Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
For the past years, our country has been suffering from a massive “Brain 
Drain” brought about by our very own scholars seeking job opportunities abroad. 
Although there is nothing wrong with the act of seeking out greener pastures, 
there is, however, an imperative need to somehow regulate our strong sense of 
individualism in exchange for a small dosage of national progress and development. 
The Philippines is a country full of brilliant minds and undeniable talents. Yet, 
one is left to wonder how we, as a country remain as one of the poorest in the world. 
Even though the Philippines has the ability to produce intelligent and skillful citizens 
through the funding provided by our very own taxpayers, the graduates of state 
universities and other public colleges flock overseas to obtain employment with 
better pay. 
It is about time that we give back to the citizens of our country who 
continuously and religiously gave up a portion of their measly salaries in order to 
send students to state universities and public colleges. 
One of the greatest needs of our people is medical attention. A lot of people 
from remote barrios and far-flung barangays in this country could not receive a 
decent medical service due to geographical barriers. Considering that medicine is the 
most expensive post graduate course there is, it is only fair and reasonable that those 
who completed the said course is public universities or colleges be mandated to 
January 26, 2023
5:24 pm
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practice their profession in the Philippines first for a period of five (5) years before 
they can work abroad so that our citizens can experience good medical services from 
our very own doctors; alternatively, they may opt to render their services in the form 
of free medical missions in the remote areas of our country for the same purpose of 
reaching out to the people who need their help the most. 
 
 
This bill recognizes the nobility in the act of paying it forward which will 
inevitably increase our people’s sense of nationalism, lead our country to progress, 
and give our people better conditions of living. Moreover, this bill seeks to eliminate 
the sweeping effects of the “Brain Drain” epidemic that has been prevalent for many 
decades now. It is only for this reason that the approval of this bill is being sought. 
 
 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT MANDATING ALL NEWLY LICENSED MEDICINE 
GRADUATES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND/OR OTHER PUBLIC 
COLLEGES TO PRACTICE THEIR PROFESSION IN THE 
PHILIPPINES FOR FIVE YEARS FROM THE TIME OF THEIR OATH 
TAKING AS DOCTORS OR TO CONDUCT AT LEAST 20 MEDICAL 
MISSIONS IN DIFFERENT MISSION/DEPRESSED AREAS AND/OR 
FAR FLUNG BARANGAYS IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE THEY CAN 
OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT OR ENGAGE IN PRIVATE PRACTICE 
OVERSEAS. 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Local 
Medical Service Act of 2023.” 
SECTION 2. Coverage. This Act shall only cover doctors or newly licensed 
graduates of medicine who obtained their degrees in state universities or other public 
colleges; or in the case that he/she obtained his/her medical degree in a private 
institution, this Act shall still apply if he/she has completed at least 70% of his/her 
required units in a state university or public college. 
SECTION 3. Mandatory Local Practice. A doctor or a newly licensed medicine 
graduate of state universities or public college who is covered under this Act must 
practice his or her profession for at least five (5) years in the Philippines before he or 
she can go abroad for employment or private practice thereat. 
SECTION 4. Mandatory Medical Mission. As an alternative to Section 3 hereof, 
a doctor or a newly licensed medicine graduate of state universities or public college 
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may opt to hold or conduct instead at least twenty (20) free medical missions in the 
different mission/depressed areas or far-flung barangays of the country. Each 
medical mission must be conducted for at least eight hours for each 
mission/depressed area or far-flung barangay. No credit shall be given to a doctor or 
a newly licensed medicine graduate of a state university or public college if the 20 
medical missions were conducted in the same mission/depressed area or barangay 
or in affluent residential area or in a subdivision. 
SECTION 5. Proof of compliance, Mandatory Service. Proof of employment 
indicating the number of years of service in the country shall be considered as 
primary proof of compliance with this Act, However, other competent documents and 
evidence as verified and approved by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) 
may be accepted as proof of compliance with this Act. 
SECTION 6. Proof of Compliance, Mandatory Medical Mission. A certification 
from the barangay captains of the barangays or mission/depressed areas where the 
medical missions were conducted as per Section 4 hereof shall be obtained by each 
doctors as primary proof of compliance with this Act. 
SECTION 7. Proof of compliance as Part of Clearance Requirements. The proofs 
of compliance contemplated in Section 5 and 6 hereof shall be part of the 
requirements for clearance before doctors who are graduates of state universities and 
other public colleges can be allowed to leave the country for the purpose of overseas 
employment or private practice of their profession thereat. 
SECION 8. Penalty for Violation of this Act. Any person who commits any 
violation of this Act shall be meted with imprisonment of five (5) years and be fine in 
the amount of not less than FIFTY THOUSAN PESOS (P50,000.00) but not more than 
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00). If the violation was committed 
by a doctor or a newly licensed medicine graduate of a state university or public 
college, in addition to the foregoing penalties, his medical license shall be revoked by 
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). 
SECTION 9. Rules and Regulations. Unless otherwise provided in this Act, the 
PRC shall promulgate rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this 
Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect upon their publication in three (3) 
newspapers of general circulation. 


SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, letters of 
instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or amended as the case me be. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. In the event that any provision of this Act 
or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional by a competent court, the other 
provisions shall not be affect thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable. 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect after its complete 
publication in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
APPROVED.