Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

RECEIVED

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._287

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LAARNI LAVIN ROQUE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article Il of the Constitution provides that “The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill
consciousness among them." It is then the obligation of the State to enhance
the delivery of health services to the people.

This bill seeks to establish the Bukidnon Farmers Research and Medical
Center in the City of Valencia, Province of Bukidnon which shall be placed
under the supervision and control of the Department of Health in partnership
and coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Research
Institute for Tropical Medicine.

The province of Bukidnon is known as the “Food Basket of Mindanao”
being a major producer of rice, corn, and sugarcane. The economy of
Bukidnon is primarily based on agriculture, livestock, and poultry. A big
number of its population are farmers and they suffer from diseases common
and unique to people in their line of work. This proposed measure seeks the
establishment of a specialty hospital in Valencia City, Bukidnon that will cater
to the medical conditions and needs of our farmers and other agricultural
workers, and more importantly - will be the center for research of the diseases
and conditions unique to them which will help the whole agricultural
population of the country in the long run. It will be the first of its kind in the
country.

The 4 District of Bukidnon, which includes Valencia City, Pangantucan
and Kalilangan, has no existing government hospital. Based on the 2020
Census of Population and Housing, the population in the City of Valencia
alone totaled to 216,546. Valencia City is the most populated local
government unit (LGU) of the province of Bukidnon. Despite the dense
population of Valencia City, it has no existing government hospital, which will
cater to the poor and marginalized constituents of the city. In times of medical

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emergency which require even minor surgeries, the poor and marginalized
citizens of Valencia City need to travel 40.7 kilometers to the Bukidnon
Provincial Hospital located at the municipality of Maramag, which is part of
3° District of Bukidnon. The general hospital component of the proposed
farmers research medical center will also address this dire need of the city
and its neighboring municipalities.

Due to the nature and location of their work, farmers are continuously
exposed to various physical hazards: weather, terrain, machinery, exposure
to venomous and virus-carrying reptiles and insects, toxic substances such as
pesticides, fertilizers, fuels, and organic dust, stress, among others. These
lead to associated health problems, including but not limited to dengue,
malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis cancer, respiratory diseases, kidney
diseases, heart ailments, snake bites and bite victims of other venomous
animals. However, due to poverty and limited access to social services, most
ailments of our agricultural workers persist without proper medical
intervention. The big number of cases will serve as a good research endeavor
for the scientists and physicians to be affiliated with the facility where new
treatment modalities or improvement of the existing protocols may be
discovered and improved. A university - the Central Mindanao University is
also located nearby, and the center can forge a partnership and affiliation for
its research endeavors. A study of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
shows that in the years 2014 to 2018, the agricultural sector accounts for 24.3
percent of the labor force in the Philippines, totaling about 10 million
Filipinos. They have, lamentably, the highest incidence of poverty among the
basic sectors in the country in the 2015 and 2018 survey of PSA. They live in
rural communities that are remote and prone to natural disasters, with some
areas lacking in emergency health care services.

Reports of individuals being attacked by snakes have become frequent
in Bukidnon as well as other agricultural areas in Mindanao. According to the
Department of Health, snake bite is an important medical emergency and
cause of hospital admission. It may result in the death or chronic disability of
many active younger people, especially those involved in farming and
plantation work, if not given immediate treatment. No facility in the region
can produce anti-venom. An anti-venom center will be part of the research
initiative of the center.

This bill proposes the establishment of a research specialty hospital
that will cater specifically to the medical conditions of our farmers and other
agricultural workers and conduct research to establish prevention strategies,
treatment, rehabilitation and innovations in addressing farmer's and other
tropical diseases. This is in line with the desire of no other than our President
Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in establishing specialty and research medical
centers outside of the nation’s capital.



The establishment of Bukidnon Farmers Research and Medical Center
in Valencia City will not only cater to the poor and marginalized farmers of the
4" District of Bukidnon. It will also serve the poor and marginalized farmers
of neighboring municipalities and nearby provinces, as well as the general
population in the area.

Given the above premises, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

LAARNTTAVIN ROQUE
Representative istrict, Bukidnon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House BILL No. 287

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE LAARNI LAVIN ROQUE

ANACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIALTY RESEARCH HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF
VALENCIA, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON TO BE KNOWN AS THE
BUKIDNON FARMERS RESEARCH AND MEDICAL CENTER (BFRMC),
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established a specialty research hospital in
the City of Valencia, Province of Bukidnon, to be known as the Bukidnon
Farmers Research and Medical Center (BFRMC).

SEC. 2. The hospital shall be under the direct control and supervision of
the Department of Health (DOH) and shall be designated as a specialty and
research facility and one of the apex hospitals in Northern Mindanao. Any
future increase in bed capacity and upgrading of health care services and
facilities shall be based on the hospital development plan which shall be
prepared by the DOH.

SEC. 3. Medical Assistance. - The Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture (DA) shall ensure that existing health benefits and medical
assistance programs are strengthened to include, among others, subsidies
on hospitalization and medical procedures for farmers and qualified
dependents.


a

SEC. 4. Research Department for Tropical Medicine. - There shall be
established a department for research on tropical medicine, which shall be
under the direct supervision of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
(RITM).

The department shall have the following functions:

a) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control, and
prevention of tropical diseases that are major causes of
mortality and morbidity in the Philippines;

b) Conduct clinical trials aimed at better understanding and
control of tropical disease;

c) Conduct regular training courses for medical and
paramedical personnel in the control of common tropical
diseases in the country;

d) Provide high quality tertiary care and treatment to both
inpatients and out-patients suffering from tropical diseases
included within the scope of RITM's research activities;

) Apply for, receive, and accept bequests, grants, and
donation of funds, equipment, materials and services needed
for the attainment of its objectives; and

£) _ Perform such other related activities as may be assigned
by the Secretary of Health.

SEC. 5. Review and Assessment. — The DOH and DA shall conduct a
mandatory review and assessment every five (5) years from the effectivity of
this Act to ensure its proper implementation and assess the performance of
the Hospital.

A report shall be submitted to the Committee on Health and Committee
on Agriculture and Food on both houses of Congress within thirty (30) days
from the termination of the period of review and assessment.

SEC. 6. Appropriations - The Secretary of Health shall immediately
include in the Department's program the implementation of this Act, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within sixty (60) days from
the approval of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the DA and other
relevant stakeholders, shall formulate and issue the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) to fully implement the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 8. Separability Clause - If any provision or part of this Actis declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, issuances, and
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,