NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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*22 J1JL26 P5:41
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S. No. _EiI2
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Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
CREATING THE MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL RESERVE CORPS
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."
Equally important. Article II Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution provides that 
"The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The 
Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment 
thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render 
personal military or civil service."
There are currently 27,6251 active cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines. 
Meanwhile the country has likewise logged 65,190 dengue cases from January 1 to 
July 2 of this year which is 83% higher than the figures in the same period in the year 
2021.2 These increasing cases of COVID-19 and dengue requires continued, thorough 
and immediate medical action. These cases have a potential to overwhelm both private 
and public hospitals in the country.
Further, in the month of October 2019, Mindanao was struck by a series of 
strong earthquakes that displaced thousands of families and affected millions of
1 https://www.covidl9.gov.ph/ as of 26 July 2022.
2 https://www.pna.ROv.ph/articles/1179267


Filipinos. The most affected areas near the epicenters of the tremors, including the 
Municipalities of Tulunan and Makilala in the Province of Cotabato, suffered severely 
in terms of health and safety of its constituents and damage to their properties and 
infrastructures which highlighted the need for structural engineers and psychological 
trauma specialists. This is not a rare occurrence for the country. Being geographically 
situated in the "Pacific Ring of Fire" makes us vulnerable to these kinds of occurrences 
and numerous visits of tropical storms and other natural calamities.
Flence, the above circumstances show that there is a need to respond to these 
challenges and propose a long-term strategy that will benefit the country during 
pandemics, endemics, state of war, state of lawless violence or state of calamity and 
other similar circumstances.
To affirm this constitutional mandate and affirm patriotism as a cornerstone of 
community service, this bill seeks to provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the 
power to require professionals, such as structural engineers and licensed medical 
personnel, to render personal civil service in times of disasters, calamities, endemics, 
pandemic, and war. With this bill, it is hoped that affected Filipinos are immediately 
provided with the necessary assistance to alleviate their suffering. Finally, this bill also 
aims to strengthen the national preparedness and response of the government to 
public health emergencies and thus creating a medical and technical reserve corps to 
reduce its adverse health, economic, and social impact on the Filipino people.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
S "TOL" N. TOLENTINO


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 892
of ti’"
L.n’
'22 JUL?6 P5^1
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Introduced by SENATOR FRANCIS "TOL" N. TOLENTINO
AN ACT
CREATING THE MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL RESERVE CORPS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Medical and
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Technical Reserve Corps Act of 2022."
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to:
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a. Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas and it 
shall likewise endeavor to efficiently and immediately address all potential 
and actual public health emergencies for the promotion of the general 
welfare of the people;
b. Adopt a post-disaster rehabilitation approach that is holistic, 
comprehensive, integrated, and proactive in lessening the socioeconomic 
and environmental impacts of disasters, natural or man-made, and promote 
the involvement and participation of all sectors and all stakeholders 
concerned, at all levels, especially the local community;
c. Actively engage the people in post-disaster rehabilitation and humanitarian 
efforts; and
d. Promote the culture of "Bayanihan Spirit" during periods of calamities.


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Sec. 3. Medical and Technical Reserve Corps. - There is hereby
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established a Medical and Technical Reserve Corps which shall be composed of, but
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not limited to, all persons who have degrees in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical
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technology, and other health-related fields, as well as in the engineering sciences but
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have yet to have their respective licenses to practice for reasons such as but not
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limited to not having taken and/or passed the licensure examinations in their
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respective professions.
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Sec. 4. Mandatory Service of Members of the Medical and Technical
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Reserve Corps. - The members of the Medical and Technical Reserve Corps may be
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called upon by the Department of Health to render mandatory civil service during
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times of disease outbreak, state of war, state of lawless violence or state of calamity.
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From time to time as manpower and training resources may allow during the
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period of national emergencies and other contingencies, the Medical and Technical
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Reserve Corps may be called for retraining to maintain and enhance its level of
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competency and readiness for mobilization.
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The President of the Philippines, by himself, may also call on the mobilization
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of the Medical and Technical Reserve Corps to respond to national or local
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contingencies related to external and territorial defense, internal security and peace
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and order and/or disaster risk reduction management.
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Sec. 5. Implementing Unit. - The Department of Health (DOH) in
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coordination with the Department of National Defense (DND), Professional Regulation
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Commission (PRC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of
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Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall compose the implementing unit of this
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Act.
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Sec. 6. Mobilization Centers. -There shall be established in each province
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and city as many mobilization centers as needed according to the number and
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geographical distribution of the Corps, where they will report in case of deployment.


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In case of mobilization, the equipment of the Corps shall be supplied by the
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DOH and other national agencies and offices, with the end in view of achieving rapid
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mobilization of the Corps, where they will report in case of deployment.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. —The DOH in consultation
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with DND, PRC, CHED, and the DILG shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
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implement this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.
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Sec. 8. Separabiiity Clause. -If any provision or part thereof is held invalid,
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
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remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All law, presidential decree or issuance,
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
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to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
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following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,