FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1054

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a hospital especially dedicated to address the
health needs of teachers all over the country.

Teachers are indeed our unsung heroes. Despite the difficulties that continue
to confront their profession, they remain fiercely loyal to their responsibility in
molding the values and character of the young generation.

Likewise, teachers are the most reliable and dedicated public servants. They
are being constantly called upon by officials of the local and national government to
assist in various extra-curricular and civic activities which contribute to the welfare of
the community and the country, most notable of which is when they guard the
precincts and count the votes during election period.

Moreover, teachers are given substitute and special parental authority under
our laws. Article 218 of the Family Code states that the school, its administrators and
teachers shall have special parental authority and responsibility over the minor child
while under their supervision, instruction or custody.

Statistics from the Department of Education show that as of school year
2005-2006, there are 341,789 public elementary school teachers teaching at 37,000
Public elementary schools with 12,913,845 elementary school enrollees. In the same
school year, the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:35. In the secondary level, there are 126,141
Public secondary schools teaching at 4,915 public secondary schools with 4,979,030
secondary student enrollees. This translates to a teacher-student ratio of 1:39.

Due to the complexities of their job, our teachers are exposed to health risks.
The most common ailments teachers suffer from are clearly work-related
pharyngitis, hypertension, anemia, and hyperacidity, among others. There is a need
for the State to provide health facilities that specifically cater to the needs of
teachers in view of the important role they play in educating our children and in the
nation's progress.

Thus, this bill proposes the establishment of a special hospital, the
PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL, in the National Capital Region as the primary
medical facility for the hospitalization and medical care of teachers and their


dependents. Also, all regional hospitals shall be required to establish a teachers’
ward to provide medical services to teachers and their dependents residing outside
the National Capital Region.

Such hospital shall provide for comprehensive health care services to all
teachers and their dependents and complement the existing package of services
under the National Health Insurance Program.

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

|EZ

MAXIMO 8. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1054

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’
HOSPITAL ACT.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential health and other social services available to all people
at affordable cost. Towards this end, the State shall protect the interest and
promote the well-being of Filipino teachers, including their families and dependents
through the provision of social welfare services

Section 3. Creation of a Special Hospital and Special Wards. - To carry-out
the above policy, a special hospital for teachers, to be named the PHILIPPINE
TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL, shall hereby be established in the National Capital Region.
Such hospital shall be the primary medical facility for the hospitalization and medical
care of teachers and their dependents.

Each regional hospital shall establish a teachers’ ward, with an initial capacity
of at least fifty (50) beds, which will provide hospitalization and medical care to
teachers and their dependents residing outside the National Capital Region.

For purposes of this Act, “teachers” shall include, but not be limited, to the
following:

a) All persons engaged in the classroom teaching of any subject,
including practical/vocational arts, at the day care, pre-school,
elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels of instruction
in all public and private educational institutions ;


support.

b)
°)

d)

9)

Individuals performing guidance and counseling in all public and
private institutions ;

All persons who provide instructional supervision in all public
and private educational institutions,

All persons employed as school administrative support
employees ;

School physicians, school dentists, and school nurses;

Officials and employees of the Department of Education (
DepEd ) and the Commission on Higher Education ( CHED ) ;
and

Graduates of education who have passed the government
examination for teachers, although not actually employed as
‘such.

“Dependents” shall refer to the following: (a) the legitimate spouse
dependent for support upon the teacher, (b) the legitimate, illegitimate, or legally
adopted children, chiefly dependent upon and living with the teacher if such child is
not more than twenty-one (21) years of age, unmarried and not gainfully employed
or is over the age of majority but incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to
a mental or physical defect; and (c) the parents dependent upon the member for

Section 4. Objectives. - To ensure the availability, accessibility and
affordability of quality health care, the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall:

a) Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all teachers and

their legal dependents;

b) Complement the existing package of services under the National Health

Insurance Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic,
curative and rehabilitative programs;

¢) Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and mental capability

of all teacher applicants; and

d) Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients and

to generate relevant information/data in aid of policy formulation.

Section 5. Administration. - Upon effectivity of this Act, the PHILIPPINE

TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall be administered by a Board of Directors consisting of:
The Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports as

ex-officio Chairman

The Secretary of the Department of Health as ex-officio Vice Chairman

The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education as ex-officio

Member

The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and

Development as ex-officio Member

Three representatives from the teachers sector: one (1) from Luzon,

one (1) from Visayas, one (1) from Mindanao as Members.

a)

b)
°)

d)

e)

The three (3) representatives from the teachers sector shall be appointed by
the President of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of nominees prepared by
the ex-officio Chairman to serve for a term of three (3) years without reappointment.


Section 6. Responsibility and Powers. - The Board of Directors of the
PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall have the following responsibilities and
powers:

a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the
objectives and purposes of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL as

enunciated in Section 4 of this Act,

To organize the structure of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL in

accordance with a staffing pattern prepared by it and approved by the

Department of Budget and Management; to appoint the officials and

employees of the Hospital, subject to civil service laws, rules and

regulations; to prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to

the provisions of Republic Act No. 6758;

c) To enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its
establishment, maintenance, operations and objectives;

4d) To issue rules and regulations to carry out the objectives and purposes of
this Act; and

e) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by law.

b

Section 7. Appropriation. - An amount of Three Hundred Million Pesos
(P300,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the establishment and initial operations
of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL. Subsequently, appropriations for the
operations shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such sections or parts not affected thereby shall remain in
full force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15)
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved.