EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1505
20 7iY-4 P4 •56
RECt:1
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TERTIARY CARE 
HOSPITALS IN ALL REGIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the existing gaps and 
problems that beset our country's health care system. With the growth in the 
number of infected persons, hospitals and other health facilities even in the National 
Capital Region reached their full capacities1. During the initial days of the pandemic, 
we only have the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine as the sole confirmatory 
testing laboratory for the virus in the whole Philippines2. The situation is even worse 
in the provinces. Already a month into the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), 
for the whole of Mindanao, testing for COVID-19 can only be done at the Southern 
Philippines Medical Center in Davao City3. For Visayas area, there are only two 
testing laboratories: Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu and Western 
Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo4. The prognosis for our health care system, as 
revealed by how we responded to this pandemic, is bleak - it is in bad shape and is 
in dire need of upgrading.
1https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1247913/5-metro-hospitals-reach-full-capacity-for-covid-19-
cases
2https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/20/coronavirus-testing-in-philippines.html
https://www.mindanews.eom/top-stories/2020/04/ritm-plans-to-capacitate-davnor-hospital-
for-testing-of-covid-19/
4https:/1 cnnphilippines.eom/news/2020/4/15/16-laboratories-now-testing-for-COVID-19.html


, One way that we can improve its ailing condition is to build and establish 
more hospitals all over the country, specifically new hospitals which are classified as 
tertiary care facilities. The mission is not only to give universal access to health care, 
but to give universal access to a health care institution with a world-class quality 
medical services and are at par with international standards and best practices. This 
proposed measure envisions that all of the regions will have their own tertiary care 
hospitals within five (5) years from its effectivity, with top priority being given to 
regions which do not have any regional hospital of whatever classification lower than 
tertiary care. This bill also provides that provinces which are geographically isolated 
from their region's tertiary care hospital such as island provinces shall have the 
priority for the establishment of a tertiary care hospital of their own. To ease the 
budgetary burden to the government, new facilities need not be constructed for 
areas which already have regional hospitals - instead they shall only be considered 
for upgrading, modernization and conversion to a tertiary care hospital.With this 
program, our constituents in the provinces will no longer have to travel all the way 
to Metro Manila or the highly urbanized cities of neighboring regions in order to 
attend to their medical needs.
In view of this, early passage of this bill is sought.
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No.
o', tijf
20 '"lY V. :56
R£CE!Vrr
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN 
ALL REGIONS, AND APPROPRIATING 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 "Regional Tertiary Care 
Hospitals Act."
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared as thd policy of the 
State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, 
which shall be available and accessible to all the people at affordable cost. Towards 
this end, the Philippine health delivery system must be reformed and modernized in 
order for it to be available, accessible and affordable pursuant to the common goal 
of bringing universal health care for Filipinos.
Section 3. Establishment of Tertiary Care Hospitals in AH Regions. - Within 
five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, all regions must have at least one (1) 
tertiary care hospital operating within its territorial jurisdiction. The Department of 
Health (DOH) must formulate a prioritization plan for the purpose of implementing 
this Act, subject to the following considerations:


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a. Top priority shaii be given to aii regions which do not have any
regionai hospitai of whatever ciassification lower than tertiary care 
hospital;
b. Provinces which are geographically isolated (e.g. island provinces) 
from their region's tertiary care hospital shall likewise be given priority 
for the establishment of a tertiary care hospital; and
c. Existing Regional Hospitals, as identified by DOH, shall be considered
for upgrading, modernization and conversion to a tertiary care 
hospital.
Section 4. Audit and Inventory of Regional Hospitals. - Within six (6) months 
from the promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, an 
audit and inventory of the physical facilities, equipment and instruments as well as 
the personnel of the Regional Hospitals shall be conducted to determine the present 
classification of the respective regional hospitals. The result of the audit and
inventory shall be the basis of the respective upgrade and modernization plan for 
each Regional Hospital.
Section 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations of the Department of 
Health.
Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, in coordination with other 
relevant government agencies,shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act.
Section 7.Repealing Clause. —All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
appiication thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutionai or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.
Section 9.EffectMty Clause. — This Act shali take effect fifteen (15) days 
from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,