EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
)
01) —....
Of !Ijc gn'iTftnrp
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
INSTITUTING THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
On March 2020, COVID-19 pandemic has been declared by the World Health 
Organization. The number of cases in the Philippines have also been increasing 
dramatically day by day and requires thorough and immediate medical action from the 
State.
The increasing cases oven/vhelmed both private and public hospitals in the 
country and their medical personnel are strained by the number of COVID-19 patients 
and PUIs in their facilities. The Department of Health also called for volunteer doctors 
and nurses to fight against the highly infectious disease. The lack of medical personnel 
in the midst of pandemic disease hinders the State's capacity to combat the disease 
immediately and effectively.
This bill seeks to uphold the role of medical and health-related personnel in 
nation-building, promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and 
social well-being; to inculcate in them patriotism and nationalism; and to encourage 
their involvement in public and civic affairs.


This bill establishes a Medical Reserve Corps which shall be composed of all 
persons who have degrees in the field of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and 
other health-related fields but have yet to have their respective licenses to practice. 
The members of the Medical Reserve Corps may be called upon and mobilized to assist 
the national government and the local government units in their functions related to 
addressing the medical needs of the public in times of national emergencies.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently sought.
SENATOR CHRI:
HER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO


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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
'©ffirp of tlje &>ecrttni4i>
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1451
20 APR 27
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
AN ACT
INSTITUTING THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by die Senate and House of Representatives of die Philippines in 
Congress assembled
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Medical Reserve Corps 
Act of 2020 "
Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State:
a. To institutionalize the vital role of medical and health-related personnel in 
nation-building, promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual, and social well-being; to inculcate in them patriotism and 
nationalism; and to encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs; 
and
b. To train, equip and organize medical and health-related personnel, within 
the current frameworks of national and territorial defense, law enforcement 
and peace and order and national disaster risk reduction and management, 
to prepare them for rapid mobilization at the soonest possible time in order 
to address national and/or local contingencies which may require manpower


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beyond the capabilities of existing national government agencies or local 
government units.
Sec. 3. Medical Reserve Corps. - There is hereby established a Medical Reserve 
Corps which shall be composed of all persons who have degrees in the field of 
medicine, nursing, medical technology, and other health-related fields but have yet to 
have their respective licenses to practice for reasons such as but not limited to not 
having taken and/or passed the licensure examinations in their respective professions.
Sec. 4. Medical Reserve Corps Mobilization. - In times of national emergencies 
and other contingencies, the members of the Medical Reserve Corps may be called 
upon and mobilized to assist the national government, its agencies and 
instrumentalities, and the local government units in their functions related to 
addressing the medical needs of the public.
The mobilization shall be initiated by the Secretary of Department of Health 
(DOH), in coordination with the Secretaries of the Department of National Defense 
(DND), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG), or their duly authorized representatives with a rank of at 
least Undersecretary.
From time to time as manpower and training resources may allow during the 
period of national emergencies and other contingencies, the Medical Reserve Corps 
may be called for retraining to maintain and enhance its level of competency and 
readiness for mobilization.
Sec. 5. Annual Reports. - The DOH shall regularly publish an annual report 
containing a list of its accomplishments, status of its operations, number and 
demography of the Medical Reserve Corps, assessment of readiness for mobilization 
and the incidence and details of each mobilization for the year concerned. The annual 
report shall also include the results of the audit investigation on the spending of funds


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appropriated, collected or advanced for the implementation of the provisions of this 
Act.
Sec. 6. Requests for Deployment - The Medical Reserve Corps may be called 
upon and mobilized to assist the national government, Its agencies and 
instrumentalities, and the local government units In their functions related to 
addressing the medical needs of the public through requests for deployment by the 
heads of such national government agencies or local government units submitted to 
the DOH. The requests shall contain a justification for the deployment of the Corps 
and shall contain information as may be required by the DOH, including the nature of 
the national or local contingencies to be addressed, the purpose of the requested 
deployment, the number of personnel requested to be deployed and the period of 
deployment.
Sec. 7. Evaluation of the Requests for Deployment - The DOH shall evaluate 
the requests for deployment. When the number of personnel requested does not 
exceed one hundred and fifty (150) and the period of deployment does not exceed 
sixty (60) days, the DOH shall decide whether to approve or disapprove the request 
within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt thereof. When the number of personnel 
requested exceeds one hundred and fifty (150) or the period of deployment exceeds 
sixty (60) days, the DOH shall make a recommendation to the Office of the President 
(OP) within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of the request. The OP shall decide 
whether to approve or disapprove the request within twenty-four (24) hours from 
receipt of the recommendation of the DOH.
In case of the approval of the request for deployment, the DOH shall issue an 
Order of Deployment requiring the Corps, or a number thereof, to assist the national 
government, its agencies and instrumentalities and the local government units in their 
functions related to addressing the health-related needs of the public.
Sec. 8. Deployment in Case of a Declaration of a State of War, State of Lawler 
Violence or State of Calamity; Nationwide Mobilization. - In case of a declaration of a


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State of war, state of lawless violence or state of calamity, the DOH may motu pmprio 
recommend the mobilization of the Corps to the President of the Philippines. The 
President of the Philippines, by himself, shall also have the power to order the 
mobilization of the Corps to respond to national or local contingencies related to 
external and territorial defense, internal security and peace and order and/or disaster 
risk reduction management.
Sec. 9. Mobilization Centers. - There shall be established in each province and 
city as many mobilization centers as needed according to the number and geographical 
distribution of the Corps, where they will report in case of deployment.
In case of mobilization, the equipment of the Corps shall be supplied in close 
coordination with the DOH and other national agencies and offices, with the end in 
view of achieving rapid mobilization.
Sec. 10. Expense of Deployment - Upon deployment, the national 
government agency or the local government unit to which the Corps is deployed shall 
shoulder the operational expenses of deployment.
Sec. 11. Operationalization of Deployment - The DOH shall promulgate the 
specific mechanisms by which deployment is efficiently Implemented, including the 
organization of the Corps to be deployed, their territorial assignments, how 
deployment orders are communicated to each member of the Corps and to which 
mobilization center they will report.
Sec. 12. Serial Numbers and Registry. - Upon completion of their respective 
degrees, the graduates shall be issued individual serial numbers, which will serve as 
their identification In case of deployment.
The DOH shall maintain and update a registry/database containing the names 
of the members of the Corps, their serial numbers, address, contact details and such 
other information as the DOH may determine, in accordance with any applicable


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privacy laws. For this purpose, all public and private colleges, universities and learning 
institutions are hereby mandated to annually transmit their records of the graduates 
covered under this Act to the DOH, in the form as may be determined by the DOH.
All graduates covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and 
contact details on file with the DOH as often as necessary. Orders of deployment sent 
to the addresses and/or through the contact details on file with the DOH shall be 
sufficient notice for purposes of deployment.
Sec. 13. Termination of Depioyment - Upon the expiration of the requested 
period of deployment, without an extension having been requested and approved by 
the DOH, the Corps shall be discharged of its duties. The deployment may also be 
terminated earlier upon a determination by the DOH, in consultation with the 
requesting national government agency or local government unit, that such 
deployment is no longer in accordance with the objectives and purposes of this Act.
Sec. 14. Effect on Empioyment - Deployment of employees in accordance with 
the provisions of this Act shall not be a ground for dismissal or diminution of any 
benefit enjoyed by such graduates prior to their depioyment. The members of the 
Corps shall be entitled to their regular wage or salary during the period of their 
deployment.
Sec. 15. MedicaiReserve Corps Fund. - A Medical Reserve Corps Fund Is hereby 
established exclusively for the implementation of the objectives and purposes of this 
Act. The Office of the President shall monitor and evaluate the activities and the 
balances of the Fund.
Sec. 16. Schooi Fees. - Public colleges, universities and similar learning 
institutions covered by Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the Universal
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Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, shall not collect any fee from the members
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of the Medical Reserve Corps in addition to the normal fees and charges pertinent to
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their education and training in said colleges, universities and other similar institutions.


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Sec. 17. Appropriations. - The Medical Reserve Corps Fund shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 18. Audit of Funds. - Audit of any and all funds used through the 
implementation of this Act shall be in accordance with the audit jurisdiction of the 
Commission on Audit, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Department of Health, 
under existing laws and regulations.
Sec. 19. Penai Provisions; Faiiure to Respond. -
a. Failure to respond to the order of deployment despite notice sent to the 
address and/or contact details on file with the DOH without any justifiable 
reason shall, upon conviction by a civil court, be punishable as follows:
1. First Offense: One hundred and twenty (120) hours of community 
service;
2. Second Offense: Two hundred and forty (240) hours of community 
service; and
3. Third and Subsequent Offenses: Six (6) months imprisonment and four 
hundred and eighty (480) hours of community service.
Sec. 20. Disciplinary and Corrective Proceedings. - Administrative offenses 
committed by persons involved In or in relation to the implementation of this Act, shall 
be subject to administrative penalties in accordance with the applicable civil service 
rules or the rules and regulations of the Professional Regulation Commission, as the 
case may be.
Sec. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DOH shall be tasked 
to formulate and approve the necessary rules and regulations to Implement the


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objectives and purposes of this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity. The rules 
and regulations shall include provisions on the structure and organization of the Corps, 
the specific mechanisms for the efficient mobilization and deployment of the Corps, 
and such other matters as the DOH may deem necessary or essential to fully 
Implement the objectives and purposes of this Act.
Sec. 22. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, rules regulations and other 
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 23. Separability Clause. - Any provision of this Act declared 
unconstitutional shall not affect the validity of the other provisions thereof.
Sec. 24. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of national circulation.
Approved,