NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
)
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE VIRGILIO S. LACSON
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Schools all over the Philippines have been closed since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic. Up to date, we are still implementing mixed synchronous and asynchronous learning
methods across all school levels. While basic education enrollment for 2021-2022 is at 100.3%
compared to the previous school year (as of 15 September 2021), an estimated 27 million
students in the Philippines have lost more than a year of in-person learning.
Now that the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, there is a need to prepare for the
forthcoming re-opening of schools for face-to-face learning. For this reason, it is incumbent upon
this Legislative body to ensure that our public schools are ready to accept the number of
returning students for basic and secondary education.
In a report1 dated 22 May 2020, it was reported that only 28 percent or about 13,081
schools of 47,013 public schools in the country have clinics. Admittedly, there is a shortcoming
on the part of the government to provide holistic care to the youth, by failing to establish school
clinics for young students, especially those in far-flung areas.
Public schools contribute toward the promotion and protection of the health of a large
number of Filipinos, especially the youth. For this reason, the government needs to strengthen
the roles that these institutional units can play in the health care of the population, through its
policies on school health and student health services. 
This bill proposes to establish permanent clinics in all public schools, regardless of the
number of enrollments.  For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
VIRGILIO S. LACSON
MANILA TEACHERS PARTY-LIST
1 https://mb.com.ph/2020/05/22/deped-bats-for-permanent-clinics-in-all-public-schools/
July 28, 2022
2:35 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
)
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE VIRGILIO S. LACSON
AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT CLINIC FOR
EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL AND APPROPRI ATING 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 "Mandatory School Clinic
Act.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of 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. Pursuant to this
policy, laws were enacted to establish health services in both public and private schools,
including having medicines and medical supplies for emergency care and employing the services
of health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, dentists and trained medical officers. In line with
the policy to protect the right to health and to render more operational the goal of the government
to provide health services in schools, the State shall make it mandatory for every public and
private school to have one permanent clinic. 
SECTION 3. Establishment of Clinics. – Each public school shall be required to
establish a permanent clinic inside its school campus. Within one-hundred twenty (120) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education shall come up with its
implementing rules, specifications, criteria and details for the mandatory establishment of clinics
in schools. 
SECTION 4. On-the-spot inspection and monitoring of public schools. - Each provincial
or city officer of the DEPED shall create a monitoring team whose main purpose is to conduct
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on-spot inspection or monitoring of schools within its area of responsibility to determine if the
clinics established are in accordance with the required guidelines, policies and criteria. 
SECTION 5. 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. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,