Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6070

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On October 3, 2012, five tourists, including three (3) Taiwanese, died
due to drowning in Boracay Island. On May 9, 2015, a German tourist was
rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival after scuba diving in
Leyte. More recently, the island-paradise of Coron was put into the limelight
after a young tourist died allegedly due to the inadequacy of the nearby
hospital to treat the patient who was believed to be poisoned by a stone fish.

‘These situations brought to fore the necessity in making the country’s
tourist destinations more prepared and effective in dealing with emergencies
and health-related crises, Tourism, as an industry, is prone to accidents due
to the fact that most of its related activities entail providing experiences that
offer “risks,” “thrills,” and “adventure.” But despite this industry’s well-
known nature, any untoward incident is still unacceptable to the public; and
the occurrence of such could even substantially affect the image of our
destinations especially if this is due to failure of authorities to respond
effectively to life-threatening situations.

In response to the growing demands to bolster emergency
preparedness in the tourism industry, this bill shall seek to provide for the
establishment of well-equipped and well-manned health facilities in key
tourism destinations. This will demonstrate the government’s sincerity in
ensuring the safety and welfare of all domestic and international travelers as
away to support the robust growth of the tourism industry.

In light of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

E] E “PING” M. AMANTE


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 6070

Introduced by Honorable ERLPE JOHN “PING” M. AMANTE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HEALTH FACILITIES
IN KEY TOURISM DESTINATIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the
“Tourism Health Facilities Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. _It is the policy of the State
to ensure the safety and well-being of all domestic and foreign tourists
visiting the country’s tourism destinations by providing basic facilities
that can attend to emergency and health-related crises.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Health Facilities in Tourism
Destinations. The Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of
Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) shall coordinate in the identification of tourist sites for the
construction of tourism health facilities, hereinafter referred to as
THFs. Provided, priority will be given to tourism sites that are isolated
or with no existing health facility within four (4)-kilometer radius;
Provided further, each THF shall have a minimum capability to
respond to emergency cases and treat common illnesses and injuries;
Provided furthermore, each THF shall also be equipped with an
ambulance, sea ambulance or airlift helicopter, depending on the
tourism site’s needs, that can be deployed for emergency response in
isolated areas and transport of patients from the THF to hospitals;


Provided finally, local government units (LGUs) shall provide the lots
for the THFs as their counterpart.

SECTION 4. Training of Health Personnel, Tourism Security Force,
Tour Guides, and Other Tourism Frontliners. — The DOH shall ensure
that the health personnel deployed to all THFs are well-trained to
respond to emergency cases and common illnesses and injuries;
taking into consideration the idiosyncrasies of every tourism
destination.

To complement the THFs, the DOH, in partnership
with the DOT, shall also take the lead in equipping the tourism
security force, tour guides, and other tourism frontliners with basic
knowledge and skills on emergency preparedness and response.

SECTION 5. Maintenance and Operations. — Maintenance and
operations of all THFs and emergency response vehicles, including the
provision of manpower and supplies, shall be charged to the DOH.

SECTION 6. Fees and Charges. Fees and charges for the
use of the tourism health facilities shall be determined by the DOH.
Provided, fees and charges incurred by Filipino residents will be
subsidized by the government while foreign tourists will be required to
pay the full value of services availed in the THFs.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry
out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The
Secretary of Tourism, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and
Secretary of Interior and Local Government, shall issue rules and
regulations as he/she may deem necessary for the implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. — Separability Clause. _ If any provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
hereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 11. —Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,