Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Representative FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE SOCCSKSARGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, INTO 
SOCCSKSARGEN REGIONAL AND MEDICAL CENTER, INCREASING ITS BED 
CAPACITY, UPGRADING ITS PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND 
FACILITIES, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS MEDICAL PERSONNEL, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
    The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 15, declares that: “The State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them.” 
For decades, Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) has remained without a fully functional 
regional hospital. The Cotabato Regional Medical Center, which previously catered to 
patients from Region XII, is now within the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and primarily serves the Bangsamoro people. The 
nearest alternative, the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, is already 
overburdened as the country’s largest hospital. 
To address this glaring inequity, Congress earlier established the SOCCSKSARGEN 
General Hospital (SGH) in Surallah, South Cotabato. However, its current capacity of one 
hundred (100) beds and limited facilities are not commensurate with the growing health 
demands of the more than five million residents of Region XII. 
Thus, this bill seeks to convert the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital into the 
SOCCSKSARGEN Regional and Medical Center, increase its bed capacity to five hundred 
(500), upgrade its professional health care services and facilities, authorize the creation of 
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additional plantilla positions for medical and support staff, and ensure sufficient government 
funding through the General Appropriations Act. 
         In his State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized that 
health is one of the top priorities of his administration. The conversion of SGH into a full-
fledged regional and medical center directly aligns with this commitment and will help reduce 
mortality rates, provide equitable access to quality medical care, and uplift the standard of health 
services for the people of SOCCSKSARGEN. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____
Introduced by Representative FERDINAND L. HERNANDEZ 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE SOCCSKSARGEN GENERAL HOSPITAL IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF SURALLAH, PROVINCE OF SOUTH COTABATO, INTO 
SOCCSKSARGEN REGIONAL AND MEDICAL CENTER, INCREASING ITS BED 
CAPACITY, UPGRADING ITS PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND 
FACILITIES, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS MEDICAL PERSONNEL, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. Conversion. - The SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital (SGH) in the 
Municipality of Surallah, Province of South Cotabato, is hereby converted into the 
SOCCSKSARGEN Regional and Medical Center (SRMC). 
SEC. 2. Increase in Bed Capacity. The authorized bed capacity of the 
SOCCSKSARGEN Regional and Medical Center shall be increased from (100) to one 
thousand five hundred (1,500) beds to be implemented over a period of not more than three 
(3) years from the approval of this Act. Future increases in bed capacity shall be consistent 
with the hospital development plan prepared by the Chief of Hospital and submitted to the 
Department of Health (DOH).
SEC. 3. Upgrade of Services and Facilities. The existing professional health care 
services and facilities of the SOCCSKSARGEN Regional and Medical Center shall also be 
upgraded and expanded to conform with, and be commensurate to, the increase ini bed 
capacity as provided for in Section 2 of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Increase in Workforce. The existing workforce of the SRMC shall be 
correspondingly increased. The DOH, in coordination with the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), shall determine the additional 
plantilla positions to be created and filled up in accordance with existing civil service laws 
and rules. 
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SEC. 5.  Appropriation. – The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Department’s program the operationalization of this Act. The amount necessary to carry out 
its implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
 
 
SEC. 6. Implementing Authority. -  The Secretary of Health shall issue the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette in a newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,