HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
DATE: _0.4 AUG 2016
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SEVENTEENTH CONGREBS py, cm
First Regular Session a

2546

Republic of the Philippines’
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City Metro Manila|

STPATION UNIT

House Bill BILLS 3.) TX SERVICE

Introduced by REP, ENRICO A. PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the 2010 Census of the Philippines, it was revealed that there were 1,442,586 Persons
with Disability (PWDs).

Because society has unfortunately failed in mainstreaming them, they have remained in
the shadows — a million-and-a-half constituency whose pathways to productive lives have been
blocked by minimal government attention and intervention,

Facilities for their care are largely negligible. Dedicated schools where they can learn life
skills and hone a trade are virtually insignificant, Even the motley number of SPED centers
cannot meet the demand for disabled children wanting to go to school

Nowhere is the neglect more apparent than in the national budget where expenditures for
their welfare are invisible. The dictum that those who have less in life should have more in
government care does not seem to operate in their case.

Despite the passage of a slew of laws protecting and promoting PWD interests, much
remains to be done in translating the prose of legislation into actual programs they can enjoy and
benefit from. The struggle to provide care for those who remain in the shadows or have fallen
between the cracks is an unfinished business and needs to be addressed at the soonest time
possible. The huge national deficit when it comes to allocating resources for PWDs is relatively
undeniable.

This bill is an attempt to reduce the debt the nation owes its PWDs,

It seeks to place them — in automatic and mandatory fashion — under PhilHealth
coverage. By so doing, we provide a safety net that will assuage the PWD sector's greatest worry
= access to health services. This bill specifically intends to do that by strengthening Republic
Act 7227 ot the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability”. If it does not provide guaranteed
health care, the said law cannot lay claim to being truly a Magna Carta.

As to funding the health insurance of the PWD sector, this bill, once approved, mandates
that it be sourced from that portion of Sin Tax collections earmarked for health as mandated by
Republic Act 10351. The tax from vices will finance the social virtue of helping the differently
abled.

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ENRICO A. PINEDA ICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bin__2946

Introduced by REP. ENRICO A, PINEDA and REP. MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO.

AN ACT
GRANTING MANDATORY AND AUTOMATIC PHILHEALTH COVERAGE
TO ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITY (PWDs),
THEREBY AMENDING “THE MAGNA CARTA FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY”
OR REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7277

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

SECTION 1. A new section is hereby added under “Chapter III. HEALTH” of Republic
Act No. 7277, as amended, to read as follows:

“SEC. 19. MANDATORY AND AUTOMATIC PHILHEALTH
COVERAGE. - ALL, PERSONS WITH DISABILITY ARE
HEREBY AUTOMATICALLY PLACED UNDER PHILHEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE, THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROVISION
SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT WITH
FUNDS SOURCED FROM BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROCEEDS FROM SIN TAX
COLLECTIONS WHICH ARE EARMARKED FOR HEALTH UNDER REPUBLIC
ACT NO, 10351.”

SEC, 2. The succeeding sections of Republic Act No, 7277, as amended, are hereby
renumbered accordingly.

SEC. 3. The Philippine Health Insur
Health (DOH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall

promulgate, not later than thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules

ce Corporation (Philhealth), the Department of

and regulation for its proper and effective implementation.

SEC. 4, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,