SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session· 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1369 
Sennh> 
(OH.:. uf 14 •. ~m.I •• v 
'1} 
IIUG 2B P2 :16 
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is a policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. Accordingly, Section 11, Article XIII of the 
1987 Philippine Constitution provides that "The State shall 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 underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, 
women, and children. X x x" 
The incidence of ear, nose, throat, head and neck (ENTHN) disorders in the country has 
become more prevalent and has affected the quality of life of most Filipinos. 
Respiratory tract infections which include colds, sinusitis, nasopharyngitis and laryngitis 
are among the leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines. Study shows that ratios of 
1 to 2 per 1000 live births are born with cleft lip or cleft palate. More than one million 
Filipinos, on the other hand, are estimated to have hearing impairment. 
ENTHN 
disorders not only affect the productivity and performance of a person but also cause 
permanent disabilities and deformities. Despite the high prevalence rate of ENTHN 
diseases and their tremendous effect on health, these conditions have not been given 
enough attention and priority. 
This bill, therefore, seeks to establish the Philippine Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Center 
which will provide comprehensive, high quality, affordable and specialized medical 
services for the prevention, control and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck 
disorders. 
The establishment and maintenance of the Philippine E.NT Center will focus on the tNT 
diseases to primarily benefit persons s.uffering from ENTHN diseases and those who 
are unable to secure the necessary medical treatment because of the high cost of 
specialized medical services. The Philippine ENT Center will ensure the accessibility 
and availability of specialized medical services needed by ENT patients in the country. 
The Center will also enhance and integrate the research undertakings of the 
government on these diseases. Further, the Philippine ENT Center will be tlie venue for" 
advanced training of medical and technical personnel to render high quality and state of 
the art medical services for the prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN disorders. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


'. 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1369 
"1] 
AUG 28 P 2 :16 
Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT) CENTER AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared policy of the State to 
promote and protect the right of t~e people to health by providing specialized health and. 
medical services that will secure their well-being. Towards this end, the State shall 
establish an ear, nose and throat (ENT) center that will provide comprehensive, high 
quality, affordable and specialized medical services for the prevention, control and 
treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck (ENTHN) diseases. 
SEC. 2. Philippine Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Center. - The Philippine Ear, Nose 
and Throat (ENT) Center, hereinafter referred to as the Philippine ENT Center is hereby 
established under the supervision of the Department of Health to intensify and 
consolidate the efforts and programs of the government in the prevention, diagnosis and 
treatment of ENTHN diseases and provide comprehensive high quality, affordable and 
specialized medical services to citizens afflicted with ENTHN disease. 
The Philippine ENT Center shall have the following objectives: 
a) Construct, establish, equip, operate and maintain a medica'i institution which 
shall specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN 
diseases, and provide medical care, rehabilitation and relief of persons 
suffering from it; 
b) Undertake medical and scientific researches relative to the prevention, 
diagnosis, treatment of ENTHN diseases and create public awareness on its 
prevention and control through information dissemination; 
c) Finance, 
sponsor, 
hold 
or participate 
in 
congresses, 
conventions, 
conferences, seminars, workshops and training programs on ENTHN 
diseases, diagnosis and management; 
d) Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and 
Information on the prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN diseases: 
e) Encourage and assist in the education and training of physicians, nurses, 
health officers, social workers and other medical and technical personnel in 
the practical and scientific conduct and implementation of ENTHN diseases 
prevention and treatment programs; 


" 
f) 
Coordinate and consolidate various efforts and activities of the government in . 
delivering more effective medical services to treat and prevent ENTHN 
diseases; and 
g) Help in the promotion of Philippine medical tourism by offering top quality and 
world class medical services in treating ENTHN disorders. 
SEC. 3. Scope of Services. - Consistent with its objectives, the Philippine ENT Center 
shall provide the following services: 
a) Hospital-based services to ensure the availabl\ity of medical facilities and 
equipment necessary to provide treatment of ENTHN diseases; 
b) Community-based services to develop and implement community-based 
programs in partnership with local government units, conduct research and 
external resource outsourcing to implement community-based diagnosis and 
tre~tment Qf ENTHN diseases; 
, 
c) Education programs to pursue excellence and the highest level of practice in 
the specialized field of ENTHN diseases and other related fields, conduct 
post-graduate training and short-term courses for medical doctors and allied 
medical professionals; and 
d) Program development and research to develop cutting edge research and 
programs to combat diseases of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck. 
SEC. 4. Board of Trustees. - The Philippine ENT Center shall be administered by a 
Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of seven (7) 
members to be appOinted by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation 
of the Secretary of Health. 
The members of the Board shall serve for a period of three (3) years. All members shall 
serve without compensation other than actual and necessary expenses, in accordance 
with the existing laws, policies and rules and regulations on the matter, incurred either 
for attendance in meetings of the Board or upon official business authorized by a 
resolution ofthe Board. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - The Board shall have the following powers and 
functions in addition to their general powers of administration: 
a) Formulate and adopt the by-laws, rules and regulations, policies, guidelines 
and procedures consistent with law and the provisions of this Act to govern 
the administration and operations of the Philippine ENT Center; 
b) Formulate and develop programs for the prevention, control and treatment of 
ENTHN diseases and adopt measures which are necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Acti 
' 
c) Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical institutions, 
domestic or foreign, as may be necessary in attaining the purposes and 
objectives of the Philippine ENT Center; 
d) Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real or personal property of all 
kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the Philippine ENT Center, 
in accordance with the directions and instructions of the donor, and in default 
thereof, in such manner as in its direction the Board may determine; 
e) Acquire and hold property of whatever nature or description, and to dispose 
such properties under any mode of encumbrance and conveyance; 


." 
, ' 
f) 
Invite foreign ENTHN specialists and similar experts In the various medical 
fields to train the personnel of the Philippine ENT Center or send personnel to 
research or medical institutes or universities for advance training or 
observation or to attend international or regional conventions, conferences, 
congresses and seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish 
the pyrposes and objectives of the Philippine ENT Center; and 
g) Perform all such other acts and things as are or may be necessary for or 
incidental to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Philippine ENT 
Center. 
SEC. 6. orgal'ilzatlonal Structure and Staffing Pattern. - The Board Shall determine 
the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Philippine ENT Center subject to 
the evaluation by the Civil Service Commission and of the Organization Position 
Classification and Compensation Bureau of the Department of Budget and 
Management. The Board may reorganize said structure, modify the staffing pattern and 
create or abolish divisions, sections or units in the Philippine ENT Centero 
SEC. 7. Appointment by the Board. - The Board shall have the authority to appoint, 
promote, transfer, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the officers and employees 
of the ENT Center upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, subject to civil 
service laws, rules and regulations. 
SEC. 8. Executive Director. - The Philippine ENT Center shall be administered by an 
Executive Director who shall be apPOinted by the President of the Philippines upon the 
recommendation of the Board of Trustees. 
The Executive Director shall exercise the following powers and functions: 
a) Execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Board, and be 
responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational 
functions; 
b) Submit for the consideration and approval of the Board proposed measures, 
policies and guidelines and programs as may be deemed necessary for the 
effective implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Act; 
c) Direct and supervise the management, operation and administration of the 
Philippine ENT Center, and may delegate this power and any or some of the 
administrative responsibilities and duties to the other officers of the Philippine 
ENT Center; 
d) Recommend to the Board the appointment, promotion, transfer, dismissal and 
suspension of the officers and employees of the Philippine ENT Center; 
e) Execute on behalf of the Board all contracts and agreements which the latter 
may enter into, and to execute, accomplish and deliver any and all documents 
relative to such contracts and agreements; and 
f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be vested 
by the Board. 
SEC. 9. Program for Indigents. - The Board shall ensure that the Philippine ENT 
Center shall adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds allocated 
for indigent patients shall not be less than forty percent (40%) of the total number of 
hospital beds. 


, . 
SEC. 10. Tax Exemptions and Privileges. - The provision of any general or special 
law to the contrary notwithstanding, all donations, grants, contributions, gifts or 
endowments received by the Philippine ENT Center pursuant hereto, shall be exempt 
from income, gift and all other kinds of taxes, and shall be further considered as 
allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the 
provisions of the N.!tionallnternal Revenl,!!i\ code of 1997, as amended, 
The Philippine ENT Center is hereby declared exempt from all income and all other 
internal revenue taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other kinds of taxes, f_s, 
charges and assessment levied by the government and its political subdivisions, 
agencies and instrumentalities. 
The Philippine ENT Center may request and receive assistance from the different 
agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government, including the 
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine amusement and Gaming 
Corporation in pursuit of its purposes and objectives. 
SEC. 11. Annuai Report. - The Phiiippine ENT Center shaii submit an annual report to 
the President of the Philippines, Senate Committee on Health and Demography and the 
House Committee on Health, on its activities, accomplishments and recommendations 
to better improve their delivery of specialized medical services. 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Budget and Management, promUlgate such rules and 
regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 13, Approprilltions. --
The amount of three hundred million pesos 
(P300,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance of 
the Philippine ENT Center. 
Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the 
oontinued operation of the Philippine ENT Center shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
. 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,