Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA 
____________________________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to create a specialty hospital in the Municipality of Amulung, Province 
of Cagayan to be known as Cagayan Valley Mother and Child Specialty Center which 
will be under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH). 
The proposed specialty center will cater specifically for the care of mothers, women 
and children and all their health and medical concerns. 
Health is a fundamental right of every Filipino. Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 
Philippine Constitution 15 declares that “The State shall protect and promote the right 
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” Also, Article XIII 
Section 11, on Social Justice and Human Rights on Health, declares that it is the 
responsibility of the State to “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for 
the needs of the under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The 
State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.”  
Cagayan occupies the northeastern tip of the country. It has a total land area of 
9,398.07 sq. km.  and is about 480 kilometers from Manila. It has an estimated 
population of 1,268,603 as of the 2020 PSA census, of which, 49% are women and 
35% are children (0-17). 
Currently, there is no specialty center for mothers and children in the entire Cagayan 
Valley Region. Mothers and children needing specialized treatment need to go to Metro 
Manila to receive medical attention. Considering that majority of Cagayanos would 
benefit from having a specialty hospital nearby, the creation of one becomes 
necessary.  
In this regard, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA
July 2, 2025
9:06 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. JOSEPH “JOJO” L. LARA 
____________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF AMULUNG, PROVINCE OF 
CAGAYAN, A BASIC COMPREHENSIVE SPECIALTY CENTER TO BE KNOWN AS 
THE CAGAYAN VALLEY MOTHER AND CHILD SPECIALTY CENTER, 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 in the Municipality of Amulung, Province of 
Cagayan, a basic comprehensive specialty center to be known as the Cagayan Valley 
Mother and Child Specialty Center, which shall be under the direct control and 
supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).  
SECTION 2. The Cagayan Valley Mother and Child Specialty Center shall serve as 
apex or end-referral facility at the regional level providing an array of basic 
comprehensive clinical services and capable of conducting clinical public health. It shall 
prioritize prenatal testing, obstetrics and gynecological services, pediatrics care, 
lactation programs, nutrition services, neonatal care, immunization services, 
postpartum depression support, education classes for parenting and women’s and 
children’s health awareness.  
SECTION 3. Any future increase in bed capacity, healthcare facilities, service 
capability, and human resource complement shall be based on the hospital 
development plan that shall be prepared by the DOH.  
SECTION 4. 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.  
SECTION 5. 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.  
SECTION 6. All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,