NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. ^539
of tl)f ^
24 FEB-7 P12-45
RECEIVE ;D
Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
AN ACT
INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF THE PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL 
FROM ONE THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED BEDS (1,500) TO TWO 
THOUSAND AND TWO HUNDRED BEDS (2,200) AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution 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.
In 1907, the Philippine Commission passed Act No. 1688 for the construction 
of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH). The PGH opened its doors to the public on 
September 1, 1910 to provide health and medical services to all Filipinos. Today, PGH 
is considered the biggest modern government tertiary hospital in the Philippines, 
servicing more than 600,000 patients annually. It remains a national referral center 
for tertiary care, providing direct and quality patient services to thousands of indigent 
Filipinos all over the country.1
Due to its extensive range of services, numerous Filipinos are frequently 
availing the services of the PGH, mostly serving patients who are impoverished.
1 https://www.pgh.gov.ph/about-us/


Consequently, PGH faces ongoing challenges in delivering the necessary medical 
services and care to each patient due to its limited facility and capacity.
For instance, the Department of Health in October 2023 pointed out that PGH 
frequently exceeds its operational capacity, often exceeding 200 percent of its daily 
limit. Likewise in June 2022, the PGH reported that its emergency room capacity has 
already reached up to 200 percent due to patients with non-COVID-19 related issues 
such as pneumonia, diabetes, and heart, lung and kidney diseases.
In light of this situation, this measure seeks to increase the bed capacity of the 
PGH from 1,500 to 2,200 in order to expand their services and cater more Filipinos 
who seek medical care.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is most earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTfiPHER LAWRENCE


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
)
SENATE
2539
SNo.
of tije S' ?t?-
24 FEB-7 R2 '45
l^ECEIVtOSV
Introduced By Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go
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AN ACT
INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF THE PHILIPPINE GENERAL HOSPITAL 
FROM ONE THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED BEDS (1,500) TO TWO 
THOUSAND AND TWO HUNDRED BEDS (2,200) AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. The authorized bed capacity of the Philippine General Hospital 
(PGH) is hereby increased from one thousand and five hundred (1,500) to two 
thousand and two hundred (2,200).
Sec. 2. The existing hospital facilities and professional health care services of 
the PGH, shall be correspondingly upgraded to include the increase in the number of 
its medical personnel. The University of the Philippines (UP) shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 3. The increase in the bed capacity of the PGH from one thousand and 
five hundred beds (1,500) to two thousand and two hundred (2,200) beds shall be 
implemented within the period of six (6) months to one (1) year from the approval of 
this Act.
Sec. 4. The University of the Philippines, through its approved annual budget, 
shall initially provide the necessary funding to support the increase in bed capacity of 
the PGH. The entire budgetary requirements of PGH for its operation and the
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upgrading of its facilities and services shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA) the following year of its enactment.
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,