Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3662

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by

BAYAN MUNA Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate

AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5260
WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SELL THE
WELFAREVILLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN MANDALUYONG CITY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Enacted on June 15, 1968 under the Marcos government, RA 5260 was passed in the guise of
authorizing the public bidding of the Welfareville property to generate funds supposedly for
“children’s welfare services.” However, it pointedly and grossly ignores the existence of the
National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) right within the Welfareville compound.

Formerly known as the National Mental Hospital, the NCMH has been providing treatment,
cate and rehabilitation for the mentally ill since its establishment on December 17, 1928. It is the
only national mental health facility in the country that provides vital hospital services to mental
patients. It caters mostly to the poor and marginalized who come not only from Metro Manila
but far-flung provinces. From a 379-bed capacity, the NCMEL has grown to 4,200, with
admissions often exceeding capacity amid the rising problem of mental illacss in the country,
especially among the poor in Metso Manila,

RA 5260 is being used as justification of repeated attempts since the Marcos era (0 sell the 110-
hectare Welfareville property and to phase out the NCMI. Tn 1978, at the height of martial law,
the Marcos regime additionally imposed Presidential Decree 1541 providing for the
“decentralization” of the mental hospital within a five-year petiod. The decree’s real intent,
however, can be gleaned from its preamble that the location of the hospital facilities right in the
“core of the New Metto Manila” does not “blend well” with the plans of the Metro Manila
Commission. The latter body was headed by the dictator's wife Imelda who was notorious for
undertaking controversial “beautification” projects.

To date, attempts to put Welfareville on the auction block in the name of Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) of the administration still continue amidst protests against the displacement of
over 6,340 NCMH in-patients, 59,884 out-patients every year, 1,981 hospital personnel and
25,000 families who have long scttled in the area. The absence of a viable and feasible alternative
to the existing facilities of the NCMH as well as relocation plans for long-time residents reveal


that financial gain and not xcal public interest persists as the primary motive of selling off
Welfareville,

This bill stops the indiscriminate use and abuse of government authority in selling off prime
public land, It specially upholds the constitutional obligation of the State to provide affordable
and accessible health services to the people and to promote the right to health, particularly for
the most disadvantaged,

In the light of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought:
Adopted,

“ \ ahaa enc, cose
NERI J. GOLMENARES: i Rep. CARLOS sae T. ZARATE

Bayan Mund Partylist Bayan Mima Partylist



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3663

HOUSE BILL No. ___

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate

AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 5260
WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO SELL THE
WELFAREVILLE PROPERTY LOCATED IN MANDALUYONG CITY

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

SECTION 1, Republic Act No, 5260 entitled “An Act Authorizing a Committee Composed of
the Administrator of the Social Welfare Administeation, the Auditor General and the Secre
of the Department of General Services to Sell the Welfareville Property Located
Municipality of Mandaluyong, Province of Rizal, and For Other Purposes” is hereby repealed.

the

tive orders, administrative orders, or circulars are

SECTION 2. All similar laws, decrees, exe:
likewise hereby repealed or amended according!

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least one (1) newspaper of
general circulation

Approved,