Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Congressional Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3598
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Representative Marlyn L. Primicins-Agabas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Ina developing country like the Philippines, education is vital to national growth.
In the 1987 Constitution, it is prioritized for its role in social progress and development.
Therefore, a special attention must be provided to the men and women who are the heart
of the education sector, Teachers.

‘The Constitution provides that “The State shall enhance the right of teachers to
professional advancement” We are all aware of the state of the teaching profession (or
rather, teaching vocation) of our country. We have teachers who cross mountains and
lakes every day just to serve the schools they were assigned to. We also have those who
sacrifice their lives during the election season. Teachers not only educate the future of
this nation with numbers and figures; they impart their students the values of an

industrious, persevering Filipino.

However, due to the difficulties of their work, our teachers are exposed to health
risk, The most common illnesses teachers suffer from are work-related pharyngitis,
hypertension, anemia, and hyperacidity, among others. The State must provide health


facilities that specifically provide the needs of teachers in view of the significant part they

play in educating our youth and in nation-building.

The bill proposes the formation of a special hospital, the PHILIPPINE
TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL, in the National Capital Region as the primary medical facility
for the hospitalization and medical care of teachers and their dependents. Also, all
regional hospitals shall be required to establish a teachers’ ward to provide medical
services to teachers and their dependents residing outside the National Capital Region.

Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested

S-AGABAS
Represeftative
Sixth District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Congressional Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,

First Regular Session

3598

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL FOR TEACHERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHE PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 a Special Hospital and Special Wards. ~ To carry-out the above
policy, a special hospital for teachers, to be named the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS?
HOSPITAL, shall hereby be 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 fifty (50) beds, which will provide hospitalization and medical care to teachers
and their dependents residing outside the National Capital Region.

For purposes of this Act, “teachers” shall include, but not limited, to the following:

a) 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;

b) Individuals performing guidance and counseling in all public and

private institutions;

d

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

d)

All persons employed as school administrative support employees;

€} School physicians, school dentists, and school nurses,

f) Officials and employees of the Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and

2) 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 a 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


Provide for a comprehensive/total health care services to all teachers
and their legal dependents;
Complement the existing package of services under the National Health

b)

Insurance Program so as to include preventive, promotive, diagnostic,
curative, and rehabilitative programs;

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

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and to generate relevant information/data in aid of policy formulation.

Section 5. Administration. — Upon effectivity of this Act, the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’
HOSPITAL shall be administered by a Board of Directors consisting of:
) The Secretary of the Department of Education as ex-officio
Chairman
b) The Secretary of the Department of Health as ex-officio Vice
Chairman
©) The Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education as ex-officio
Member
d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
as ex-officio Member
e) Three representatives 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’ sector shall be appointed by the
President of the Republic of the Philippines from a list of 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 PHILIPPINES
‘TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL shall have the following responsibilities and powers:


a) To formulate and implement measures and programs to attain the
objective and purposes of the PHILIPPINE TEACHERSS’ HOSPITAL.
‘as enunciated in Section 4 of this Act;

b) To organized 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, operation and objectives;

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

e) To perform such other duties and functions as may be provided by

law.

Section 7. Appropriation. — An amount of Three Hundred Million Pesos
(P300,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the establishment and initial operations of
the PHILIPPINE TEACHERS’ HOSPITAL. Subsequently, appropriations for the
operations shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

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

Section 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and regulation
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.


Section 10. Efectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,