Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4023

House Bill No.“ **

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the position of Presidential Physician to ensure and protect the
President’s health and well-being and those of his or her immediate family. The Presidential
Physician shall also be the primary source of information with regard to the President's state
of health in case of serious illness

Like in other countries, the demands upon the President of the Philippines are
extraordinary. To withstand the kind of stress and pressure that comes with the job requires
tough mental and physical reserves from the President in order to be an effective leader of the
country. Thus, his or her health is of utmost importance and must be ensured and protected.

So important is the health of the President that he or she must have a physician must at
all times be available in order to see to his general well-being. With a Presidential Physician,
the President is assured of someone whom he or she can truly rely on in as far as his health is
concerned. It is a position of trust and confidence. Moreover, the public has to be assured that
the most powerful person in the country is physically and mentally fit and can withstand the
rigors of the Presidency. While, the public needs confirmation and assurance that we have a
functionally fit individual running the nation’s affairs, the degree of health information needed
by the public and how it is obtained and communicated are matters of considerable debate. In
order to avoid unnecessary confusion and needless speculation of the President's health, it
would be better to come from the one person that truly knows the President’s fitness — the
physician to the President.

With the above premises considered, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly

sought.
RO: 0 bos b Seon

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4023
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
CREATING THE POSITION OF PRESIDENTIAL PHYSICIAN, DEFINING ITS
FUNCTIONS, ALLOCATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title — This Act shall be known as the “Malacafan Doctor Act of
2019".

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Article VII, Section 12 of the Philippine Constitution
states; “In case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of
his health. The Members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations
and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the
President during such illness

To this end, the position of Presidential Physician is hereby created to ensure and
protect the President’s health and general well-being and provide a public official who shalll be
tasked to inform the public of the President’s health in case of serious illness.

Sec. 3. Physician to the President. — The position of Presidential Physician is hereby
created and shall have the rank of Secretary. The Presidential Physician shall be personally
appointed by the President of the Philippines and shall serve for the duration of the incumbent’s
term of office unless earlier dismissed by the President.

Sec. 4. Duties and Functions. ~ The Presidential Physician shall be responsible for
providing comprehensive medical care to the President and to his immediate family. He or she
shall at all times be prepared and ready to provide medical attention to the President and his
immediate family whenever necessary to ensure and protect their health and well-being and
shall always form part of the Presidential entourage whenever the President travels. The
Presidential Physician shall be responsible for informing the public of the President’s health in
case of serious illness.


Sec. 5. Appropriations. — The initial amount necessary to implement this Act shall be
charged against the budget of the Office of the President. Thereafter, the funds shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act.

See. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be deemed
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. — All Acts, Presidential Decrees, Executive Orders and
Administrative Orders, Rules and Regulations and other such issuances or parts thereof which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,