Republic of the Philippines [2 RECEIVED 2
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES {/O m
Quezon City XL DATE December 12, 2022 (

* TIME = 11:09am *
NINETEENTH CONGRESS ‘4 By Rei by

First Regular Session <5. a

Wo inner
HOUSE BILL NO, 6603 _ INDI

Introduced by HON. JOSE S. AQUINO IE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the state shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor the make
essential goods, health, and other social services available to all the people at affordable costs.
‘There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.

This bill seeks to upgrade the Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
into a Level III Hospital which shall be under the supervision and control of the Department of
Health.

The Butuan Medical Center (BMC) is a 150-bed capacity, govemment-funded Level
IL hospital situated in the City of Butuan in Agusan del Norte, Given its strategic location, BMC
provides health care services not only to the residents of Butuan City , but to a lot of patients
in its adjacent municipalities and provinces

Presently, there are no public and private hospitals in Agusan del Norte with an
equivalent of Level III service and training capability in the province.

Pursuant to the Constitutional mandate of the State to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them, the Butuan Medical Center
shall continue to provide quality health services.

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

JOSE S. AQUINO IL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6603_

Introduced by HON. JOSE S. AQUINO IE

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE BUTUAN MEDICAL CENTER IN BUTUAN CITY, PROVINCE
OF AGUSAN DEL NORTE INTO A LEVEL Ill HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS
BUTUAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND
CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. The Butuan Medical Center in Butuan City, Province of Agusan del Norte
is hereby upgraded into a Level III hospital to be known as the Butuan General Hospital, under
the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

SEC. 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Hospital shall be increased from 150 to 300,
to be implemented for a period of not more than two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act.
Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the hospital development plan and
its status as Level II hospital, which shall be prepared by the Chief of Hospital of Butuan
Medical Center (BMC) and submitted to the Department of Health (DOH).

SEC. 3. The existing professional health care services and facilities shall also be
upgraded and increased correspondingly to conform with the increase in its authorized bed
capacity as provided for in Section 2 hereof, consistent with the requirements of modem
medical services and state-of-the-art equipment and technology, as reflected in the hospital
development plan and its status as Level III hospital.


SEC. 4. The DOH shall, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management
and the Civil Service Commission, and upon prior consultation with the Chief of Hospital of
BMC, determine the additional plantilla positions to be created and filled upon for the effective

implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the Department’s
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this

Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. All laws, presidential decrees, issuance, executive orders, letters of instruction,
tules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby

repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation.

Approved,