Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3523

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives FERDINAND R. GAITE,
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5260
WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SELL
‘THE WELFAREVILLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN MANDALUYONG CITY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Enacted on June 15, 1968, in the early ears of the Marcos government, RA 5260 was passed
in the guise of authorizing the public bidding of the Welfareville property to generate funds
supposedly for “children’s welfare services.”

The 110-hectare property includes the National Center for Mental Health, the Center for
Health and Development — National Capital Region, and the Department of Justice
Correctional Institute for Women.

RA 5260 is being used as basis for the repeated attempts since the Marcos era to sell the
Welfareville property and to phase out the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). In
1978, at the height of Martial law, the dictator Marcos additionally imposed Presidential
Decree 1541 providing for the “decentralization” of the mental hospital within a five-year
period. The decree’s real intent, however, can be gleaned from its preamble that the location
of the hospital facilities right in the “core of the New Metro Manila” does not “blend well”
with the plans of the Metro Manila Commission. The latter body was headed by the dictator's
wife Imelda who was notorious for undertaking controversial “beautification” projects.

Formerly known as the National Mental Hospital, the NCMH has been providing treatment,
care and rehabilitation for the mentally-ill since its establishment on December 17, 1928. It is
the only national mental health facility in the country that provides vital hospital services to
‘mental patients, It caters mostly to the poor and marginalized who come not only from Metro
Manila but far-flung provinces.

From a 379-bed capacity, the NCMH has grown to 4,200, with admissions often exceeding
capacity amid the rising problem of mental illness in the country, especially among the poor
in Metro Manila.

1


To date, threats to sell the Welfareville property continue amidst protests against the
displacement of some 6,000 NCMH in-patients, 56,000 average out-patients every year,
2,529 hospital personnel and 25,000 families who have long settled in the area. The absence
of a viable and feasible alternative to the existing facilities of the NCMH as well as relocation
plans for long-time residents reveal that financial gain and not real public interest persists as
the primary motive of selling off Welfareville.

On January 10, 2018, the Welfareville Trustee Committee composed of the Secretary of
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Chairman of the Commission on Audit, and
Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources met and agreed to explore
the possibility of pursuing the sale of welfareville property. A Technical Working Group was
created through Resolution No 2018-001 which will submit a master plan for the disposition
of the property.

‘This bill hopes to stop the indiscriminate use and abuse of government authority in selling off
prime public land especially those being used for social services. It specially upholds the
constitutional obligation of the State to provide affordable and accessible health services to
the people and to promote the right to health, particularly for the most disadvantaged.

In the light of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Approved,

FERDINAND R. GAITE
BAYAN MUNA Partylist

— Ag eS Sto 3 Ones ttimat
REP. IN ‘TE REP. EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT
BAYAN vA

T
Partylist BAYAN MUNA Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3523

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives FERDINAND R. GAITE,
CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5260
WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SELL
‘THE WELFAREVILLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN MANDALUYONG CITY

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

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 5260 entitled “An Act Authorizing a Committee Composed
of the Administrator of the Social Welfare Administration, the Auditor General and the
Secretary of the Department of General Services to Sell the Welfareville Property Located in
the Municipality of Mandaluyong, Province of Rizal, and for Other Purposes” is hereby
repealed.

SECTION 2. All similar laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders, or circulars
are likewise hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in a
national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,