Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Sessi
a $350

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative EVELYN P, MELLANA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to expand the 10-bed capacity Loreto Municipal Hospital in Agusan del
Sur to a 25-bed capacity primary hospital, and amending for this purpose Batas Pambansa
Bilang 435 entitled “An Act Providing for Establishment of a Ten-Bed Capacity Municipal
Hospital in the Municipality of Loreto, Province of Agusan del Sur, to be Known as the Loreto
Municipal Hospital.”

‘The proposed measure will increase the capacity of the Loreto Municipal Hospital to
provide quality basic health care services to the residents of the municipalities of Loreto,
with a population (based on 2007 NSO Census) of 34,549 and an aggregate area of 158,742
hectares; and La Paz, with a population of 25,214 and an aggregate area of 131,186
hectares. The nearest hospital from these two municipalities is more than two hours away
and even farther for the more serious cases, which have to be treated in tertiary hospitals in
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte or Davao City, where there are complete
facilities and qualified health practitioners. It is noteworthy that in Loreto, the farthest
barangay is about 60 Kilometers from the town proper. Moreover, the road conditions in
Loreto and La Paz are rough, at best, and severely poor and even treacherous, at worst.
There is therefore a strong need to increase and strengthen the capacity of the Loreto
Municipal Hospital, owing to its inaccessibility to the nearest major hospitals.

“The people of Loreto and its neighboring municipalities have long been deprived of a
responsive health care program. The economic difficulties of the people are exacerbated by
a fallure in the delivery of basic social services on the part of the government. The
continued isolation of the people from much-needed basic health services makes it 2
necessity to improve the medical facility in Loreto, which this bill urgently seeks to
accomplish.

Hence, early approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

D bullone

EVELYi P. MELLANA



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse enino.__ 23 50

Introduced by Representative EVELYN P. MELLANA

AN ACT EXPANDING THE 10-BED CAPACITY LORETO MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL INTO
A25-BED CAPACITY PRIMARY HOSPITAL, AMENDING BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG
435, ENTITLED, “AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A TEN-BED
CAPACITY MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LORETO, PROVINCE
OF AGUSAN DEL SUR, TO BE KNOWN AS THE LORETO MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL”

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

SECTION 1. The 10-bed capacity Loreto Municipal Hospital in the Municipality of Loreto,
‘Agusan del Sur is hereby expanded to a 25-bed capacity primary hospital which shail be
under the direct technical and administrative supervision of the Department of Health,
amending Batas Pambansa Bilang 435, entitled, An Act providing for Establishment of a
Ten-Bed Capacity Municipal Hospital in the Municipality of Loreto, Province of Agusan del
Sur, to be Known as the Loreto Municipal Hospital.”

SECTION 2. The Secretary of Health shall issue such rules and regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act and shall immediately include in the
Department's programs the operationalization of the expanded Loreto Municipal Hospital.
SECTION 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

EXPANDING THE 10-BeD CAPACITY LORETO MuRUCIPAL HOSPITAL INTO A 25-BeD CAPACITY PRosany HoserTal | 2.