EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1584
RECEIVED
“ FILED
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SCHISTOSOMIASIS CONTROL AND RESEARCH 
HOSPITAL IN PALO, LEYTE INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS
THE GOVERNOR BENJAMIN T. ROMUALDEZ GENERAL HOSPITAL, 
INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM TWENTY-FIVE (25) TO ONE 
HUNDRED (100), UPGRADING ITS SERVICES AND FACILITIES AND 
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS
MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
It is the policy of the state to ensure that all communities have access to quality and 
accessible healthcare.
The Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital (SHRC) was founded in 
1975 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos through the efforts of then Leyte Governor, 
Benjamin T. Romualdez. SHRC was established to assist the Schistosomiasis Control 
and Research Service (SCRS) by providing medical and health care services to patients 
with schistosomiasis nationwide. Today, SHRC not only accepts patients with 
schistosomiasis, it has expanded its medical services to patients with different 
illnesses. Based on the records of SHRC, it extends medical care to patients coming 
from Palo and its surrounding communities including Surigao. Although SHRC is siowly 
upgrading its facilities, it is not enough to extend medical care to the increasing 
number of patients to be admitted in SHRC.
To address this problem, this bill proposes to convert SHRC into a general 
hospital to be known as the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez hospital and increase it 
authorized bed capacity from twenty-five (25) to one hundred (100) beds, thereby 
upgrading its medical services and facilities and authorizing the increase of its medical 
personnel.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
e /l.
IMEE R. MARCOS
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. No.
RECEIVED
FILED
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
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AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SCHISTOSOMIASIS CONTROL AND RESEARCH 
HOSPITAL IN PALO, LEYTE INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS
THE GOVERNOR BENJAMIN T. ROMUALDEZ GENERAL HOSPITAL, 
INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM TWENTY-FIVE (25) TO ONE 
HUNDRED (100), UPGRADING ITS SERVICES AND FACILITIES AND 
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE, 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:
Section 1. The Schistosomiasis Control and Research Hospital in Palo, Le\^e is 
hereby converted Into a general hospital to be known as the Governor Benjamin T. 
Romualdez General Hospital.
Section 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Schistosomiasis Control and 
Research Hospital in Palo, Leyte shall be increased from twenty-five (25) to one 
hundred (100).
Section 3. The primary mandate of the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez 
General Hospital for schistosomiasis treatment, management and prevention and 
research shall continue to the interest of the schistosomiasis patients.
Section 4. The Department of Health shall determine the service capability of 
Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and allow the development and 
upgrading of general hospital services.
Section 5. The existing human resource requirement of the Governor Benjamin 
T. Romualdez General Hospital be correspondingly increased to conform with the 
aforementioned increase in authorized bed capacity. The Department of Health, in 
coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and the Civil Service 
Commission, shall determine and approve the additional plantilla positions to be 
created and filled upon prior consultation and recommendation by the Governor 
Benjamine T. Romualdez General Hospital.


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Section 6. Existing service fadiities and professional healthcare services are also 
hereby upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the aforementioned 
increase in authorized bed capacity. The Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez Hospital 
shall submit to the Department of Health its proposed hospital development plan and 
the additional clinical units it requires to meet the increased authorized bed capacity.
Section 7. The increase in bed capacity of the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez 
General Hospital shall be implemented for a period of not more than two (2) years 
fom the approval of this Act.
Section 8. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include the Department's 
programs in the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be charged 
against the unappropriated balance of the Department of Health. Thereafter, the 
amount necessary for the continued operation of the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez 
General Hospital shall be included In the annual Generali Appropriations Act (GAA).
Section 9. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
other parts for provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full 
force and effect.
Section 10. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof Inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 11. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following completion of 
its publication in the Official Gazette In at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,