Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Section 15 Article III, declares that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. Section 11 Article XIII declares that the State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development that shall endeavor to make essential 
goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost.  
These roles of the State as stated in the Constitution provide justification for 
government intervention in or regulation of the health sector. Health is a public good and 
access to healthcare must be distributed equitably to the whole population. Moreover, the 
Universal Health Care Act (UHCA) of 2018 ensures that healthcare must be provided to all 
Filipinos and prioritizes the needs of those who cannot afford health services.  
Cognizant of the above considerations, this proposed measure aims to establish a 
medical center, to be called the Southern Tagalog Medical Center, with modern technology, 
departmentalized clinical services and capable of treating large numbers of kinds of 
diseases and dysfunctions. It will be located in the Fourth District of Batangas in the 
Municipality of Ibaan. The new Level II hospital will serve the needs not only of the 
Province of Batangas, but also of the nearby provinces of Cavite, Quezon, Laguna, and 
Mindoro. 
The following table shows the health facilities in Region IV-A and Region IV-B, 20181: 
Region 
Government 
beds 
Private beds 
Total 
Bed ratio to 
population 
IV-A
CALABARZON
2969 
8363 
11,332 
1:1,272 
IV-B MIMAROPA
920 
457 
1,377 
1:2,152 
The number of hospital beds is a good indicator of health service availability. Per 
World Health Organization recommendation, the hospital bed to population ratio should 
be 1:500 for developing countries like the Philippines. The actual ratio in Regions IV-A and 
B is far behind the WHO recommendation and the current target of the DOH of 1:800. The 
1 DOH. Philippine Hospital Development Plan of DOH 2017-2022. 
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gap can be attributed to inadequate health facilities, population increase, and fragmentation 
of health service delivery system.  
The table also shows the distribution of private and hospital beds in the two regions. 
There are more private beds in Region IV-A, which means more out-of-pocket expenses for 
patients. Majority of Filipinos specifically the low-income households prefer to seek 
treatment in a government hospital. Affordability is the main reason for going to a 
government health facility, while excellent service is the main reason for going to a private 
medical facility.  
Moreover, the lack of adequate healthcare facility in Region IV-B in terms of bed 
capacity pushes the patients of MIMAROPA, specifically Mindoro, to seek treatment in 
Batangas. The overflow of patients from nearby provinces indicates a need for more 
government hospitals that have affordable services. Batangas is one that could possibly 
provide hospital services for this catchment area. Hence, the need to establish a bigger/apex 
hospital. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate enactment and approval of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
Representative 
4th District, Batangas 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE LIANDA B. BOLILIA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE SOUTHERN TAGALOG MEDICAL CENTER IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF IBAAN, FOURTH DISTRICT OF THE PROVINCE OF 
BATANGAS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION. 1. There shall be established, under the direct supervision of the 
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Department of Health, a two hundred (200) bed capacity, Level-II in the Municipality 
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of Ibaan, Fourth District of the Province of Batangas, to be known as the Southern 
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Tagalog Medical Center.   
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SECTION 2. The Department of Health shall provide funding for the establishment 
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and operation of the Southern Tagalog Medical Center. The Secretary of Health shall 
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include in the Department’s budget the appropriate capital outlay for the hospital 
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construction and equipment requirements, and adequate funds of the facility 
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thereafter.  
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SECTION 3. Within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of 
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Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act.  
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SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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