Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

SILLNo. 2087

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: REP. FERJENEL G. BIRON, M.D.

AN ACT CONVERTING THE DON VALERIO PALMARES SR. MEMORIAL
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE COMPONENT CITY OF PASSI, PROVINCE OF
ILOILO, INTO A LEVEL-2 HOSPITAL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, formerly Passi District
Hospital, is a Level | hospital operating only at a twenty-five (25) bed capacity since it began
its operations in 1973. Sometime in 1992, Republic Act No. 7263 was passed upgrading the
hospital to a capacity of fifty (50) beds, however, due to the hospital's devolution to the
Provincial Government of Iloilo in 1993, such increase in bed capacity was never executed.

At present, Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, caters patients not
only from Passi City but also from the neighboring Municipality of San Enrique, and
additionally from the Municipalities of Dueftas, San Rafael, a part of Calinog and even
Dumarao, Capiz. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the incapacity of our Level-i
hospitals to accommodate the sick with the quality, immediacy, and efficiency of healthcare
that is the right of every Filipino. This necessitates the expansion and upgrade of the hospital
in anticipation of the higher demand of clientele in the District.

Notably, the one-hectare land on which the hospital is situated can be further
maximized with the construction of more infrastructure such as a perimeter fence, warehouse,
expansion or creation of additional wards, among others, and additional facilities and
equipment for the provision of more accessible, efficient, and quality hospital services. All
these need sufficient funding, which at present the hospital-cannot acquire adequately.

For these reasons, this Representation seeks to nationalize the Don Valerio Palmares
Sr. Memorial District Hospital, upgrade it to Level 2, increase its bed capacity from twenty-
five (25) to two hundred (200) beds, and finance the upgrade of its health care services,
equipment, and facilities, as well as fund its workforce through its inclusion in the annual
general Appropriations Act. In the noble interest of public health, the passage of this bill is
earnestly sought. x

EL G. BIRON, M.D.
Fourth District of Hoilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

‘no, 2667

HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: REP. FERJENEL G. BIRON, M.D.

AN ACT CONVERTING THE DON VALERIO PALMARES SR. MEMORIAL
DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE COMPONENT CITY OF PASSI, PROVINCE OF
ILOILO, INTO A LEVEL-2 HOSPITAL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in the
Component City of Passi, Province of Iloilo, is hereby converted into a Level-2 hospital,
which shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

SEC. 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial
District Hospital shall be increased from twenty-five (25) beds to two hundred (200) beds
Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the hospital development plan
that shall be prepared by the Chief of Hospital of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial
District Hospital and submitted to the DOH.

SEC. 3. The existing professional health care services, equipment, and facilities of the
Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital shall also be upgraded to conform with
and be commensurate to the increase in bed capacity as provided for in Section 2 hereof.

SEC. 4. The existing workforce of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District
Hospital, which inchudes “doctors, nurses and support personnel, shall be increased
correspondingly.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of the DOH shall, after consultation with the Chief of Hospital
of the Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital, and in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, and the Chairperson of the Civil
Service Commission, determine the additional new positions to be created and filled up.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the Department's
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual
general Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. All laws, decrees, executive orders, and other presidential issuances which
are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette ot in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,