FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 J& -4 > 3 'FC 
OF THE PHILIPHPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish a hospital especially dedicated to address the health needs of 
teachers all over the country. 
Teachers are indeed our unsung heroes. Despite the difficulties that continue to confront 
their profession, they remain fiercely loyal to their responsibility in molding the values and 
character of the young generation. 
Likewise, teachers are the most reliable and dedicated public servants. They are being 
constantly called upon by officials of the local and national government to assist in various 
extra-curricular and civic activities which contribute to the welfare of the commiULy- and the 
country, most notable of which is when they guard the precincts and count the votes during 
election period. 
Moreover, teachers are given substitute and special parental authority under our laws. 
Article 218 of the Family Code states that the school, its administrators and teachers shall have 
special parental authority and responsibility over the minor child while under their 
supervision, instruction or custody. 
Statistics from the Department of Education show that as of school year 2005-2006, there 
are 341,789 public elementary school teachers teaching at 37,000 public elementary schools with 
12,913,845 elementary school enrollees. In the same school year, the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:35. 
In the secondary level, there are 126,141 public secondary schools teaching at 4,915 public 
secondary schools with 4,979,030 secondary student enrollees. This translates to a teacher- 
student ratio of 1:39. 
Due to the complexities of their job, our teachers are exposed to health risks. The most 
common ailments teachers suffer from are clearly work-related pharyngitis, hypertension, 
anemia, and hyperacidity, among others. There is a need for the State to provide health 
facilities that specifically cater to the needs of teachers in view of the important role they play in 
educating our children and in the nation's progress. 
Thus, this bill proposes the establishment of a special hospital, the PYILIPPINE 
TEACHERS' HOSPITAL, in the National Capital Region as the primary medical facility for the 
hospitalization and medical care of teachers and their dependents. Also, all regional hospitals 
shall be required to establish a teachers' ward to provide medical services to teachers and their 
deperdents residing outside the National Capital Region. 
Such hospital shall provide for comprehensive health care services to all teachers and 
their dependents and complement the existing package of services under the National Health 
Insurance Program. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
2 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPHPINES 
1 
7 JI.11. 
-4 !’; S :Xt 
First Regular Session 
1 
i 
S E N A T E  
- 
S.B. N o . 9 3 9  
- 
~- 
~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL FOR. TEACHERS AND THEIR 
DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be if enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
Sectionl. 
HOSPITAL ACT. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS 
Section 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an 
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor 
to make essential health and other social services available to all people at affordable 
cost. Towards this end, the State shall protect the interest and promote the well-being 
of Filipino teachers, including their families and dependents through the provision of 
social welfare services. 
Section3. 
Creation of a Special Hospital and Special Wards. - To carry-out the 
above policy, a special hospital for teachers, to be named the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS 
HOSPITAL, shall hereby be established in the National Capital Region. Such hospital 
shall be the primary medicalkxility for the hospitalization and medical care of teachers 
and their dependents. 
Each regional hospital shall establish a teachers’ ward, with an initial capacity of 
at least fifty (50) beds, which will provide hospitalization and medical care to teachers 
and their dependents residing outside the National Capital Region. 
For purposes of this Act, “teachers” shall include, but not be limited, to the 
following: 
a) 
All persons engaged in the classroom teaching of any subject, 
including practical/vocational arts, at the day care, pre-school, 
elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels of instruction in 
all public and private educational institutions ; 
Individuals performing guidance and counseling in all public and 
private institutions ; 
All persons who provide instructional supervision in all public and 
private educational institutions, 
All pexms employed as school administrative support employees ; 
b) 
c) 
d) 
2 


e) 
School physicians, school dentists, and school nurses; 
f) 
Officials and employees of the Department of Education ( DepEd ) 
and the Commission on Higher Education ( CHED ) ; and 
g) 
Graduates of education who have passed the government 
examination for teachers, although not actually employed as such. 
"Dependents" shall refer to the following: (a) the legitimate spouse 
dependent for support upon the teacher; (b) the legitimate, illegitimate, or legally 
adopted children, chiefly dependent upon and living with the teacher if such child is 
not more than twenty-one ( 21 ) years of age, unmarried and not gainfully employed or 
is over the age of majority but incapacitated and incapable of seli-support due to a 
mental or physical defect; and (c) the parents dependent upon the member for support. 
Section 4. 
Objectives. - To ensure the availability, accessibility and 
affordability of quality health care, the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS HOSPITAL shall: 
a) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all teachers and 
their legal dependents; 
b) Complement the existing package of services under the National Health 
Insurance Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic, 
curative and rehabilitative programs; 
c) Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and mental capability of 
all teacher applicants; and 
d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and to 
generate relevant information/data in aid of policy formuIation. 
Section 5. 
Adrninistmtion.- 
Upon effectivity of this Act, the PHILIPPINE 
a) 
The Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports as ex- 
officio Chairman 
b) 
The Secretary'of the Department of Health as ex-officio Vice Chairman 
c) 
The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education as ex-officio 
Member 
d) 
The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development as ex-officio Member 
e) 
Three representatives from the teachers sector: one (1) from Luzon, one (1) 
from Visayas, one (1) from Mindanao as Members. 
TEACHERS HOSPITAL shall be administered by a Board of Directors consisting of 
The three (3) representatives from the teachers sector shall be appointed by the 
President of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of nominees prepared by the ex- 
officio Chairman to serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment. 
Section 6. 
Responsibility and Poo-coers. - The Board of Directors of the 
PHILIPI'INE TEACHERS' HOSPITAL shall have the following responsibilities and 
powers: 
a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the objectives 
and purposes of -the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS HOSPITAL as enunciated in 
Section 4 of this Act; 
b) To organize the structure of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS' HOSPITAL in 
accordance with a staffing pattern prepared by it and approvd by the 
3 


Department of Budget and Management; to appoint the officials and 
employees of the Hospital, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations; 
to prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to the provisions 
of Republic Act No. 6758; 
c) To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its establishment, 
maintenance, operations and objectives; 
d) To issue rules ana regulations to carry out the objectives and purposes of this 
Act; and 
e) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law. 
Section7. 
Appvopviation. - An amount of Three Hundred Million Pesos 
(P300,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the establishment and initial operations of 
the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS HOSPITAL. 
Subsequently, appropriations for the 
operhtions shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act. 
Sections. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, such sections or parts not affected thereby shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accoiLingly. 
Section 10. 
Effecfivify Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved, 
4 
4