Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

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Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3891

Introduced by Representative Katrina Reiko Chua-Tai

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a Level III General Hospital with a capacity of
two hundred (200) beds in Zamboanga City, to be known as the Zamboanga City
General Hospital.

The First Legislative District of Zamboanga City faces a severe public health crisis
marked by high rates of communicable diseases (e.g., dengue, respiratory infections,
tuberculosis), non-communicable diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular
conditions), trauma cases, and maternal and child health issues. These are exacerbated by
the absence of a well-equipped and accessible hospital, making them the leading causes
of death in the district.

In 2023, Zamboanga City recorded 6,640 deaths, the highest in the Zamboanga
Peninsula, and 247 infant deaths. This underscores the urgency for improved maternal
and child healthcare. Dengue also remains a persistent threat, with 4,028 cases reported
city-wide and a 42% year-on-year increase in pediatric cases from January to May 2024.

The district’s only hospital, Labuan General Hospital, is a Level I facility with a
100-bed capacity, currently operating at 112% occupancy. It lacks the infrastructure and
space to expand, leaving over | million residents underserved.

Despite national health initiatives, including the Department of Health’s Health
Facility Enhancement Program, the health system in the city remains critically under-
resourced. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed systemic issues such as
overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of medical professionals.

This measure is a vital step toward ensuring health equity, restoring dignity, and
securing a healthier future for all Zamboanguefios.

Let us bridge the gap and heal the distance.

INA REIKO CHUA-TAI



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Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3891

Introduced by Representative Katrina Reiko Chua-Tai

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A LEVEL Ill GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH A
CAPACITY OF TWO HUNDRED (200) BEDS IN THE FIRST
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT OF ZAMBOANGA CITY TO BE KNOWN AS
THE ZAMBOANGA CITY GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be established, under the direct supervision of the
Department of Health, a Level II] General Hospital with a capacity of two hundred
(200) beds in Zamboanga City, to be known as the Zamboanga City General
Hospital

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 3. The amount necessary for the establishment of the hospital shall be
charged to the appropriations for the Department of Health. Thereafter, such sum
as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the hospital shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,