yi Ag EPRES,
(S RECEIVED
are: OCT 01 2019

ME 7

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

HOUSE BILLNo. 4988

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D. AGABAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a specialty hospital for teachers and their
dependents for their upkeep and health benefits.

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill consciousness among them (Section 15, Article II, 1987
Constitution). To this end, the State shall enact measures that shall
protect and ensure primary health care to its people particularly those
exposed to health hazards like our teachers. The State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services
available to all the people at affordable cost (Section 11, Article XIII, 1987
Constitution).

It is also well recognized that among those exerting unaccounted
efforts and sacrifices in making significant contributions to our
community are our teachers. Notwithstanding the tedious work and the
health hazards attendant to the working environment of our teachers,
their commitment to the teaching profession has remained steadfast and
resolute. In the course of the performance of their duties however, work
related illnesses such as pharyngitis, anemia, hypertension, hyperacidity,
lung disease and other health hazards set in. With the meager income
that they receive, which cannot adequately compensate the day to day


sacrifices of our teachers, not to mention the lack of immediate health care
that will cater to their needs, there is a need to zero-in and focus on the
health welfare of our teachers and their dependents. Indubitably, our
country’s development is anchored on educated citizenry without which
we cannot move on and survive as a country.

This bill will thus establish a special hospital to our teachers and
their dependents. With this bill, our teachers’ aspirations and health
security will be secured and enhanced.

Hence, this earnest request for the immediate passage of this bill.

__-— TYRONE D. AGABAS.

Representative
6th District, Pangasinan


10

oe
12

13

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

HOUSE BILL NO. 4988

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS, 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. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine
Teachers’ Hospital Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State
to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development, which shall endeavor to make essential health
and other social services available to all people at affordable
cost. Towards this end, the State shall protect the interest and
promote the well-being of Filipino teachers, including their
families and dependents through the provision of social welfare

services.

SECTION 3. Creation of Special Hospital and Special Wards. -
To carry-out the above policy, a special hospital for teachers,
to be named the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL, is hereby

@ Page 1


14
15
16

7
18
19
20
2a

22
23

24
25
26
27
28

29

31
32

33
34

35

established in the National Capital Region. Such hospital shall
be the primary medical facility for the hospitalization and
medical care of teachers and their dependents.

Each regional hospital shall establish a teachers’ ward,

with an initial capacity of at least one hundred (100) beds,
which will provide hospitalization and medical care to teachers

and their dependents residing outside the National Capital

Region.

For purpose of this Act, “teachers” shall include, but not

limited to the following.

a)

b)

c)

dq)

)

All persons engaged in the classroom teaching of any
subject, including practical/vocational arts, at the day
care, pre-school, elementary, secondary, and post-
secondary levels of instruction in all public and private
educational institutions;

Individuals performing guidance and counselling in all
public and private institutions;

All persons who provide instructional supervision in all
public and private educational institutions;

All persons employed as school administrative support

employees;

School physicians, school dentist, and school nurses;

Page 2


36
37
38

39

41

42
43

45
46
a7

49

51
52
53

54
55

56
57
58
59

f) Officials and employees of the Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Commission on higher Education
(CHED); and

g) Graduates of education who have passed the government
examination for teachers, although not actually employed
as such.

“Dependents” shall refer to the following: (a) the
legitimate spouse dependent for support upon the teacher; (b)
the legitimate, illegitimate, or legally adopted children, chiefly
dependent upon and living with the teacher if such child is not
more than twenty one (21) years of age, unmarried and not
gainfully employed or is over the age of majority but
incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to mental or
physical defect; and (c) the parents dependent upon the
member for support.

SECTION 4. Objectives. - To ensure the availability,
accessibility and affordability of quality health care, the
PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall:

a) Provide for a comprehensive health care services to all
and their legal dependents;

b) Complement the existing package of services under the
National Health Insurance Program so as to include
preventive, diagnostic, curative and_ rehabilitative

programs;

Page 3


61

62
63

65
66
67

68
69

70
1

2
B

74
7s

76
7

78
79
80

81
82

c)

dq)

Conduct medical examination to ensure the physical and
mental capability of all teacher applicants; and

Set-up a system that will effectively monitor the
condition of patients and to generate relevant
information /data in aid of policy formulation.

SECTION 5. Administration. - Upon effectivity of this Act, the
PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITALS shall be administered by
a Board of Directors consisting of:

a)

b)

°)

dq)

e)

The Secretary of the Department of Education as ex-
officio Chairman

The Secretary of the Department of Health as ex-officio
Vice Chairman

The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education

as ex-officio member

The Director General of Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority as ex-officio member

The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and

Development as ex-officio member

Three representative from the teachers sector: one (1)
from Luzon, one (1) from Visayas, one (1) from Mindanao

as Members.

The three (3) representatives from the teachers sectors shall be

appointed by the President of the Philippines from list of

Page 4


83

85

87

89

91

92
93

95
96
97
98
99

100
101
102

103
104

105
106

nominees prepared by the ex-officio Chairman to serve for a

term of three (3) years without reappointment.

SECTION 6. Responsibility and Powers. - The Board of
Directors of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall have
the following responsibilities and powers:

a)

b)

°)

a)

e)

To formulate and implement measures and programs to
attain the objectives and purposes of the PHILIPPINE
TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL as enunciated in Section 4 of this
Act;

To organize the structure of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’
HOSPITAL in accordance with a staffing pattern prepared
by it and approved by the Department of Budget and
Management; to appoint the officials and employees of
the Hospital, subject to civil service laws, rules and
regulations; to prescribe their duties and fix their
compensation subject to the provisions of Republic Act
No. 6758;

To enter into agreements and contracts in connection
with its establishment, maintenance, operations and

objectives;

To issue rules and regulations to carry out the objectives
and purposes of this Act; and

To perform such other duties and functions as may be
provided by law.

Page S


107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114

115
116
117

118
19
120
121

122
123
124

125

SECTION 7. Appropriation. - An amount of Five Hundred
Million Pesos (P500,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the
establishment and initial operations of the PHILIPPINE
TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL which shall be sourced out from the
savings of the Executive Branch of the government and other
possible sources that may be determined by the Office of the
President. Subsequent funds needed shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or parts
hereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with
the provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified

accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectively. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,

Page 6