Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3134

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Data compiled by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), based on submitted death
certificates from local government units within the past few years, places ischaemic heart
disease as the leading cause of death in Filipinos. Among other leading diseases are diabetes,
pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infections, and “neoplasms” or cancer.

Based on the above-cited data, a large number of deaths recorded in the Philippines
can be prevented if our countrymen have access to hospitals catering to their specific health
needs.

While measures have been made to ensure that hospitals are accessible to all Filipinos
all over the country, specialty hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), Lung
Center of the Philippines (LPC), National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKT!), Philippine
Cancer Center, and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) are only found in Metro
Manila.

This bill seeks to democratize access to the services being rendered by the medical
facilities mentioned in the foregoing by creating regional iterations, and providing funds
therefor.

As poverty incidences in the Philippines rise, Filipinos are torn between spending
money for their health, and their everyday needs. With specialty hospitals only being located
in Metro Manila, our countrymen who live in the provinces and geographically isolated and
disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) are forced to forgo their health needs, as seeking medical
attention would also mean allocating funds for transportation and lodging in Manila — funds
which they may already have none or little access of.

It is the hope of this representation that the enactment of this bill can provide ease of
access to specialty hospitals to our countrymen in the rural areas. Through this bill, we ensure
that special medical services for specific conditions are brought to them, rather than have
them spend more of their savings for specialized health care in the National Capital Region.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

RAY FCO! TP REVES

Represefflative, AnaKalusugan Partyli


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3134

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

AN ACT ESTABLISHING REGIONAL BRANCHES OF SPECIALTY HOSPITALS SUCH
AS THE PHILIPPINE HEART CENTER, NATIONAL KIDNEY AND TRANSPLANT
INSTITUTE, LUNG CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, PHILIPPINE CHILDREN’S MEDICAL,
CENTER AND PHILIPPINE CANCER CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Regional Specialty Hospitals
Act.”

SECTION 2. Statement of Policy. — Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution states that: “The
State shali protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them." Towards this end, it shall be the policy of the State to provide
access to affordable and quality healthcare services to Filipinos, including the provision of
specialty hospitals in the different regions of the country.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Regional Specialty Hospitals. - There shall be branches of
the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the
Philippines, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Philippine Cancer Center to be
established in the different regions of the country. Within three (3) years upon the enactment
of this Act, there shall be at least one (1) specialty hospital from the abovementioned specialty
hospitals in Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Southern
Mindanao. The Department of Health shall determine the specialty hospital to be established
in the different regions, taking into consideration the prevalent illnesses in the area.

SECTION 4. National Government Share. - The National Government shall constitute the
necessary land, building, equipment and facilities, to the regional branches of the specialty
hospital, and shall pay such obligations for real, personal and mixed properties arising from



such undertaking under a deferred payment arrangement within five (5) years, at a preferred
rate of interest.

SECTION 5. Property of the Regional Specialty Hospital. ~ The property of the Regional
Specialty Hospital shall consist of such real, personal, mixed, and other type of property, now
owned or reserved for, or may hereafter be given, donated, acquired, transferred or conveyed
to, the Regional Branch of the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant
Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Children's Medical Center Visayas, and
Philippine Cancer Center as applicable, by the Philippine Government, its branches and
instrumentalities, any foreign government, as well as by trust, foundations, corporations, or
persons, alien or domestic, in order to carry out its purposes and objectives as set forth herein.

SECTION 6. Purposes and Objectives. ~ The purposes and objective of the Regional
Specialty Hospital are:

a) To construct, establish, operate and maintain regional branches of specialty hospitals
for the public welfare;

b) To promote, encourage and engage in scientific research on the prevention of heart,
kidney, liver, cancer and pulmonary diseases and the care and/or treatment of such
diseases and related activities, including sponsorship and conduct of relevant
congresses, conventions, seminars, and conferences;

©) To stimulate and/or underwrite scientific researches on the biological, demographic,
social, economic, eugenic, physiological aspects of heart, kidney, liver, cancer and
pulmonary disorders and abnormalities and its control; and gather, compile, and
publish the findings of such researches for public dissemination;

d) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information
on the prevention, treatment and control of heart, kidney, liver, cancer and pulmonary
diseases, to arouse, enhance and develop public interest on such diseases and arouse
consciousness or awareness on general health and physical fitness;

) To encourage and/or undertake the training of physicians, nurses, medical technicians,
health officers and social workers on the practical and scientific conduct and
implementation of heart, kidney, liver, cancer and pulmonary services and related
activities;

f) To assist universities, hospitals and research institutions in their studies of heart,
kidney, liver, cancer and pulmonary anomalies, to encourage advanced training on
matters of, or affecting the heart, kidney, liver, cancer and lungs, and related fields and
to support educational programs of value to general health;

9) To encourage the formation of other organizations on the national, provincial, city,
municipal or barangay level ad to coordinate their various efforts and activities for the
purpose of achieving a more effective programmatic approach on the common
problems relative to the objectives herein enumerated; and,

h) To extend medical and heart, kidney, liver, cancer and pulmonary services to the
general public, to help prevent, relieve or alleviate the innumerable heart, kidney, liver,
cancer and pulmonary afflictions and maladies of the people specially the poor and
less fortunate in life, without regard to race, creed, color or political belief.

SECTION 7. Governing Board. - The Governing Board of the Regional Specialty Hospitals
shall be the Governing Board of their respective mother units: Provided, That the medical
director or chief of hospital of the Regional Branch shall be present or invited to the Board


meeting whenever matters concerning his/her Regional Branch are in the agenda or for
discussion of the Board.

SECTION 8. Tax Exemptions and Privileges. — All existing tax exemptions and privileges of
the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the
Philippines, Philippine Children's Medical Center and Philippine Cancer Center shall be
availed of by their Regional Branches.

SECTION 9. Transportation and Lodging Subsidy for Medical Specialists and Experts.
~ To encourage the assignment andlor temporary practice of medical specialists and experts
in the Regional Branches of Specialty Hospitals, especially during the initial stage of their
establishment, the Regional Branches are allowed to provide transportation and lodging
subsidy and other necessary subsidies over and above of their salary, professional fee and
other emoluments.

SECTION 10. Assistance From Government Offices. - The Regional Specialty Hospital
may call upon any Department, Bureau, Office, agency or instrumentality of the government,
including government-owned or controlled corporations, particularly the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office, for such assistance it may need in the pursuit of its purposes and
objectives.

SECTION 11. Government Subsidy and Contributions. - The amount of Five Billion Pesos
(P5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated as contribution of the National Government for
the initial establishment, operations and maintenance of the Regional Specialty Hospitals, for
the year 2023. Thereafter, the amount necessary to ensure the continued operations and
maintenance of the Regional Specialty Hospitals shall be duly provided for, appropriated and
released from the General Appropriations Act. The respective funds therefrom shall be
administered by the respective Board of each specialty hospital.

SECTION 12. Annual Report. - Each Regional Specialty Hospital shall render to their
respective mother units, the Department of Health, the President of the Philippines, and the
Congress of the Philippines annual reports of its activities, accomplishments, and
recommendations.

SECTION 13. Effect of Dissolution of the Regional Specialty Hospital. - If for any reason,
the Regional Specialty Hospital is dissolved, its assets and properties remaining at the time
of dissolution shall revert to the Philippine Government for disposition in accordance with law.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the Department of
Health, in consultation with the Medical Director or Chief of Hospital of the respective mother
unit of the Specialty Hospital, shall issue such rules, regulations, and other issuances as may
be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. — Any portion or provision of this Act that is declared
unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions or provisions hereof as
long as such remaining portions can still subsist and be given effect in their entirety.


SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. — All laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, other issuances
or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publications in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,