NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE

1354

H.B. No.

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our Constitution, under Article Il, Section 15 provides that the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among them, During the
time when Aklan was still a part of Capiz Province, there was a crying need for affordable
health care in Aklan. A group of prominent civic leaders headed by Hon. Simeon Reyes,
Member of the First Philippine Assembly, worked hard with vigor and efforts convincing the
Central Government in Manila and the Provincial Government of the urgent need of a

provincial hospital for the Aklanons.

When Hon. Rafael Acufia was the Governor of Capiz, the petition was finally approved.
This was an exceptional case where a provincial hospital was constructed outside the
provincial capitol. Soon after the approval of the act, the construction of the hospital was
started and it was completed on the first week of May 1930. On May 12, 1930, the hospital

was officially inaugurated with Dr. Panfilo Lejano as its first Chief of Hospital.

With the separation of Aklan from Capiz on April 25, 1956, the Capiz Provincial
Hospital was renamed Aklan Provincial Hospital. In 1981, it was again renamed Dr. Rafacl

S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH) in memory of the late Undersecretary of Health.


Since after the war, the authorized bed capacity of the hospital is constantly
increasing, From the initial 30 beds, it was increased to 50 beds in 1956; 75 beds in 1961;
and finally 100 beds in 1975. On October 16, 2000, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of
Aklan passed Ordinance No. 2000-023 recognizing the DRSTMH as a 150-bed hospital.
On February 4, 2010, as per the evaluation of the Department of Health (DOH), the
authorized bed capacity if DRSTMH is 162

In 2018, a new 3-storey, 146-bed fully air-conditioned building was constructed

in order to expand the DRSTMH. However, with the need for a more efficient and effective
health care services in Aklan, this bill seeks to further increase the bed capacity of

DRSTMH to 500.

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRASERDATIVES

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

AN ACT
INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF DR. RAFAEL S. TUMBOKON MEMORIAL
HOSPITAL IN THE PROVINCE OF AKLAN FROM ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO (162)
TO FIVE HUNDRED (500) BEDS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The authorized bed capacity of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial
Hospital, the provincial hospital of Aklan is hereby increased from one hundred sixty-two
(162) to five hundred (500) beds with concomitant manpower compliment.

SECTION 2. The increase in the bed capacity of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial
Hospital from one hundred sixty-two (162) to five hundred (S00) beds shall be

implemented for a period of not more than three years from the approval of this Act.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's program
the implementation of the increase in the bed capacity of Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon
Memorial Hospital, the funding of which shall be included in the annual Gencral

Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. - The fund requirement necessary for the
implementation of this Act and the initial operation and maintenance shall be charged

against the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - Within ninety days (90) after
the effectivity of this Act, the DOH and the Department of Budget and Management shall


promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this

Act.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official
Gazette.

Approved,