Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

4609

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS IN RURAL AREAS WITH
TRAINING IN PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL CARE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article lI, Section 15, of the Constitution declares that “The State shall
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instil health
consciousness among them." A tong string of challenges, however, prevent the
aforementioned policy from being fully carried out. Among the challenges for the
country's health care system are the: (1) retention of medical staff, particularly in
tural settings; (2) provision of health care to isolated groups; and (3) prevention
and control of non-communicable diseases. It is in this light that this measure
seeks {o allow the Department of Health to enter into contracts for preventive
health care training of rural health care practitioners

This bill seeks to respond to our rural communities’ need for quality health
care and disease prevention programs. © This measure encourages
interdisciplinary preventive training of rural health care providers. Through such
training, rurai health care providers can build a strong educational foundation
from the behavioral, biological, and psychological sciences, The distress caused
by poor health. is immense and gets compounded. The huge financial burden
redounds from individuals to families to government.


The intent of this measure rests on the premise that implementing
preventive health services will protect the community from huge potential
psychological and financial quandary in the long run.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

sonosoo belle ARROYO GLORM MACAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur id District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4609

House Bill No.

SSS

introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS IN RURAL AREAS WITH
TRAINING IN PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL CARE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. ~ This Act may be known as the “Rural
Preventive Health Care Training Act of 2011."

SECTION 2. Preventive Health Care Training. — The Secretary of the
Department of Health (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) may enter into
contracts with universities and private organizations to provide preventive health
care training to health care practitioners practicing in rural areas such as in the
Rurat Health Units (RHUS) and Barangay Health Stations. Such training shall, to
the extent practicable, include training in health care to prevent both physical and
mental disorders before the initial occurrence of such disorders: and
interdisciptinary training project applications such as those that draw from the
behavioral, biological, and psychological sciences.

SECTION 3. Use of Assistance. — Amounts received under contract
entered into under this Act shall be used -


a. to provide student stipends to individuals attending rural community
colleges or other institutions that service predominantly rural communities,
for the purpose of enabling the individuals to receive preventive health
care training;

b. to increase staff support at rural community colleges or other institutions
that service predominantly rural communities to facilitate the provision of
preventive health care training: :

¢. to provide taining in appropriate research and program evaluation skills.
in rural communities;

d. to create and implement innovative programs and curricula with a
specific prevention component, and

e. for other purposes as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

SECTION 4. implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Health (OOH) shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the
effective enforcement of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to cary out the
provisions of this Act shall be taken out from the appropriations of the
Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repeating Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act, is hereby
repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

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

Approved,

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