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Republic of the Philippines 2 ove20 Fé
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9
Quezon City am. j
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF BS
Second Regular Session /noex 8S
House Bi.No, 7208

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The greatest wealth that a man can have is good health. It shall not be denied just because
of poverty. Unfortunately, the cases of ear, nose, throat, head and neck diseases (ENTHN) are
exponentially growing which decreases the quality and productivity of the life of many Filipinos.
‘Among these respiratory tract infections are colds, sinusitis, nasopharyngitis and laryngitis.

Given the air pollution in the Metro Manila, these (ENTHN) diseases are growing
rapidly, and if left untreated, may cause permanent physical disabilities or deformities to both the
young and adult Filipinos. The recurrence of this sickness to an individual will definitely hamper
his performance and productivity in the work force which will collectively affect the country’s
economy.

The State is mandated by the law to provide quality health care for those afflicted with
diseases especially for the underprivileged. However, there is no existing law which directly
addresses (ENTHN) diseases despite its dreadful effects on the health of Filipinos.

This bill seeks to establish Philippine ENT Center that will specialize in diagnosis and
treatment of ENTHN related illness and shall be equipped with specialized medical equipment
that is accessible and available for the general public especially for the underprivileged. It shall
also be manned by qualified medical and technical personnel to provide the public quality health
care.

“KUYA” JOSEANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative

First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 7208

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT) CENTER AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote and protect the right of the people to health by providing specialized health and medical
services that will secure their well-being. Towards this end, the State shall establish an ear, nose
and throat (ENT) center that will provide comprehensive, high quality, affordable and
specialized medical services for the prevention, control and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head
and neck (ENTHN) diseases.

SEC. 2. Philippine Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Center. ~ The Philippine Ear, Nose
and Throat (ENT) Center, hereinafter referred to as the Philippine ENT Center, is hereby
established under the supervision of the Department of Health to intensify and consolidate the
efforts and programs of the government in the prevention diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN
diseases and provide comprehensive, high quality, affordable and specialized medical services to
citizens afflicted with ENTHN disease.

The Philippine ENT Center shall have the following objectives:

a)

Construct, establish, equip, operate and maintain a medical institution which shall
specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN diseases, and provide
medical care, rehabilitation and relief of persons suffering from it.

Undertake medical and scientific researches relative to the prevention, diagnosis,
treatment of ENTHN diseases and create public awareness on its prevention and control
through information dissemination;

Finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions, conferences, seminars,
work-shops and training programs on ENTHN diseases, diagnosis and management;
Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information on the
prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN diseases;

Encourage and assist in the education and training of physicians, nurses, health officers,
social workers and other medical and technical personnel in the practical and scientific
conduct and implementation of ENTHN diseases prevention and treatment programs;

f) Coordinate and consolidate various efforts and activities of the government in delivering
more effective medical services to treat and prevent ENTHN diseases; and

Help in the promotion of Philippine medical tourism by offering top quality and world
class medical services in treating ENTHN disorders,

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SEC. 3. Scope of Services. — Consistent with its objectives, the Philippine ENT Center shall
provide the following services:
a) Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities and equipment
necessary to provide treatment of ENTHN diseases;


b) Community-based services to develop and implement community-based programs in
partnership with local government units, conduct research and external resource
outsourcing to implement community-based diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN diseases.

c) Education programs to pursue excellence and the highest level of practice in the
specialized field of ENTHN diseases and other related fields, conduct post-graduate
training and short-term courses for medical doctors and allied medical professionals; and

d) Program development and research to develop cutting edge research and programs to
combat diseases of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck.

SEC. 4. Board of Trustees. — The Philippine ENT Center shall be administered by a Board
of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of seven (7) members to be
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of
Health.

‘The members of the Board shall serve for a period of three (3) years. All members shall serve
without compensation other than actual and necessary expenses, in accordance with the existing
laws, policies and rules and regulations on the matter, incurred either for attendance in meetings
of the Board or upon official business authorized by a resolution of the Board.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. — The Board shall have the following powers and functions
in addition to their general powers of administration:

a) Formulate and adopt the by-laws, rules and regulations, policies, guidelines and
procedures consistent with law and the provisions of this Act to govern the administration
and operations of the Philippine ENT Center,

Formulate and develop programs for the prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN

diseases and adopt measures which are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act;

Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical institutions, domestic or

foreign, as may be necessary in attaining the purposes and objectives of the Philippine

ENT Center;

d) Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real or personal property of all kinds and

to administer the same for the benefit of the Philippine ENT Center, in accordance with

the directions and instructions of the donor, and in default thereof, in such manner as in
its discretion the Board may determine;

Acquire and hold property of whatever nature or description, and to dispose such

properties under any mode of encumbrance and conveyance;

f) Invite foreign ENTHN specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields to
train the personnel of the Philippine ENT Center or send personnel to research or medical
institutes or universities for advance training or observation or to attend international or
regional conventions, conferences, congresses and seminars as the Board may deem
necessary to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the Philippine ENT Center; and

g) Perform all such other acts and things as are or may be necessary or incidental to the
accomplishment of the objectives of the Philippine ENT Center.

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SEC. 6. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. — The Board shall determine
the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Philippine ENT Center subject to the
evaluation by the Civil Service Commission and of the Organization Position Classification
and Compensation Bureau of the Department of Budget and Management. The Board may
reorganize said structure, modify the staffing pattern and create or abolish divisions, sections
or units in the Philippine ENT Center.

SEC. 7. Appointment by the Board. ~ The Board shall have the authority to appoint,
promote, transfer, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the officers and employees of the
Philippine ENT Center upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, subject to civil
service laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 8. Executive Director. — The Philippine ENT Center shall be administered by an
Executive Director who shall be administered by an Executive Director who shall be


appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of
Trustees.

The Executive Director shall exercise the following powers and functions:

Execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Board, and be
responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational functions;
Submit for the consideration and approval of the Board proposed measures, policies
and guidelines and programs as may be deemed necessary for the effective
implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Act,
Direct and supervise the management, operation, and administration of the Philippine
ENT Center, and may delegate this power and any or some of the administrative
responsibilities and duties to the other officers of the Philippine ENT Center,
Recommend to the Board the appointment, promotion, transfer, dismissal and
suspension of the officers and employees of the Philippine ENT Center;
Execute on behalf of the Board all contracts and agreements which the latter may
enter into, and to execute, accomplish and deliver any and all documents relative to
such contracts and agreements; and
f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be vested by the
Board.

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SEC. 9. Program for Indigents. — The Board shall ensure that the Philippine ENT
Center shall adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds allocated for
indigent patients shall not be less than forty percent (40%) of the total number of hospital
beds.

SEC. 10. Tax Exemptions and Privileges. — The provision of any general or special
law to the contrary notwithstanding, all donations, grants, contributions, gifts or
endowments received by the Philippine ENT Center pursuant hereto, shall be exempt
from income, gift and all other kinds of taxes, and shall be further considered as
allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the
provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

‘The Philippine ENT Center is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other
internal revenue taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, fees, charges
and assessments levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies and
instrumentalities.

The Philippine ENT Center may request and receive assistance from the different
agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, including the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation in
pursuit of its purposes and objectives.

SEC. 11, Annual Report. — The Philippine ENT Center shall submit an annual report
to the President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and
the House Committee on Health, on its activities, accomplishments and recommendations
to better improve their delivery of specialized medical services.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Secretary of Health shall, in
coordination with the Secretary of Budget and Management, promulgate such rules and
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 13 Appropriations. — The amount of Three hundred million pesos
(P300,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance of the
Philippine ENT Center. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the continued
operation of the Philippine ENT Center shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.


SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. —
in the Official Gazette oy

© Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication
‘two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.