

To execute, on behalf of the PCDE, all contracts and agreements
which the PCDE may enter into, and to execute, accomplish and
deliver any and all documents relative to such contracts and

¢)

agreements;
To represent the PCDE in all dealings with other offices, agencies
and instrumentalities of the Government, and all other persons or

e)

entities, whether domestic or foreign, government or private;
f) To appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend, or otherwise
discipline the officers and employees of the PCDE, except those
appointed by the Board; and
To exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be
vested or reposed upon him by the Board.

9)

Section 10. Assistance from the Government. — The PCDE may call
upon any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the
Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, local
government units, and state universities and colleges for assistance as it may
need in pursuit of the purposes and objectives of this Act.


Section 11. Authority of the President in Emergencies. - In case of
emergencies which require immediate action by the Board, and there is no
sufficient time to call a meeting thereof, the President of the PCDE, with the
concurrence of three (3) other members of the Board, may decide on any matter
or take any action within the authority of the Board itself.

Section 12. Donations to the PCDE. - The PCDE is hereby authorized
to solicit and receive donations, grants, contributions, gifts, or endowments
from all sources whether foreign or domestic, and whether government or
private, without the need of securing a permit, approval, or registration from any
government agency.

Section 13. Exemption from Fees, Duties and Taxes. - The PCDE is
hereby declared exempt from all income and other internal revenue taxes, tariff
and customs duties, and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges, and
assessments levied by the Government and its political subdivisions, agencies,
and instrumentalities. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, all
donations, grants, contributions, gifts, or endowments made by entities or
persons to the PCDE shall be exempt from income and gift taxes, and the same
shall be further deductible in full for purposes of computing the maximum
amount deductible under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended.

Section 14. Funding. - The amount of Ten Billion Pesos
(Php10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the revenues Philippine
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to defray the initial
operational expenses of the PCDE. Thereafter, the necessary amount to
support the continued operation and maintenance of the PCDE shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act.

Section 15. Annual Report. — The PCDE, through its President, shall
submit an annual report on its accomplishments and activities to the President
and both houses of Congress on or before April 30 of each year.


Section 16. Applicability of the Corporation Law. - The provisions of
the general corporation law, insofar as they are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act and with the purposes and objectives for which the PCDE
is formed, shall apply suppletorily in the corporate governance affairs of the
PCDE.

Section 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60)
days from the date of the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in close coordination
with the Department of Science and Technology, National Economic
Development Authority, University of the Philippines-Philippine General
Hospital, and other stakeholders such as the Philippine Society of
Endocrinology and Metabolism (PSEM), shall promulgate the rules and
regulations for the effective and faithful implementation of this Act.

Section 18. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

Section 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,

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