NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2970

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic on March
11, 2020. The Philippine government responded to both developments by declaring a
“community quarantine’ for Metro Manila beginning March 15 until April 14. 2020, and was
made even more stringent by extending the quarantine to the whole island of Luzon.

The surge of COVID-19 cases had drastically increased over short period of time that
overwhelmingly affects public and private hospitals that resulted to exhaustion among medical
personnel.

In October 2021, about 5% to 10% of nurses working in private hospitals have resigned.
Based on a 2021 news report, a hospital director in a city mentioned that their nursing staff
had decreased from 200 to 63 over the past year. Overall, about 40% of nurses in private
hospitals had resigned since the pandemic began. Thus, hospitals in the Philippines may be
understaffed due to the dwindling number of nurses during the pandemic.”

The lack of medical practitioners in the country during national health emergencies will
possibly bog down our health system and will consequently weaken our battle against the
pandemic. To fill-in the deficiency of medical practitioners, establishing the Medical Reserve
Corps (MRC) may support the State in its capability to fight against health pandemic.

‘The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a local volunteer unit to strengthen public health,
reduce vulnerability, build resilience, and improve preparedness, response, and recovery
capabilities. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is composed of nurses, doctors, dentists, nursing
assistants, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, public health professionals, epidemiologists,
veterinary medicine professionals and non-licensed individuals who have a strong interest in
assisting in the response efforts during a health-related emergency.

Further, MRC provides the structure necessary to pre-identify, credential, train, and
activate medical and public health volunteers.

‘The main purpose of this bill is to strengthen and give immediate action to medical
support for the general public during national emergency. Having more than enough medical

* hutps:/ojs.wpro.who.invojs
* hps:/fiogh.org/2022/jogh-12-03011


reserve corps members involved will assure readiness of our country to handle health disaster and
health emergency.

‘This proposed measure was originally filed during the Eighteenth Congress, passed in third
and final reading on Second Regular Session.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly encouraged.

KAT. FLORES
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS )
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
win 2370

House Ne

Introduced by Representative JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES

AN ACT
INSTITUTING THE MEDICAL RESERVATION CORPS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - ‘This Act shall be known as the “Medical Reserve
Corps Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — Section 15. Article II of the 1987 Constitution
enjoins the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
cons s among them. Section 11. Article XIII of the same also provides for the
adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. The State
further reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
particularly $DG 3. which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being
for all at ail ages.

The State recognizes the need for reserve force of highly skilled and medically trained
professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the capacity to meet surges in the
demand for the country’s healthcare system and provide assistance as may be needed in times of
health crises.

Pursuant to this. itis the poliey of the State to maintain a strong proactive and responsive
healthcare system at all times. the workforce complements of which can be expanded rapidly by a
well-trained and well-equipped Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) in times of public health
emergency and health threats. Towards this end. the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation
to produce and call in the need manpower and expand its human health resources in times of
disasters and public health emergencies of both national and local scale through the mobilization
of the MRC.

SEC. 3. Medical Reserve Corps Service — There is hereby established an MRC
Whose primary mission is to support the country’s health system in times of public health
emergencies or health threats, and which shall be composed of the followi

a, Licensed physicians including those who are retired and those who are no longer
practicing in the hospital setting. The Department of Health (DOH) may coordinate and
collaborate with the accredited professional organization of physicians for the
engagement of private practitioners:



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b. Medical students who have completed four (4) years of medical course. graduates of
medicine, and registered nurse who may be issued by the Secretary of Health with a
limited and special authorization to render medical service pursuant to. Republic Act
382. otherwise known as the Medical Act of 1959; and

c. Licensed allied health professionals.

The MRC shall be organized, trained. developed and maintained so as to ensure their
readiness to immediately respond to the call to service.

SEC. 4. Organization — The MRC shall be under the control and supervision of
the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) of the DOH.

‘The DOH shall develop an effective and efficient MRC organization and structure
that is responsive to the national and local disasters and other public health emergencies
under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Health may prescribe.

SEC. 5. Registration and Trainings ~ ‘The DOH shall draft guidelines for the
recruitment, selection, compensation and provision of incentives for joining and continued
membership. and length of service of the MRC members.

‘The DOH shall also prescribed a continuing training program for the MRC recruits
and members. through written. practical and simulation activities on various aspects of
health emergency management and response and on the different health emergency
situations and scenarios, such as natural and man-made disasters, epidemics, pandemics,
and other threats to public health, To this end, all recruits must undergo;

a. Compulsory basic training for a period to be set by the DOH on disaster and
health emergency response, the organization and structure of the MRC, and such
other areas as may be prescribed by the DOH. ‘The Recruits shall be given
compensation for their attendance thereto; and

b. Continuing training and other activities to be conducted in coordination with
relevant and qualified agencies in the private and public sector, including the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). to improve and reinforce
skills. All registered members shall undergo continuing training on a regular
basis to upgrade their proficiency.

2 shall be a requisite for
ies in the continuing traii

Successful completion of the compulsory basic trai
admission into the MRC. Successful completion of the activ
program shall be requisite for promotion within the MRC.

SEC. 6. Registry and Accounting of Members of the MRC ~ Registered
members of the MRC shall be issued individual scrial numbers which will serve as their
identification in case of deployment

The DOH shall maintain and update a registry or database containing the names of
the members of the Corps. their serial numbers. address. contact details and such other
information as the DOH may determine. in accordance with the applicable privacy laws.
For this purpose. all public colleges. universities and learning institutions shall transmit
annually their records of the graduates covered under this Act to the DOH.

An MRC Identification Card that describes the certification information of Corps
members, as well as other necessary identifying information that may be determined by the

DOH. shall also be issued.



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All graduates covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and
contact details on file with the DOH as often as necessary. Orders of deployment sent to
the addresses and/or through the contact details on file with the DOI shall be sufficient
notice for purposes of deployment.

In cases when a graduate has changed address immediately prior to deployment, the
LGU shall immediately exert efforts to locate his known closest resident kin, who is then
mandated to exert similar efforts. The use of digital communications and social media shall
be encouraged in locating such graduates.

SEC. 7. Medical Reserve Corps Mobilization — The prompt mobilization of the
MRC shall be carried out by the authority of the Secretary of Health. upon the
recommendation of the Director of the HEMB or upon the request of national government
agencies or local government units (LGUs). in order to meet the needs of the populace in
times of public health emergencies. whether of local or national scale. and for such other
purposes in response to the threats to public health.

The MRC may be mobilized partially or in full as y be necessary. The DOH shall
promulgate the mechanisms by which deployment is efficiently implemented. Including
the organization of the Corps to be deployed, their territorial assignments, how deployment
orders are communicated to each members of the Corps and to which mobilization center
they will report.

As defined in Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the “Mandatory
Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act”. public
health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health
condition that:

1) Is caused by any of the following:
i) Bio terrorism:
ii) Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicate
infectious agent or biological toxin:
iii) A natural disaster:
iv) A chemical attack or accident release;
v) A nuclear attack or accident: or
vi) An attack or accident release of radioactive material: and

2) Poses a high probability of any of the following:

i) A large number of deaths in the affected population:

ii) A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the
affected population:

iii) Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a
significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the
affected population:

iv) International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a

gnificant risk to health of citizens of other countrie:
v) Trade and travel restrictions.

SEC. 8 Deployment Order - The President of the Philippines. upon
recommendation of the DOH. may order nationwide mobilization of the MRC to
complement the AFP Medical Corps in case a declaration of state of war, state of lawless
violence or state of calamity.


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SEC. 9. Mobilization Centers — There shall be established in cach province as
many mobilization centers as needed to which members of the MRC shall report to when
mobilization is ordered.

Mobilization centers may be establishment or facility that can adequately house the
MRC members, and their equipment and supplies during the period of deployment,
including multi-purpose halls, gymnasiums, and other similar structures. based on other
requirements that the DOH shall prescribed. The DOH shall, in consultation with the local
executives. prescribe the location of the mobilization centers. The local executives shall
disseminate to the widest extent possible information to the public on the location of these
centers.

SEC. 10. Mobilization Stock ~The minimum essential individual and organization
and medical equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored, and maintained to enhance
rapid transition to readiness required for employment in the shortest possible time.

The DOH shall ensure and maintain the necessary capacity to scale up the
procurement of these equipment and supplies as needed during the period of mobilization.

SEC. 11. Enlistment of the AFP — The Secretary of Health may enlist the AFP to
provide expertise on the organization and structure of the MRC for efficient, effective and
swift development, as well as for training of the MRC recruits on disasters and emergency
response.

‘The Secretary of Health may also recommend to the President the enlistment of the
AEP to supplement the mobilized MRC for the purpose of providing logistics and
manpower for large-scale operations on times of public health emergency. contact tracing
and monitoring of suspected cases, enforcing-quarantine measures in specific areas or
facilitating the transport of emerging infectious disease patients, and for such other related
purposes.

SEC. 12. Protection to MRC Members ~ All MRC members shall be accorded
protection as provided by existing labor laws and standards and other relevant occupations,
safety, environmental, and social Iegislation.

SEC. 13. Compensation and Benefits ~ Members of the MRC who render service
shall receive all the pay and allowances. medical care. hospitalization. other privileged and
benefits during the period of mobilization as prescribed by law or regulation. They shall
also continue to receive all pay. allowances. and other privileges and benefits from their
regular employment during the mobilization period in accordance with law.

SEC. 14. Legal Liability and Malpractice Insurance ~ No MRC member shall
be held liable for the death of or injury to any person or for the loss of, or damage to, the
property of any person where such death, injury. loss. or damage was proximately caused
by the circumstance of an actual public health emergency or its subsequent conditions, or
the circumstances of the formal exercise or training if such formal exercise or training
simulates conditions of an actual emergency.

The Insurance Commission is mandated to develop public emergeney-specific
malpractice insurance policy or modify existing policies that would protect MRC
professionals’ efforts from any Iegal liability as provided for by this Section to allow them
to respond in good faith during public heath emergencies.


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This section shall not preclude liability for civil damages as a result of gross
negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct.

SEC. 15. Termination of Deployment ~ Upon the expiration of the period of
deployment. without an extension having requested and approved by the DOH, members
of the MRC who are deployed pursuant to a public health emergency shall be discharge
from the performance of their duties. The deployment may also be terminated earlier upon
a determination by the DOH, in consultation with the requesting national government
agency or LGU. that such deployment is no longer required in accordance with this Act.

SEC. 16. Annual Report - ‘the DOH shall regularly publish an annual report
containing a list of the accomplishments, status of operations. demographic profile of the
membership of the MRC, an assessment of readiness for mobilization, and the incidence
and details of each mobilization for the year concerned. The annual report shall also include
the results of the audit investigation on the spending of funds appropriated. collected. or
advanced for the implementation of the provisions in this Act.

SEC. 17. Failure to Respond to Deployment — Any member of the MRC who
fails to respond to the order of deployment without any justifiable reason despite due notice
shall be required to reimburse the total expense incurred by the government in the
member's recruitment. selection. training. and compensation, as may be determined by the
DOH.

SEC. 18. Appropriation — The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in
the Department’ program the implementation of this Act. The funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations ~ Within thirty (30) days from
the effectivity of this Act. the DOH shall promulgate the necessary guidelines for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 20. Separability Clause ~ If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 21. Repealing Clause — All laws. decrees. orders. rules and regulations. other
issuances. or part thercof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

SEC. 22, Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,