Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND APPROVE 
THE BED CAPACITY OF ITS RETAINED HOSPITALS
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Healthcare is among the most fundamental human needs. 
Government hospitals, particularly those maintained by the Department of Health 
(DOH), are the only source of healthcare for the approximately one-third of the 
Philippine population living below the poverty line. However, these hospitals are already 
overcrowded, have insufficient staff, lack basic supplies and equipment, and do not have 
enough beds for everyone who requires care. 
The lack of available beds at government hospitals is a critical issue that must be 
addressed immediately. With 30,309 daily inpatients, DOH hospitals had an overall bed 
occupancy rate of 131%, exceeding the recommended range of 80% to 85%. This leads 
to the country having the lowest universal healthcare index in all of Southeast Asia. 
According to the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PHFD) 2020–2040 of 
the Department of Health (DOH), a macro plan for the development of health care 
facilities, the expected demand for hospital beds in 2040 is 2.7 beds per 1000 people, 
however the DOH can only provide 1 bed per 1000 population at the present. To 
achieve the aims of the PHFD and fulfill the promise of the Universal Health Care Act 
to make a better health system available to all Filipinos, institutional reforms must be 
undertaken. 
This bill seeks to ensure the availability of hospital beds and the availability of healthcare 
December 5, 2022
12:29 pm
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services in all DOH hospitals, as well as to rationalize health resources to best serve the 
needs of patients. In order to accomplish these objectives, Congress grants the 
Department of Health the authority to determine, adjust, and approve bed and 
corresponding service capacities of its health facilities. 
Without having to go through the arduous process of adopting laws for such objectives, 
the State will be able to rationalize health resources in a quicker and more effective 
manner to respond to patients' requirements. 
In light of the above, and sa ngalan sa SERBISYONG TINUORAY, approval of this bill 
is earnestly sought. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO SET AND APPROVE 
THE BED CAPACITY OF ITS RETAINED HOSPITALS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "DOH Hospital Bed Capacity 
1 
Rationalization Act." 
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SEC.  2. 
Purpose, Scope, and Coverage. — This Act shall streamline the process 
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for approving changes in the authorized bed capacity of all Department of 
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Health (DOH) retained hospitals. 
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SEC.  3. 
Authority to Approve. — Authority is hereby granted to the DOH to 
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adjust and approve the authorized bed capacity of its retained hospitals. 
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Thereafter, the DOH shall, by administrative or department order, 
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increase, decrease, or maintain the bed capacity of its retained hospitals, 
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subject to specific guidelines that it shall issue and promulgate, within six 
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months, after the enactment of this law. 
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SEC.  4. 
Appropriations. — Amounts necessary to implement and carry out the 
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provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the 
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Department of Health. 
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SEC.  5. 
Annual Report to Congress. — The Department of Health shall provide 
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Congress, through the House and Senate Committees on Health, an 
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annual report on hospitals with approved bed capacity changes, along 
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with the necessary funding requirements. 
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SEC.  6. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Health shall 
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come up with the IRR, within three (3) months after the law's effectivity. 
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SEC.  7. 
Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules - and 
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regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are 
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hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
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SEC.  8. 
Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
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general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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