REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2536

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize the establishment of Malasakit Centers in provinces and strategic
urban centers in the country to make quality healthcare more affordable and accessible to all
Filipinos.

Securing public health is one of the foremost duties of a government elected by its citizens. As
such, they are mandated to provide much-needed health care to every Filipino, particularly those
who are categorized as indigents and those who cannot afford to pay for their health care services

In response, the current administration, spearheaded by the then Special Assistant to the President
and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, created the “Malasakit Centers”. It aims to allow indigent
patients to avail faster and easier medical and financial assistance from certain government offices
such as DOH, DSWD, PCSO and PhilHealth by bringing them under a single roof to complement
the recently passed Universal Healthcare Law.

The Philippine government is constitutionally mandated to make health services both available and
affordable. In addition, it is clear that we should prioritize the needs of the underprivileged sick as
stated in Section 11, Article 13 of the 1987 Constitution.

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



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2536

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE AURELIO D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MALASAKIT CENTERS NATIONWIDE,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Establishment of Malasakit Centers. There shall be a Malasakit Center in key
public hospitals in every city, municipality and province nationwide.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to promote the right to health of all
Filipinos and instill health consciousness among them. The State shall also provide quality
healthcare more affordable and accessible to all Filipinos. Towards this end, the State shall adopt

a) A one-stop shop health services at key public hospitals;

b) A people-oriented delivery of service that would allow patients to avail faster and
easier medical and financial assistance from government offices;

c) A comprehensive approach to ensure the decrease of mortality rate among Filipinos.

SECTION 2. Composition of Malasakit Centers. The Malasakit Center shall be composed of, but
not limited to, representative or personnel from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth),
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine Gaming and Amusement
Corporation (PAGCOR).

SECTION 3. Appropriations. An initial funding of Five Hundred Million (P 500,000,000.00)
should be provided by the Department of Budget and Management to facilitate the mandate of this
Act.


Thereafter, the amount necessary for the successive and continuous implementation of this Act shall
be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within a period of not more than sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act, an Inter-Agency Committee composed of credible
representatives from each concerned government agency shall come up with the rules and
regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. All provisions of existing laws, rules and regulations contrary
to or inconsistent with the foregoing are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. If any part, section or provision of the foregoing amendments are
held invalid or declared unconstitutional, the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. These amendments shall take effect after fifteen (15) from their
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of national circulation.