Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
20th Congress
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1156 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative CAROLINE B. AGYAO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the declared policy of the State enshrined in the Constitution that the State
shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them. Towards this end, the State shall give primary, secondary and tertiary health
services adequate, accessible and affordable to all the citizens.
The Kalinga Provincial Hospital through the years has provided affordable services
to the residents of the Province of Kalinga and its neighboring provinces. It has also been the
only hospital of its kind in the province that caters to the needs of the citizens, and for several
years now, the hospital has more than 100% bed occupancy rate. The inadequate equipment
and resources of the hospital, as well as its already undermanned workforce are further thinly
spread among its numerous patients and cannot address the more specialized services for
complex diseases, illnesses and injuries of its patients consisting mostly of indigents and
underprivileged members of the community. Most of the patients cannot afford to go to
regional and specialized hospitals in the neighboring provinces and in Metro Manila, and thus
confined themselves to the meager resources of the hospital.
The conversion of the hospital to a regional hospital under the supervision of the
Department of Health and accordingly upgrading its capability, facilities and personnel, as
well as increasing its bed capacity, will firmly address the pressing medical needs of the
people. With the passage of this bill, the Northern Cordillera Regional Medical Center will be
able to provide a more integrated, comprehensive, accessible and effective quality health care
and services not only to the Province of Kalinga but also to its neighboring Provinces of
Isabela, Apayao, Ifugao, Mountain Province and Abra.
Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought for.
CAROLINE B. AGYAO
July 2, 2025
5:01 pm


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
20th Congress
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1156 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative CAROLINE B. AGYAO
AN ACT CONVERTING THE KALINGA PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN THE CITY
OF TABUK, PROVINCE OF KALINGA INTO A LEVEL III REGIONAL HOSPITAL,
TO BE KNOWN AS THE NORTHERN CORDILLERA REGIONAL MEDICAL
CENTER, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. The Kalinga Provincial Hospital in the City of Tabuk, Province of
Kalinga is hereby converted into a Level III Regional Hospital to be known as the Northern
Cordillera Regional Medical Center (NCRMC), and shall be under the direct supervision and
control of the Department of Health (DOH). Any future increase in bed capacity shall be
consistent with the hospital development plan which shall be prepared by the DOH.
SEC. 2. The existing professional health care services and facilities are also hereby
upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity increase as provided in
Section 1 hereof.
SEC. 3. The existing workforce of the NCRMC, including doctors, nurses and
support personnel shall be correspondingly increased to conform with Section 1 of this Act.
SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the Department’s
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 5. Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of the
DOH, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement the Provisions of this Act.
SEC. 6. If any provision or part of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC.7. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential issuance which are
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly
SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.