NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1423
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■22 OCT 27 P3 54
RbCEiVfc'DBY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, JR.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO 
DISASTERS, PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, CREATING A 
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that, "The State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people." In recent years, various public 
health emergencies, outbreaks and pandemics have placed the entire world at risk of 
an increased occurrence of severe morbidity and mortality. The simultaneous 
occurrences of these events means that supply chains for essential products like life 
saving medications and essential medical supplies are quickly threatened causing more 
fear to the public.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the weaknesses of 
our healthcare system, including the limited and overburdened health workers. 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country's doctor-population 
ratio is below the recommended ratio of ten (10) doctors per ten thousand (10,000) 
persons. Thus, the necessity to increase the available human resources for health.
This bill aims to strengthen the national preparedness and response of the 
government to public health emergencies and thus creating a Medical Reserve Corps 
to reduce its adverse health, economic, and social impact on the Filipino people.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
RAMON BONG
ILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1423
of tljefeff.rtarj?
*22 OCT 27 P3S4
RECEIVED 8V:
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO 
DISASTERS, PANDEMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, CREATING A 
MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ''Medical Reserve Corps
2 
for the New Normal Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall, at all times, give paramount
4 
importance to the health of its citizens, whether in the country or overseas, and it
5 
shall likewise endeavor to efficiently and immediately address all potential and actual
6 
public health emergencies for the promotion of the general welfare of the people.
7 
Sec. 3. Medical Reserve Corps. - A medical reserve corps shall be created. It
8 
will be composed of volunteer health care providers - physicians, pharmacists,
9 
dentists, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics who provide
10 
emergency medical care, emergency medical or laboratory technicians, and
11 
ambulance and emergency medical workers - who provides healthcare care services
12 
including, but not limited to, hospitals, medical clinics and offices, special care facilities
13 
and medical laboratories. The Corps shall be called into duty during disaster, pandemic
14 
and other public health emergencies, as may be deemed necessary by the
15 
government.


1 
Sec. 4. Medical Reserve Corp Database and Plan. - The Department of Health
2 
(DOH), in coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the
3 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and in consultation with the Accredited and
4 
Integrated Professional Organization in the medical and allied health professions shall
5 
establish a database of information of all individuals under the medical reserve corps,
6 
which shall be updated twice a year. The DOH shall also prepare a plan, which shall
7 
provide for comprehensive policy coordination and strategic direction, with respect to
8 
all matters related to national and local public health and medical preparedness and
9 
execution, and deployment of national and local response before, during, and after
10 
pandemics and other public health emergencies.
11 
Sec. 5. Coordination with the Local Government Unit - The Local Government
12 
Units (LGUs) shall include the setting up or modification of health care facilities and,
13 
in coordination with the DOH, designate areas for quarantine or isolation in
14 
preparation for any pandemic, or other public health emergency.
15 
Sec. 6. Recruitment, Training, and Compensation. - The DOH, in coordination
16 
with the PRC and CHED, shall issue guidelines on the recruitment, training, and
17 
compensation for health care providers, under the Medical Reserve Corps Database,
18 
who choose to work and gain experience in public hospitals.
19 
Sec. 7. Appropriation. - An initial amount of two hundred million pesos (Php
20 
200,000,000.00) shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) for
21 
the implementation of this Act. Thereafter, the appropriation necessary shall be
22 
determined by the DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and
23 
Management (DBM).
24 
Sec. 8. Implementing Ruies and Reguiations (IRR). - Upon the effectivity of this
25 
Act, the DOH, in coordination with the PRC, DILG, and CHED, shall immediately
26 
convene and issue the IRR within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act.
27 
Sec. 9. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
28 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
29 
repealed or modified accordingly.
30 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
31 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected
32 
thereby shall remain in force and effect.


1 
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
3 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,