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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
5. No. X I 3  
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
With the announcement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her 
State of the Nation Address that a mariculture park will be developed in 
Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi, renewed activity is expected to higger ecotourism and 
investments. Hence, we cannot continue to be complacent and blind to the 
threats of the deadly disease - nialaria - because no tourist nor investors will 
visit the province if there are diseases waiting for them. 
The establishment of a Malaria, Tropical and Infectious Diseases 
Research and Treatment Institute in the Municipality of Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi, is 
the strategic health buffer in the control of malaria and other tropical and 
infectious diseases as well as to provide a more comprehensive health care to 
the Filipino people, particularly the residents of Tawi-Tawi. 
It seeks to integrate various health interventions that are scattered and 
intermittent the access to subsidized public health commodities such as 
insecticidal nets; home-based management of malaria in remote locations; 
antenatal care for women; the provision of accurate diagnostic tools; and 
effective treatment with new arteminisin-based combination therapies (ACT), 
and other disease prevention and control measures. 
According to the World Health Organization and the Department of 
Health, Tawi-Tawi ranked second highest in recorded incidents of malaria 
cases at 6,539, representing 24.18% of the national figure. An increasing trend 
in the recorded affliction was obssrved from 4,992 in 2003 to 5,215 in 2004 to 
6,702 in 2005. The highest incidence of confirmed cases at 954 with a 
morbidity rate of 41% is recorded in the Sibutu-Sitangkai area alone [Field 
Health Services Information System (FHSIS) 20061. 
Malaria is a curable disease. It is also a preventable disease. However, 
further research is imperative to wipe it out. Let us save the nation via this 
strategic malaria prevention and control intervention and at the same time, 
bring affordable and Comprehensive health care closer to poor and vulnerable 
people in Southern Philippines. 
The approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A MALARIA, TROPICAL AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 
RESEARCH AND TREATMENT INSTITUTE IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF 
DATU ALAWADDIN BANDON HOSPITAL AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
SIBUTU, PROVINCE OF TAWI-TAW INTEGRATING THERETO THE 
Be it enacted by the Serrate mid the House of Representnti-cles of the Philippines 
in Congress assetlibled: 
SECTION 1. There is hereby established a Malaria, Tropical and 
Infectious Disease Research and Treatment Institute in the Municipality of 
Sibuhi, Province of Tawi-Tawi, integrating thereto the Datu Alawaddin 
Bandon Hospital. 
SEC. 2. The Institute shall be at par with a secondary hospital with a 
capacity of at least fifty (50) beds. Aside from the existing facility of the Datu 
Alawaddin Bandon Hospital, the Institute will be housed in two (2) new 
buildings; each with a capacity of at least twenty-five (25) beds. The Institute 
is envisioned to service the Municipality of Sibutu as well as other 
municipalities of the province. 
SEC. 3. The establishment of the Institute shall be done gradually over a 
two (2)-year period starting from the approval of this Act with the building of 
a fifty (50)-bed facility in Farangay Hadji Bidin, Municipality of Sibutu in the 
first year, and satellite facilities in the other ten (10) municipalities throughout 
the province in the second year. 
SEC. 4. The Institute shall be under the supervision of the Department 
of Health (DOH), thus it shall be a re posit or^ of all data and base for 
researches on malaria, tropical and infectious diseases. 
SEC. 5. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Deyartnienfs programs the operationalization of the Malaria, Tropical and 


Infectious Disease Research and Treatment Institute, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao sltall continue to provide 
funds for the operation of the Datu Alawaddin Bandon Hospital until its 
actual integration into the Malaria, Tropical and Infectious Disease Research 
and Treatment Institute and the funding thereof shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,