NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SEP 27 P 6 ‘32
SENATE
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM (EMSS), 
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The World Health Organization (2022) reported that approximately 1.3 million 
people die yearly from road traffic crashes. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of 
death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years. WHO also noted that 93% of the 
world's fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries, it costs most countries 3% 
of their GDP, and more than half of all road traffic deaths involve vulnerable road users, 
among them pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
In 2017, the WHO reported that about 7,000 Filipinos die each year, and thousands 
more are injured or disabled, due to road traffic crashes, with rides on motorcycles and 
two-wheeler bicycles making up a large proportion of these statistics. Accidents of all 
types, including road traffic crashes, rank fourth among the causes of death of all ages 
and account for a significant proportion of Disability Adjusted Life Years among Filipinos.
It is thus imperative for the government to pursue mechanisms that seek to reduce 
preventable mortality and morbidity from these incidents. Apart from promoting and 
instituting road safety policies and programs, it is also important to strengthen the health 
system response to these emergency situations. There is an urgent need for a more 
responsive and organized emergency medical services system that can ensure that 
patients needing urgent medical assistance are adequately attended to and are provided 
with a better chance of survival from disability or death. Emergency medical services is 
an essential component in the delivery of a comprehensive health services for all Filipinos 
and is part of our effort to achieve universal health care.
One of the most pressing issues in the field of emergency or pre-hospital care in 
the country is the lack of a national standard of practice to guide implementers, as well 
as the absence of minimum requirements for entry into the service. This proposed 
measure seeks to establish a standard system of emergency medical services (EMS), 
address the need to professionalize and regulate the sector, and enhance the provision 
of emergency medical services in the country.


In addition, the bill proposes the creation of a National Emergency Medical Services 
System Council to formulate and implement policies and develop national standards for 
the consistent provision of emergency medical services. It also provides for the creation 
of plantilla positions for EMS personnel in government hospitals and health facilities, thus 
ensuring a pool of EMS providers that are professionalized and better equipped to serve 
their patients. The bill also ensures that the provision of emergency medical services, 
including all vehicles, equipment and support services, adheres to the standards and 
guidelines set out by the EMSS Council led by the Department of the Interior and Local 
Government and Department of Health.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RISA HONTIVEROS 0
RISA HONTIVEROS 
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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SENATE
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*22 SEP 27 P6 32
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM (EMSS), 
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL EMSS COUNCIL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
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CHAPTER I
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Emergency Medical
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Services System (EMSS) Act".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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protect and promote the right to health of the people. Pursuant to this policy, the
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government shail institutionalize a comprehensive, accessible, integrated and
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standardized system of emergency medical services and provide an environment that will
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maximize the capability and potential of emergency medical services personnei.
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Sec. 3. Objectives. - This Act has the foliowing objectives:
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(a) To create a national Emergency Medical Services System Council;
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(b)To develop and institutionalize an emergency medical services system at the
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national and local government;
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(c) To encourage and promote the active participation of the private sector in the
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provision of emergency medical 
services;
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(d)To establish a national standard for an emergency medical services such as,
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training of ems institutions and personnel and establishing standards for
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design, accreditation and regulation of emergency medical vehicles;
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(e)To institutionalize the use of 911 as the Nationwide Emergency Hotline Number;
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(f) To establish and provide support services to emergency medical services;
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(9) To promote public safety and accessible emergency medical services to the
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people especially those in need of emergency medical services and give priority
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for the under-served and unserved communities; and
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(h)To adopt an emergency medical service protocol in times of natural and man-
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made disasters.
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Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used this Act:
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(a) Accredited training and assessment institutions refer to organizations, in good
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standing with the EMSSC, accredited to offer training programs, courses, [and] 
continuing education and competency-based assessment in emergency medical 
services for EMS personnel that meet the standards established by the 
Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) for uniformed personnel and the 
Emergency Medical Service System Council (EMSSC), hereinafter referred to as 
the Council created under this Act.
{b) Ambulance / Medical transport vehicle refers to a vehicle designed and 
equipped for transporting sick or injured patients to, from, and between places 
of treatment by land, water or air, affording safety and comfort to the patients 
and avoiding of illness or injury.
(c) Basic Life Support (BLS) refers to a group of actions and interventions used to 
resuscitate and stabilize victims of cardiac and respiratory arrest. These BI_S 
actions and interventions includes the recognition of a cardiac or a respiratory 
emergency or stroke, activation of the emergency response system, CPR and 
relief of foreign-body airway obstruction.
(d) Competency-based assessment refers to the confirmation of an EMS 
personnel's capability and capacity to perform one's duties and responsibilities, 
through the process of collective evidence and judgment, in accordance with 
the standards and guidelines established by the council.
(e) Emergency Medical Dispatch refers to the immediate identification and 
prioritization of emergency situations, the timely dispatch of appropriate 
resources, providing essential pre-arrival medical instructions and full 
endorsement to the receiving hospital. Dispatch encompasses all aspects of 
communication including request processing, coordination and support, 
documentation and monitoring.
(f) Emergency medical services (EMS) refer to:
1) Emergency care refers to the independent delivery of pre-hospital 
emergency medical services by appropriately trained and certified EMS 
personnel, usually in a mobile or community setting, in full accordance 
with the Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols established 
by the Emergency Medical Services System Council (EMSSC), hereinafter 
referred to as the Council, created under this Act.
2) Advance life support refers to a set of life saving protocols and skills that 
extend beyond BLS to further support the circulation and provide an 
advanced airway and adequate ventilation.
i. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) refers to a group of 
interventions used to treat and stabilize adult victims of life- 
threatening cardiorespiratory emergencies and to resuscitate 
victims of cardiac arrest. These interventions include Cardio 
Pulmonary Resuscitation, basic and advanced airway 
management such as tracheal intubation, emergency 
medications, electrical therapy, automated external defibrillation 
and intravenous (IV) access.
ii. Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) refers to a group protocol 
for managing trauma victims and designed to maximize 
management in the first hour after trauma and ensure an optimal 
long-term outcome. These interventions include BLS, ACLS,


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immobilization, venous cannula insertion and Pediatric Advanced
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Life Support (PALS) for children.
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(g) Emergency Medical Services Personnel refers to a trained and certified
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personnel engaged in the provision of emergency medical services during
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emergencies. Responders may either be health professionals or non-health
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professionals.
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(h) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System refers to the arrangement and
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coordination of personnel, facilities, and equipment for the effective delivery of
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ems required in the management of medical emergencies; for the management
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and prevention of further incidents or accidents and the broad range of
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emergency care from emergency care to transport in an intensive care setting
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(i) Emergency Response and Care refers to the arrival of resources at the scene
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and the timely initiation and provision of appropriate medical interventions.
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(j) Emergency Transport refers to the transporting of a patient to the most
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appropriate and definitive health facility with continued provision of care and
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appropriate interventions en route to the appropriate health facility.
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(k) Inter-Agency Referral and Transport refers to the transport of patient with EMS
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personnel, if necessary, from one referring facility or agency to another
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receiving facility or agency for definitive care, as the patient requires, in an
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event that the services are not available in the referring facility.
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(I) Medical Direction refers to the communication between an EMS personnel and
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a physician from the field via radio or other means to obtain instruction on
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further care of a patient.
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(m) Medical Emergency refers to any acute or life-threatening condition that
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requires immediate intervention by competent medical personnel.
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(n) Medical Oversight veters to the broad understanding of the emergency medical
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system as a whole and ensuring proper policies and procedures exist to ensure
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safe transitions of care and utilization of appropriate resources in the field, it is
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typically performed by a medical director at the local, regional, and national
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levels, in collaboration with regulatory, regional and local medical directors and
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advisory committees.
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(o) National Emergency Medical Services Treatment Protocols refer to emergency
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medical procedures outlining approved clinical practices and therapies to be
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observed by EMS personnel, as established by the Council created under
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Section 5 hereof.
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(p) Patient Transport refers to the transport of patients with non-life threating
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conditions to and from medical facilities. In emergency situations, patients are
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transported by the Emergency Medical Services.
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CHAPTER II
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EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS COUNCIL
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Sec. 5. Creation of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Council. - A body to
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be known as the "Emergency Medical Services Systems Council (EMSSC)" is hereby
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created under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
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Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the EMSSC. - The Council shall perform the
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following functions:


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(a) To formulate policies governing the field of emergency medical services and
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related institutions;
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(b)To develop national standards for the provision of emergency medical services
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to include, among others, the skills and competencies required for 
EMS
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personnel and the development of mandatory national emergency medical
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services treatment protocols to be observed by EMS personnel and such other
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entities as it may consider appropriate;
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(c) To promulgate a Code of Ethics for EMS personnel;
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(d)To develop high standards of operation for EMS personnel;
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(e)To develop standards and protocols for the design, construction, outfitting and
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operations of emergency medical vehicles;
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(f) To integrate the training and study of Standard Basic Life Support and first aid
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in different kinds of situations and emergencies in the curriculum of all public
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and private tertiary educational institutions;
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(g) To ensure the establishment of a system of networking and coordination among
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all existing government health agencies, LGUs, and private and non-
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government medical institutions for the effective implementation of this Act;
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(h)To monitor compliance by all LGUs and government and private health facilities,
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of the standards and requirements set out in this Act;
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(i) To establish a Secretariat under an Executive Director for the administrative
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and day-to-day operations of the Council;
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(j) To create committees and other mechanisms to help expedite the
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implementation of plans and strategies;
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(k)To generate resources from local, national 
and international
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organizations/agencies, whether government or private sector, for its
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operation;
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(I) To receive and accept donations and other conveyances including funds,
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materials and services by gratuitous title: Provided, That not more than thirty
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percent (30%) of said funds shall be used for administrative expenses;
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(m) To prepare an annual budget of the Council and submit the same to the
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President for inclusion in the annual General Appropriations Act;
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(n)To advise the President on matters pertaining to EMS;
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(o)To investigate complaints against violators of this Act, its rules and regulations
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and policies of the Council;
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(p)To request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau or agency of the
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government, including LGUs, to render such assistance as it may require in
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order to carry out, enforce or implement the provisions of this Act;
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(q)To regulate activities inimical to the delivery of emergency medical services;
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and;
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(r) To promulgate rules and regulations and policies of the Council and enforce the
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provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 7. Membership of the Council. - The members of the Council shall be
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composed of the following:
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(l)The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) as Co-Chairperson;
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(2) The Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as
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Co-Chairperson;
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(3) The Director General of the TESDA;


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(4) The Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD);
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(5) The Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC); and
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(6) The President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
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(7) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education
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(8) One representative from medical or health professional organizations
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(9) One representative from non-government organizations advocating for
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patient's rights and welfare
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The members of the Council from the government may designate their permanent
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authorized representatives, with a rank not lower than a Director level.
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Other relevant stakeholders from the different government offices, private entities and
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civil society organizations (CSOs) who are involved in the practice and implementation of
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emergency medical services can be invited as resource persons or representatives in the
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Council's meetings.
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Sec. 8. Compensation and Remuneration. - The Secretaries of the DILG and DOH
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or their representatives and members of the Council from the government shall perform
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their duties as such without compensation or remuneration, subject to reasonable per
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diem allowances as approved by the Council and subject to existing rules and regulations
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of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Members thereof who are not
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government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary traveling expenses, per
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diem and representation allowances chargeable against funds of the DILG, as approved
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by the Council, subject to existing rules and regulations of the DBM.
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Sec. 9. The Secretariat - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), an attached agency
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of the DILG, shall act as the Secretariat of the Council. The BFP shall be strengthened by
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augmenting its additional manpower and budget for its operations as the primary
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responder in emergency medical care services.
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Sec. 10. Meetings. - The Council shall meet at least once every quarter.
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Sec. 11. Program Plans. - The Council shall within six (6) months after having been
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officially constituted and finally staffed, adopt and immediately cause to be implemented,
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in coordination with medical and related agencies, a short-range program in support of
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relevant existing projects and activities and, within one (1) year, a long-range five (5)-
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year development program. This development program shall be developed and subjected
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to annual review and revision by the Council, in coordination with relevant public and
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private medical agencies and organizations.
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CHAPTER III
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EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL
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Sec. 12. Creation of PiantiHa Positions for Emergency Medical Services Personneh
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There shall be created a minimum number of plantilla positions for EMS personnel in the
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following government hospitals/health facilities within the next five (5) years upon
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approval of this Act:
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(a) Level 2 and 3 Hospitals - ten (10) EMS personnel and at least one (1)
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Ambulance Assistant;
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(b) Level 1 Hospitals - six (6) EMS personnel and at least one (1) Ambulance
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Assistant;
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(c) Local Government Units - six (6) EMS personnel; and
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(d) Other Health Facilities - as may be deemed necessary by the Council.


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Upon the approval of the necessary plantilla positions for EMS personnel, the Council shall 
submit a proposed standard of qualification for positions to the Civil Service Commission 
(CSC) for its approvai, pursuant to E.O. No. 292, entitled "The Revised Administrative 
Code of 1987 on the Civil Service Commission". The annual financial requirements needed 
to pay for the salaries of EMS personnel shall be included in the annual general 
appropriations of the respective hospitals, health facilities and LGUs.
Sec. 13. Authorized Training Institution. - Training programs, courses and 
continuing education for an EMS personnel shall be conducted by an institution that has 
been recognized by the DOH and granted a Certificate of Program Registration (COPR) 
by the TESDA.
Sec. 14. Code of Ethics of EMS Personnei. - The Council, in coordination with the 
appropriate agencies, shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and the Code of 
Technical Standards for EMS personnel to include, among others, duties of EMS personnel 
to emergency medical patients, to the community, and to their colleagues.
CHAPTER IV
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM
Sec. 15. Emergency Medicai Vehicies. - The Council shall adapt and follow the DOH 
Administrative Order No. 2018-0001 or the Department's A.O. governing licensure of 
ambulance and ambulance service provider, to provide the public with ambulances and 
other emergency medical vehicles that are easily identifiable, nationally recognizable, 
properly constructed, easily maintained and, when appropriately equipped, will enable 
EMS personnel to safely and reliably perform their functions as basic and advanced life 
support providers.
Sec. 16. Emergency dispatch. - All local government units are mandated to 
establish their dispatch centers where constituents can call for all cases of emergencies, 
with adequate and qualified personnel. The dispatch centers shall follow the prescribed 
guidelines on dispatch protocol as determined by the DILG and the Council.
Sec. 17. Emergency Response, Care, and Transport. - All LGUs shall ensure the 
availability of adequate emergency transport vehicles or ambulances with qualified EMS 
personnel. All emergency transport vehicles and the procedures to be undertaken in 
responding and caring for patients shall follow the prescribed guidelines of the 
Department of Health (DOH) and the Council on ambulance services and on emergency 
response and care.
Sec. 18. Inter-agency Referrai and Transport. - The Council shall establish the 
prescribed protocols / guidelines on inter-agency referral and transport.
CHAPTER V
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Sec. 19. Adoption of a Nationwide Emergency Hotiine Number. - There shall adapt 
the National Emergency 911 Hotline to enable the public to access emergency medical 
services.
Sec. 20. Prohibited Acts and Penaities on Emergency Communications. -
(a) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency hotline number with 
intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person who answers the


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telephone call shall be guilty with the first offense and, subject to subsection
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(c) of this section, shall be compelled to attend a seminar on the proper use of
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the nationwide emergency hotline number. Upon commission of the offense for
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the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of
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not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than One thousand
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pesos (P1,000.00). Upon commission of the offense for the third and
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succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a
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penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six
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(6) months or a fine of not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not
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more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the
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court.
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(b) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency hotline number and,
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upon the call being answered, makes or solicits any comment, request,
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suggestion, proposal or sound which is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or
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indecent, shall be mandated to attend a seminar on the proper use of the
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nationwide emergency hotline number for the first offense. Upon commission
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of the offense for the second time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be
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imposed with a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not
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more than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). Upon commission of the offense
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for the third and succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be
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imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but
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not more than six (6) months or a fine of not less than Two thousand pesos
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(P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00), or both, at
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the discretion of the court.
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(c) A person who gives a false report of a medical emergency or gives false
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information in connection with a medical emergency, or makes a false alarm of
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a medical emergency, knowing the report or information or alarm to be false;
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or makes a false request for ambulance service to an ambulance service
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provider, knowing the request to be false, shall be mandated to attend a
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seminar on the proper use of the nationwide emergency hotline number for the
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first offense. Upon commission of the offense for the second time, the offender
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shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less than Two thousand
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pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) and
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payment of damages. Upon commission of the offense for the third and
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succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a
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penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than three
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(3) years or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not
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more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) and payment of damages, or
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both, at the discretion of the court.
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CHAPTER VI
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OTHER PROVISIONS
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Sec. 21. Role of the LGUs. - The LGUs are hereby mandated to develop and
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institutionalize an emergency medical service system within their area of jurisdiction. The
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Council shall include in its programs, activities that will support and enable the LGUs to
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accomplish such task.


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Sec. 22. Enforcement of the Emergency Medical Services System. - The DILG,
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including all relevant agencies, instrumentalities, offices or bureaus of the government
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that are involved in the enforcement of emergency medical services, are hereby
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mandated to render its utmost support for the implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 23. Appropriations. - The heads of agencies concerned shall include in their
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programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the
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annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 24. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Except as otherwise provided, the
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Council, in coordination with the NTC, the TESDA, and the DOH, shall issue and
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promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within one
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hundred twenty (120) days upon constitution of the Council.
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Sec. 25. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this
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Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate
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or impact any other part of this Act.
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Sec. 26. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules or
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regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
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modified accordingly.
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Sec. 27. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,