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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representatives Bryan B. Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla, and Ramon 
Jolo B. Revilla III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in our country’s capacity to respond to 
large-scale public health emergencies. The shortage of medical and healthcare 
personnel during surges strained the entire health system and highlighted the urgent 
need for a standby force of trained medical professionals ready to be mobilized in 
times of crisis. 
This bill seeks to institutionalize a medical reserve corps composed of licensed 
physicians, nurses, medical technologists, and other health-related professionals, 
including graduates of medicine and allied health courses who have completed the 
necessary training. The MRC will serve as an organized, responsive, and rapidly 
deployable support force to augment the existing health workforce during national 
emergencies, disasters, or public health threats. Under this measure, the Department 
of Health, in coordination with the Department of National Defense and other relevant 
agencies, will oversee the recruitment, training, and mobilization of the corps. 
Through this proposed legislation, we aim to enhance the country’s resilience to health 
emergencies by ensuring a reliable pool of medical professionals who can respond 
quickly and effectively when our nation needs them most. The creation of a medical 
reserve corps is a proactive step toward safeguarding public health and strengthening 
national preparedness and response systems. 
In view of the foregoing, the expedient passage of this bill – previously approved on 
third and final reading by the House of Representatives – is earnestly sought. 
       REP. BRYAN B. REVILLA  
REP. LANI MERCADO-REVILLA 
    Representative, AGIMAT Partylist  
  Representative, 2nd District of Cavite  
REP. RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III 
Representative, 1st District of Cavite 
September 8, 2025
9:17 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
Introduced by Representatives Bryan B. Revilla, Lani Mercado-Revilla, and Ramon 
Jolo B. Revilla III 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE HEALTH EMERGENCY AUXILIARY REINFORCEMENT TEAM 
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team (HEART) Act.”  
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article II, Section 15 of the Constitution enjoins the 
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State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
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consciousness among them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the adoption of 
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an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. The State further 
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reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly 
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SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of 
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Filipinos at all ages.  
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The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented 
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professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain the capacity to meet 
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surges in the demand for additional manpower in the country’s healthcare system and 
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provide assistance as needed in times of health crises.  
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Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to: 
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a. Prioritize the health of its citizens whether in the country or overseas by
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maintaining a strong and resilient healthcare system at all times that will
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immediately, efficiently, and effectively address all potential and actual public
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health emergencies; and
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b. Promote the spirit of “Bayanihan” and enhance the capacity of the nation to
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expand its human health resources in times of disasters, public health
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emergencies and health threats of both national and local scale through the
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mobilization of the Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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a. Allied health professionals refer to professions who are involved with the 
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delivery of health or related services such as the identification, evaluation and 
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prevention of diseases and disorders, dietary and nutrition services, and 
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rehabilitation and health systems management. Allied health professionals, 
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shall 
include, 
among 
others, 
dental hygienists, 
diagnostic 
medical 
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sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, 
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physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech language 
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pathologists; 
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b. Bayanihan refers to the value of communal unity through helping others to 
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achieve a certain goal without expecting anything in return;  
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c. Deployment refers to the actual movement of workforce to the assigned area 
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within a prescribed period; 
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d. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team refers to a group of individual 
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volunteers who are in the field of medicine, nursing, medical technology, and 
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other allied health-related fields who are ready to be deployed to complement 
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the health workforce in the event of a public health emergency and health 
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threat;  
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e. Health threat refers to a condition, agent, or incident that greatly impacts the 
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health that leads to disease, accident, injury, and loss of life;  
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f. Mobilization refers to the process and procedures for activating, assembling, 
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and transporting the needed health workforce to respond to a public health 
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emergency and health threat; 
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g. Mobilization center refers to the establishment where the Health Emergency 
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Auxiliary Reinforcement Team shall report upon receipt of the order for 
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mobilization, coordinate their mission order and mobilization-related issues and 
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concerns, and submit their report upon receipt of the order for demobilization;  
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h. Public health emergency refers to an occurrence that poses an imminent threat 
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of an illness or health condition as defined in Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise 
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known as Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of 
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Public Health Concern Act, that: 
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1) Is caused by any of the following: 
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i. Bio terrorism; 
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ii. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious 
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agent or biological toxin; 
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iii. A natural disaster;  
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iv. A chemical attack or accidental release; 
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v. A nuclear attack or accident; or 
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vi. An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and 
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2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: 
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i. A large number of deaths in the affected population; 
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ii. A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the 
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affected population; 
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iii. Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
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significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the 
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affected population; 
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iv. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
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significant risk to the health of citizens; or  
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v. Trade and travel restrictions
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i. Volunteers refer to those who freely register to be members of the 
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HEART.  
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SEC. 4. Scope. – This Act provides for the organization of the Health Emergency 
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Auxiliary Reinforcement Team, hereinafter referred to as the HEART, the development 
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of policies, plans, guidelines, and the implementation of actions pertaining to the 
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mobilization, services, and protection of the HEART in times of disasters, public health 
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emergencies and health threats. 
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SEC. 5. Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team. – There is hereby 
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established a HEART under the Department of Health (DOH) to augment the health 
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workforce in times of disasters, public health emergencies and health threats. The 
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HEART shall be composed of the following individuals who shall voluntarily register 
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with the DOH:  
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a. Licensed professionals in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical technology, 
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and other allied health fields including those who are retired and those who are 
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no longer practicing their professions in a health facility setting. All health and 
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allied health professional organizations may be tapped for the engagement of 
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professionals who are not affiliated in any healthcare facility; 
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b. Graduates of medicine and allied health courses and medical students who 
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have completed a one-year medical internship and who have not yet been 
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issued licenses to practice their respective professions, but due to the need for 
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their services may be issued a limited and special authorization to render 
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medical services during public health emergencies or health threats pursuant 
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to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as the Medical Act of 1959 or as 
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may be amended hereafter; and  
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c. Other health support workforce, including barangay health workers, whose 
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services are necessary in times of disasters, public health emergencies and 
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health threats. 
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SEC. 6. The Health Emergency Auxiliary Reinforcement Team Promotion 
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Program. – There is hereby established the Health Emergency Auxiliary 
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Reinforcement Team Promotion Program, which shall refer to the comprehensive set 
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of objectives, targets, strategies and activities for the promotion, recruitment and 
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selection of reserve force of highly skilled and health-oriented professionals and 
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volunteers.  
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It shall include, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern: the provision of 
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initiatives that shall underscore the importance of volunteerism to improve the health 
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and safety of communities; the utilization of medical reserves pool who want to donate 
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their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and to support 
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ongoing preparedness initiatives; and the building of partnerships and ensuring the 
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sustainability of the HEART with the end goal of maintaining its capacity to meet 
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surges in the demand for healthcare system and provide assistance in times of public 
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emergencies.  
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SEC. 7. Creation of the HEART Board. - A HEART Board, hereinafter referred to as 
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Board, is hereby created to ensure efficient and effective mobilization of the HEART. 
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It shall be chaired by the Department of Health (DOH) and composed of 
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representatives of the following, as members: 
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a. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
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b. Department of National Defense (DND); 
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c. Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
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d. Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC); 
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e. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); 
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f. Office of Civil Defense (OCD); and 
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g. One representative from a non-governmental health professional organization.  
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The members of the Board shall designate a representative, with a rank not lower than 
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Assistant Secretary or its equivalent, to represent their respective offices in the Board: 
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Provided, That the representative must be fully authorized to decide on behalf of the 
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member-agency.  
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The AFP shall designate a representative from the Office of the Surgeon General with 
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a rank not lower than Colonel as its Board representative.  
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The representative from a non-governmental health professional organization shall 
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have a two (2) -year term of office. The Board shall select the representative base on 
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the guidelines it shall promulgate: Provided, That, the non-governmental health 
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organization is national in scope and has a good track record in providing emergency 
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health services.  
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The Board shall establish close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction 
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and Management Council and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating 
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Agency. It may call upon any government office or instrumentality, including 
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government owned or controlled corporations and local government units (LGUs), as 
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necessary. The Board may likewise closely coordinate and collaborate with non-
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governmental health organizations and the private sector, especially those with actual 
31 
programs in the delivery of emergency health services.  
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SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall have the following 
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powers and functions: 
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a. Define 
and 
develop 
the 
organization, 
management, 
mobilization, 
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demobilization, and reporting mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for the 
38 
HEART;  
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b. Oversee the effective and efficient functioning of the HEART in responding to 
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public health emergencies and health threats;  
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c. Coordinate with concerned national government agencies and other 
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stakeholders in responding to public health emergencies and health threats; 
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and  
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d. Conduct regular meetings every quarter or as often as may be necessary in 
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times of disasters, during public health emergencies or in the occurrence of 
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health threats.  
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SEC. 9. Creation of a HEART Unit. – A HEART Unit shall be created by the DOH 
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which shall serve as the secretariat of the Board. It shall oversee program 
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implementation, including the maintenance of the database or information system of 
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the HEART.  
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The DOH shall determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
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HEART unit subject to the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and 
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Management (DBM) and in accordance with the civil service laws, rules and 
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regulations. 
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The regional counterparts of the HEART Unit shall likewise be allocated additional 
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staff and personnel to ensure the grassroots implementation of this Act.  
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All LGUs shall ensure that a HEART Unit shall be operationalized under their 
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respective Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which shall act as 
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mobilization centers in times of disasters, public health emergencies or health threats.  
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SEC. 10. Registration and Training. – The Board shall prescribe a comprehensive 
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guideline for the recruitment and selection of a HEART volunteer.  
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The Board shall also prescribe a training program through written, practical, and 
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simulation activities on various aspects of health emergency management and 
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response in different health emergency scenarios. To this end, all volunteers must 
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undergo: 
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a. Basic training on disaster and health emergency response; and 
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b. Skill enhancement activities with relevant agencies in the both public and private 
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sector.  
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Completion of the basic training or acceptable substitute or equivalent certification 
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shall be a requisite for admission to the HEART.  
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SEC. 11. Registry and Accounting of Members. – HEART Volunteers shall be 
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issued with individual registration numbers which shall serve as their identification 
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during deployment.  
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A registry or database that contains the names of the volunteers, their registration 
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numbers, address, contact details and other personal information as may be 
35 
necessary, shall be maintained and regularly updated in accordance with Republic Act 
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No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act. 
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The HEART registry or database shall be integrated or linked to existing registries 
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such as the National Health Workforce Registry pursuant to Republic Act No. 11223, 
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otherwise known as Universal Health Care Act, Section 25 (c).  
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All volunteers covered under this Act are required to update their addresses and 
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contact details on file through the registry system or database as necessary. 
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SEC. 12. Mobilization. – The Board shall approve the prompt mobilization of the 
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HEART upon receipt of a request from municipal and city mayors and provincial 
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governors in connection with a public health emergency, threats to public health, or a 
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disaster, whether of local or national scale. The HEART may be mobilized partially or 
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in full, as may be necessary.  
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The Board shall promulgate a mechanism that shall ensure efficient implementation 
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of deployment, assignment areas, deployment periods, how deployment orders are 
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communicated to each volunteer, and to which mobilization center the volunteers will 
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report taking into consideration Section 13 on “Accreditation, Mobilization, and 
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Protection of Disaster Volunteers and National Service Reserve Corps, CSOs, and the 
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Private Sector” of Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster 
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Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.  
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SEC. 13. Deployment Order. – The President of the Philippines, upon the 
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recommendation of the HEART Board through a resolution, may order the nationwide 
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mobilization of the HEART to augment the health workforce in case of a declaration of 
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a state of public health emergency, state of calamity, and other threats to public health.  
14 
 
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Orders of deployment sent to the volunteers’ addresses and through the contact 
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details on file in the registry system or database shall be sufficient notice for purposes 
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of deployment.  
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SEC. 14. Mobilization Centers - Mobilization Centers shall be established in each 
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province as needed where volunteers shall report to once deployment is ordered.  
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A mobilization center may be any establishment that can adequately house the 
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volunteers, their equipment and supplies during the period of deployment, including a 
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multi-purpose hall, gymnasium, and other similar structures.  
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The Board shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the location of the 
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mobilization centers. The concerned municipal and city mayors and provincial 
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governors shall disseminate information on the location of mobilization centers to the 
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widest extent possible.  
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SEC. 15. Essential Emergency Commodities. - The Board shall ensure that the 
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minimum essential individual and organizational commodities and medical equipment 
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and supplies shall be procured, stored, and managed to enhance the rapid transition 
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to readiness required for deployment of HEART teams in the shortest possible time.  
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The Board shall ensure and maintain its capacity to scale up the procurement of these 
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equipment and supplies as needed during the period of deployment. 25 
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SEC. 16. Incentives. - In recognition and appreciation of the HEART volunteers’ 
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service rendered during the period of actual mobilization, implementing agencies may 
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provide volunteers with an allowance as may be determined by the Department of 
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Health (DOH), in coordination with Department of Budget and Management, subject 
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to availability of funds, and other existing civil service, budgeting, accounting and 
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auditing rules and regulations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Act, shall 
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be construed as creating an employer-employee relationship between the government 
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and HEART volunteers.  
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SEC. 17. Legal Liability. - No volunteer shall be held liable for the death or injury to 
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any person or for the loss of, or damage to the property of any person where such 
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death, injury, loss, or damage was proximately caused by the circumstance of an 
1 
actual public health emergency or its subsequent conditions. 
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This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages because of gross negligence, 
4 
recklessness, or willful misconduct. 
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SEC. 18. Public Health Emergency Insurance. - The DOH is mandated to secure 
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an insurance policy that would insure HEART volunteers from injury, death, damage 
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to, or loss of property, and for any legal liability asserted against or incurred by the 
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volunteer arising from the lawful performance of his duty.  
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SEC. 19. Termination of Deployment or Demobilization. - Upon the declaration of 
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the President, or as determined by the Board that the need for the HEART is no longer 
13 
necessary, or upon the expiration of the deployment or end of mission there being no 
14 
approved extension thereof, volunteers who are deployed pursuant to the declaration 
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of a public calamity, a public health emergency or health threat shall be discharged 
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from the performance of HEART duties. 
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Upon order of the demobilization of the HEART, the deployed volunteers shall be 
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reverted to inactive status. Mobilization Centers shall ensure reports on the mission 
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are duly submitted and the certificate of services rendered pertaining to the 
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deployment are promptly issued.  
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SEC. 20. Annual Report. - The HEART Unit shall prepare and submit an annual report 
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to the Office of the President, through the DOH Secretary, containing the list of 
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accomplishments, status of the operations and program implementation of the 
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HEART.  
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SEC. 21. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the initial implementation of this 
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Act shall be charged against the available funds of the implementing agencies 
30 
comprising the HEART Board. Thereafter, the funding shall be included in the budget 
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of the DOH under the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations.. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the HEART Board shall, in consultation with other stakeholders, 
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promulgate the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of this Act.  
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SEC. 23. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
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or invalid, the validity of other provisions shall not be affected thereby.  
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SEC. 24. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other 
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issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 25. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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