Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3069

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Poverty is a major force that hinders access to medicine and healthcare.
Despite the passage of the Universal Health Care Law, many Filipinos are not able to
avail of medical intervention, especially indigent patients and those whose residence
and livelihood are situated far from town centers.

While development projects are vital in ensuring the sustained growth of the
local and domestic economy, the projected benefits and potential gains from these
endeavors are largely dependent on the productivity and health of its ultimate intended
beneficiaries. Ensuring ready access to health services and resources will ensure
poverty reduction. The enactment of this measure will empower our countrymen over
their health and widen the breadth of their opportunity to partake in, and benefit from,
economic development.

This measure seeks to guarantee that funds are always available to local
government units, whether it be for the provision of medicines to indigent patients, and
‘secure appropriate local response to unforeseen health emergencies.

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

RAY, T. REYES.
Representative, AnaKalusugan list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3069

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

AN ACT REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO EARMARK AT LEAST
FIFTEEN PERCENT (15%) OF THEIR NATIONAL TAX ALLOTMENT SHARE FOR
HEALTH SERVICES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 287 OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Section 287 of Republic Act 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 287. Local Development Projects AND HEALTH
SERVICES. - Each local government unit shall appropriate in its annual
budget no less than twenty percent (20%) AND FIFTEEN PERCENT
(15%) of its annual [intemal revenue] NATIONAL TAX allotment for
development projects AND HEALTH SERVICES, RESPECTIVELY.
Copies of the development plans AND HEALTH PROGRAMS,
INCLUDING PROVISION OF FREE MEDICINES TO INDIGENT
PATIENTS, of local government units shall be furnished the Department
of Interior and Local Government (DILG) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH (DOH).

HEALH PROGRAMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS SHALL BE
APPROVED BY THE LOCAL HEALTH BOARDS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE STANDARDS AND CRITERIA SET BY THE DOH
PURSUANT TO PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
11223, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE
ACT.

SECTION 2. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of
Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of
Health, (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall


jointly promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this
Act.

SECTION 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,