Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Third Regular Session

House Bill No._'7893

Introduced by Representative Jose Enrique S. Garcia Ill

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Municipality of Mariveles is the most populous municipality in the province
of Bataan. It is host to the Freeport Area of Bataan, the fastest growing Freeport
among all Investment Promotion Agencies in the country, whose investors employ
nearly 40,000 workers. With its growing population and workforce, medical facilities
and health services in Mariveles have become severely inadequate. Other than a
‘small private hospital, clinics and public health centers, the nearest general hospital is
about 46 kilometers away in Balanga City.

Mariveles is also host to the Mariveles Mental Hospital (MMH), a 500-bed
Custodial Psychiatric Care Facility directly supervised by the Regional Health Director.
The MMH serves as the mental health provider for Central Luzon and the surrounding
provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet and even Metro Manila. Over the years,
the MMH has long set its sight to become Philhealth accredited but remained unable
to obtain one because of lack of facility for general ward accommodation.

The foregoing circumstances present a propitious opportunity to swiftly address
the dire need for efficient and affordable medical care and health services of the
residents of Mariveles and nearby municipality by expanding the services and
upgrading the facilities of MMH to include the operation of a Level 1 general ward with
100 bed capacity. They likewise pave the way for MMH to become a Philhealth
accredited medical facility. To reflect the expanded and upgraded services and to stem
the stigma typically associated with a mental health facility, the MMH is further
proposed to be renamed as Mariveles Health and Weliness Institute.

Support for this bill is earnestly sought from my colleagues.

an
REP. JOSE IQUE S. GARCIA Ill
Secghd District, Bataan


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Jose Enrique S. Garcia Ill

AN ACT EXPANDING AND UPGRADING THE SERVICES OF THE MARIVELES
MENTAL HOSPITAL IN MARIVELES, BATAAN, TO INCLUDE THE OPERATION
OF A LEVEL 1 GENERAL WARD WITH 100 BED CAPACITY, RENAMING THE
SAME AS MARIVELES HEALTH AND WELLNESS INSTITUTE, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The services of the Mariveles Mental Hospital in Mariveles,
Bataan, is hereby expanded and upgraded to include the operation of a Level 1
general ward with 100 bed capacity. For this purpose, the Mariveles Mental Hospital
is hereby renamed as Mariveles Health and Weliness Institute.

SECTION 2. The amount necessary for the expanded operation of the institute,
including the acquisition of additional medical equipment and facilities, the
construction of needed infrastructure and the inclusion of additional medical personnel
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Department of Health.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued operations shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. The Department of Health shall issue the rules and regulations
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved.