Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
_________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER "TOPE" S. GO 
_________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE PALANAN STATION HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF PALANAN, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, INTO A LEVEL ONE HOSPITAL 
UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF HEALTH, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM TEN (10) BEDS TO 
FIFTY (50) BEDS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Palanan Station Hospital (PSH) is a 10-bed infirmary currently funded and 
administered by the Provincial Government of Isabela. PSH is the only hospital 
serving the geographically isolated Municipality of Palanan, Province of Isabela, and 
its 17,684 residents as of the 2020 census. While PSH has the full support of the 
provincial government with regard to the management and administration of the 
hospital, the provincial government is unable to fully provide for the resource needs 
of the hospital due to its limited budget. 
Although PSH is the only hospital serving Palanan, it is classified as a mere 
infirmary, severely limiting the range of health care services available to residents of 
this geographically isolated municipality. In addition, PSH's current 10-bed capacity 
means that there are only 0.57 hospital beds available per 1,000 population in 
Palanan. This is significantly lower than the target ratio of 2.7 beds per 1,000 
population set forth in the DOH Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-
2040. 
To address these concerns, this bill seeks to convert the Palanan Station 
Hospital from a 10-bed infirmary into a 50-bed Level One hospital under the direct 
control and supervision of the Department of Health. As a DOH hospital, the funding 
requirements of PSH would be provided from national funds under the annual 
General Appropriations Act. As a Level One hospital, the range of health care services 
provided by PSH to Palanan residents would be significantly expanded. In addition, 
the allocation of 50 beds would meet the 2.7 bed-to-1000 population ratio prescribed 
by the DOH PHFDP, with a modest buffer included to take into account population 
growth since the 2020 census. 
In view of the foregoing, swift approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ED CHRISTOPHER "TOPE" S. GO 
  Representative 
 Isabela, 2nd District 
February 1, 2023
1:23 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
_________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Representative ED CHRISTOPHER "TOPE" S. GO 
__________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE PALANAN STATION HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY 
OF PALANAN, PROVINCE OF ISABELA, INTO A LEVEL ONE HOSPITAL 
UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL AND SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF HEALTH, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM TEN (10) BEDS TO 
FIFTY (50) BEDS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Palanan Station Hospital in the Municipality of Palanan, 
Province of Isabela, is hereby converted from an Infirmary into a Level One 
Hospital under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health. 
The authorized bed capacity of Palanan Station Hospital is hereby increased from 
ten (10) beds to fifty (50) beds.  
SEC. 2.  The existing hospital infrastructure and facilities, equipment, and 
other relevant resource requirements shall be upgraded and increased 
commensurate to enable the Palanan Station Hospital to provide the services of 
a Level One Hospital according to applicable laws, executive issuances, and 
standards set by the Department of Health. 
SEC. 3. The existing workforce of Palanan Station Hospital, including 
doctors, nurses, allied health care professionals, and auxiliary and support staff, 
shall be expanded to the level necessary for the hospital to provide the full range 
of services of a Level One Hospital. The Secretary of Health shall create a new 
organizational staffing plan for this purpose, in coordination with the Chief 
Medical Officer of Palanan Station Hospital, the Department of Budget and 
Management, and the Civil Service Commission. 
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SEC. 4. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The Provincial 
Government of Isabela shall continue to fund the operations of Palanan Station 
Hospital until such time as funding to operate and manage the hospital shall be 
included in the enacted General Appropriations Act.  
SEC. 5.  The Department of Health shall issue the necessary rules and 
regulations for implementation of this Act within 90 days from its date of 
effectivity. 
SEC. 6. If, for any reason, any section of this Act shall be deemed 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be 
affected and shall thereby remain in force and in affect. 
SEC. 7. All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are repealed 
or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 8.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,