Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._136_

Introduced by Representative Arnan C. Panaligan

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to convert the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH)
in Calapan City, Province of Oriental Mindoro, into a regional hospital to be known
as the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital and to upgrade its facilities to serve the
medical needs of the people of the MIMAROPA Region.

This legislative measure is in accordance with Article II, Section 15 of the
1987 Constitution provides that “The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them”, and Article XIII,
Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution also provides that, “The State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all
people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged
sick, elderly, disabled women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free
medical care to paupers.”

These constitutional mandates highlight the fact that one of the primordial
obligations of the government is to ensure that affordable, quality, and efficient
health care services are delivered to the Filipino people especially the poor,
underprivileged and low-income citizens who depend largely on the public health
care system. The public health care system that the government must deliver and
provide encompasses primary health care services offered by health centers and
primary level hospitals up to secondary and tertiary-level health care which includes
curative and rehabilitative services in hospitals and medical centers.

Thus, the establishment and maintenance of public hospitals is an imperative
obligation and responsibility of the State in accordance with the Constitution.
Existing public hospitals should be upgraded and expanded especially in regions and



The MIMAROPA Region, with Calapan City as the designated Regional
Government Center, still has no regional hospital. The present Oriental Mindoro
Provincial Hospital which is proposed to be converted into the MIMAROPA
Regional Hospital is presently a service and training-oriented tertiary medical
facility being managed by the Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro. Its 150
— bed capacity serves as the catchment hospital for patients needing tertiary
specialty medical care from satellite hospitals and the rural health units in the
province as well as from neighboring provinces. Patients with serious medical
condition from the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon are
transported to this hospital.

Considering the above, it is ideal to convert the present Oriental Mindoro
Provincial Hospital into the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital under the control and
supervision of the Department of Health, increase its bed capacity from One
Hundred (100) to Five Hundred (500) beds, and upgrade its facilities. With this, the
hospital will be able to address the health needs of the general public most especially
the poor and the marginalized sectors not only in the province of Oriental Mindoro
but also in the whole MIMAROPA Region.

During the 19% Congress, this proposed measure was substituted by House
Bill No. 9720 and was approved by the House on Third Reading on January 23, 2024.
Its approval was accompanied by the recommendation of the Secretary of the
Department of Health, affirming that the conversion of the existing Oriental Mindoro
Provincial Hospital into a regional hospital is both viable and the most practical
course of action. The measure was transmitted to the Senate on January 24, 2024,
where it has since remained pending with the Committee on Health.

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

Lege
Slee: EKER


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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 136

Introduced by Representative Arnan C. Panaligan

AN ACT UPGRADING THE ORIENTAL MINDORO PROVINCIAL
HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF CALAPAN, PROVINCE OF ORIENTAL
MINDORO INTO A REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE

MIMAROPA REGIONAL HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital in the City of
Calapan, Province of Oriental Mindoro, is hereby upgraded into a regional hospital
to be known as the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital, which shall be under the
direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

SECTION. 2. The authorized bed capacity of the MIMAROPA
Regional Hospital shall be increased from one hundred (100) to five hundred (500)
beds. Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the hospital
development plan that shall be prepared by the DOH.

SECTION. 3. The existing professional health care services and
facilities of the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital shall also be upgraded to


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conform with and be commensurate to the increase in bed capacity as provided

for in Section 2 hereof.

SECTION. 4. The existing workforce of the MIMAROPA Regional
Hospital, which includes doctors, nurses, and support personnel, shall be increased
correspondingly. The Secretary of Health shall, after consultation with the
Chief of Hospital of the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital, and in coordination
with the Secretary of Budget and Management and the Chairperson of the Civil

Service Commission, determine the additional new positions to be created.

SECTION 5. 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 Acts.

SECTION. 6. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full

force and effect.

SECTION. 7. All other laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,

amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,