Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Sessions

House Bill-No. _ 3a

Introduced by Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Art Il Sec. 15 that the “The
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them.” Furthermore, Art. XIII. Sec II states that “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. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical
care to paupers.””

This measure aims to establish a public hospital to be known as the Cal:
District Hospital, with a minimum bed capacity of one hundred (100), in the bustling
municipality of Calasiao, a vibrant community of a growing population of 100, 471 based
on the 2020 census. This will also address the increased demand for health and medical
services of the people of Pangasinan, in general, particularly catering to those living in its
most populated Third District.

The Third District of the Province of Pangasinan is composed of one (1) city and
five (5) municipalities with 304 barangays and a population of over 708,000 as of 2020
Census. ‘This population is bigger than that of 35 out of 81 provinces in the country. The
proximity of Calasiao to the City of Dagupan, considered the central business and financial
district of Pangasinan, has naturally transformed Calasiao, into a center of social, cultural,
and commercial activities for the Third District

The sad reality is, despite being a first-class municipality, Calasiao does not have
its own hospital and the Third District is, in general, still in dire need of another district
hospital for its huge population, equipped with complete health care services, with
specialist doctors, and an intensive care unit. The pandemic has been a global public health
challenge that exposed our systemic vulnerabilities, mainly underinvesting in public health
infrastructure such as hospitals that are proportionate with the population, leaving us utterly
unprepared for this pandemic.


This Bill reflects the lessons we learned from having to grapple with the Covid-19
virus, which is not our first pandemic, neither will it be the last, should nature let it happen
again. This proposed piece of legislation, not only gives life to the constitutional duty of
the State to provide efficient health care, but is a proactive measure to strengthen our
healthcare systems.

sage of this measure is earnestly sought

TT

RIA RACHEL J. ARENAS
Representative
Third District, Pangasinan

In view of the foregoing, the immediate



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 382

Introduced by Rep. Maria Rachel J. Arenas

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CALASIAO,
PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, TO BE KNOWN AS THE CALASIAO DISTRICT
HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established at least a two hundred (500) bed capacity,
under the direct supervision of the Department of Health a District Hospital in the
Municipality of Calasiao, Province of Pangasinan, in accordance with the standards of the
Department of Health, to be known as the Calasiao District Hospital.

SECTION 2. Before the construction of the hospital, the Secretary of Health shall
issue a written assurance that personnel of the hospital will be appointed and that funds for
its maintenance and operation have been appropriated.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Health shall promulgate the rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act within sixty (60) days from effectivity.

SECTION 4. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
charged against the appropriations authorized for the purpose under the fiscal year 2023
General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the operation
and maintenance of the herein hospital shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.


SECTION 5. All laws, executive orders, decrees, issuances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication the
Official Gazette or in the least, two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,