FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
.. 
Senate Bill No. 9 6 6 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The attached bill establishes a free medicine assistance program in a 
health district to benefit only the underprivileged, the elderly, the disabled and the 
poorest of the poor which shall be administered by the Department of Health, in 
coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
It is common knowledge that some of our countrymen die not because 
their sickness is incurable, but due to lack of medicine or proper medical 
treatment or assistance on account of poverty. The government cannot always 
remain indifferent to this reality; it must offer some direct help somehow for the 
intended beneficiaries to feel its impact. In this context, the bill seeks to answer, 
starting with this approach, the problem of lack of medicine the cost of which is 
now beyond the reach of many Filipinos on account of poverty. 
The proposed legislation is mandated by the constitutional directives that 
the State shall protect and promote the right of the people to health (Sec 15, 
Article II, Constitution) and shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development with the end view of making essential health 
services available to all the people at affordable cost, giving priority to the needs 
of the underprivileged, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the women and 
children. 
In this light, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MANNY ILLAR 
5 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 966 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FREE MEDICINE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 
THE POOR AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Medicine for 
the Poor Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the state to 
promote the right to health and well-being of the people and to adopt a system of 
effecting the delivery of free medicine to those who have less ‘in life, giving 
priority to the underprivileged, the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the poorest 
of the poor. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Free Medicine Assistance Program. There is 
hereby established a Free Medicine Assistance Program, hereinafter referred to 
as the “Program,” to be administered by the Department of Health (DOH) through 
its authorized government hospital in each particular congressional district, to be 
known as the health district, in coordination with the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
SEC. 4. Eligible Beneficiaries.- The program shall be limited to eligible 
beneficiaries to be identified by the DOH through the government hospital in the 
health district in coordination with the DSWD. The implementing rules and 
regulations shall to it that the intended beneficiaries come from the ranks of the 
poorest of the poor, the Program being strictly a poverty alleviation measure. 


SEC. 5. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of 
Twenty Million Pesos (P20,000,000.00) for each health district to fund the initial 
requirements of this Act. The National Government shall subsequently include in 
the budget of the Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act such 
amount as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 6 Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, jointly with the DSWD, shall 
prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
provision of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof. 
SEC. 7. Repealing clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, 
including rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - I f  any part or provision of this Act shall be 
held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in one (1) national newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.