Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative  
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
Second District, Batangas 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 15 of the Philippine Constitution states that, “the 
State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
health consciousness among them.  In line with this, this bill seeks to 
increase the bed capacity of the Mabini Community Hospital, Municipality of 
Mabini, Batangas, from 18-bed capacity to 50-bed capacity.  It is important 
to increase its bed capacity to meet the needs of the citizens in this area 
which will serve not only its inhabitants but as well as to the tourists who 
were able to visit the wonderful sceneries and beaches of Mabini, Batangas. 
Tourism is one of the significant industries which defines the 
Philippine economy. It is global in scope as tourism draws both domestic and 
international visitors. It is likewise complex that it varies into different 
interests such as adventure, recreational, cultural, historical, pilgrimage and 
others. More importantly, it yields vast amount of business and employment 
thus contributing to the growth of the economy. Suffice to say, that during 
this modern age, tourism has established itself as an apparent source of 
revenue which needs to be managed and improved in order to optimize 
economic development. 
Batangas is one of the provinces with remarkable tourism industry. 
Based on the 2015 National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines, 
Batangas ranks 2nd in Calabarzon Region as to the biggest number of 
overnight guests and 4th as to the biggest number of day tour guests. 
Situated in Verde Island Passage which is the center of marine biodiversity of 
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the world, the province is now one of the most visited places by diving 
enthusiasts.   
In view of the complexity of tourism and the important role it plays to 
our economy, it becomes imperative that we provide ample attention on its 
management and growth. One common concern of tourists is the availability 
of sufficient medical services in Batangas. Illnesses, disorders and accidents 
occur even in the least anticipated occasions like when family and friends 
are at the midst of their vacation or tour.  
Distinct among the various tourism related concerns is the divers’ 
decompression sickness. Based on medical research, the appropriate 
management of such sickness is thru hyperbaric chamber which is usually 
unavailable in hospitals. This untoward situation results to paralysis or even 
death of tourists. Other extreme incidents like strokes and heart attacks, 
when sufficient medical equipment is unreachable, can lead to irreversible 
consequences as well. These scenario yields to the discouragement of 
tourists compromising revenue generation not only of the tourism related 
establishments but of the economy as a whole.  
In our vision to protect and boost the continuously growing tourism 
industry in Batangas, not to mention however the recent COVID 19 
pandemic, there is an apparent need to establish the Mabini Community 
Hospital as Batangas Tourism and Specialty Hospital.  
 The Mabini Community Hospital (MCH) currently services the 
Municipalities of Mabini, Tingloy, Lobo, San Luis, San Pascual and Bauan, 
including the City of Batangas.    The said areas have at least 658, 200 
inhabitants wherein the hospital provides for medical needs.  Currently, it 
has served at least 7,578 patients ranging from normal spontaneous 
deliveries, dengue, appendicitis, pneumonia, trauma and conditions related 
to vehicle accidents either thru admissions, emergency case consultations, 
or out-patient consultations.  The MCH was likewise crucial in their role as 
frontline medical services during the COVID 19 pandemic and has serviced 
at least 496 cases while utilizing their isolation facilities to ensure the 
recovery of our constituents and manage the number of virus infections. 
With the passing of this Act, the said hospital, which will be known as 
Batangas Tourism Specialty Hospital (BTSH), shall address not only the 
general medical needs of our people, including all tourism related illness, 
disorders and accidents not only in Mabini but in the entire province of 
Batangas. 
On its larger scale, it is essential that our national government need to 
address to the growing public health challenges not only for health and well-
being of the residents of the area but as well as to the accommodation of 


tourists who may have encountered unforeseen events as they journey the 
beauty of Batangas. 
In view of the foregoing premises, the swift passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representative  
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
Second District, Batangas 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MABINI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF MABINI, BATANGAS AS BATANGAS TOURISM 
SPECIALTY HOSPITAL, A LEVEL 1 TOURISM AND SPECIALTY 
HOSPITAL, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM 18 TO 50, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as Batangas Tourism 
Specialty Hospital (BTSH) Act.   
Section 2. Declaration of Policies.  
a) Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution, the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people and instill health
consciousness among them;
b) Article XIII, on Social Justice and Human Rights on Health, it is
stipulated that the State shall be responsible to 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 under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to
paupers;
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c) Article XIII, Section12 specified that the State shall establish and 
maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake 
appropriate health, manpower development, and research, responsive 
to the country's health needs and problems;  
d) Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known as The Tourism Act of 2009, 
Section 2, provided that the State declares tourism as an 
indispensable element of the national economy and an industry of 
national interest and importance, which must be harnessed as an 
engine of socio-economic growth and cultural affirmation to generate 
investment, foreign exchange, and employment, and to continue to 
mold an enhanced sense of national pride for all Filipinos; and 
e) In pursuit of the aforementioned principles, the State shall establish 
and upgrade health facilities and shall ensure the medical needs of its 
citizens, especially in domains wherein tourism industry forms part of 
its economy.  The State also recognizes the necessity of particular 
specialty and shall provide the essential support for the benefit of the 
populace. 
 
Section 3.   The authorized bed capacity of the Batangas Tourism Specialty 
Hospital in the Municipality of Mabini, Batangas is hereby increased from 
eighteen (18) to fifty (50) beds.  
 
Section 4.  The Batangas Tourism Specialty Hospital shall be under the 
administrative control of the Department of Health (DOH).  The existing 
service facilities and professional health care services of BTSH are hereby 
upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity 
provided in Section 3 hereof. 
 
Section 5.  The existing workforce of Batangas Tourism Specialty Hospital 
shall be correspondingly increased.  Upon prior consultation with the 
management of the hospital, the Secretary of Health, in coordination with 
the Secretary of Budget and Management and the Chairperson of the Civil 
Service Commission, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be 
created pursuant to this Act and shall likewise retain eligible personnel 
currently employed by the hospital, subject to the existing civil service laws, 
rules and regulations. 
 


 
Section 6.  Batangas Tourism Specialty Hospital shall: 
a) Specialize as a tourism hospital with capability to address, treat and 
admit tourism related illnesses, disorders and accidents.  
b) Keep, maintain, and advance its hyperbaric chamber and all other 
medical equipment and supplies to be determined by the Department 
of Health (DOH) in consultation with the Department of Tourism 
(DOT); 
c) Maintain sufficient number of hospital ambulance and sea ambulance 
including fast communication facility to immediately respond to 
tourism-related emergency calls; 
d) Maintain sufficient number of specialists, physicians, as well as 
technical and medical professionals including support personnel to 
maintain a Level 1 tourism hospital with 50 bed capacity; 
e) Coordinate with the tourism offices of the LGU’s as well as with the 
legitimate tourism establishments and sites to further complete the 
hospital provisions, as well as for information and coordination of the 
hospital services, in order to effectively address medical tourism 
concerns of the entire province; 
f) Admit and address regular cases of patients including those which are 
not tourism related as part of its hospital facility services; 
g) Accommodate indigent patients thus designating reasonable charity 
ward in line with the constitutional mandate to provide sufficient 
health services.    
 
Section 7. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the 
Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
Section 8.  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,