Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3915

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES LAARNI LAVIN ROQUE, YEDDA MARIE K.
ROMUALDEZ and JUDE AVORQUE ACIDRE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article I! of the Constitution provides that “The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among them.”
It is then the obligation of the State to enhance the delivery of health services to the
people.

This bill seeks to establish the Teodoro N. Pepito Farmers Research and
Medical Center in the City of Valencia, Province of Bukidnon which shall be placed
under the supervision and control of the Department of Health in partnership and
coordination with the Department of Agriculture and the Research Institute for Tropical
Medicine.

The province of Bukidnon is known as the “Food Basket of Mindanao” being a
major producer of rice, corn, and sugarcane. The economy of Bukidnon is primarily
based on agriculture, livestock, and poultry. A big number of its population are farmers
and they suffer from diseases common and unique to people in their line of work. This
proposed measure seeks the establishment of a specialty hospital in Valencia City,
Bukidnon that will cater to the medical conditions and needs of our farmers and other
agricultural workers, and more importantly - will be the center for research of the
diseases and conditions unique to them which will help the whole agricultural
population of the country in the long run. It will be the first of its kind in the country.

The 4" District of Bukidnon, which includes Valencia City, Pangantucan and
Kalilangan, has no existing government hospital. Based on the 2020 Census of
Population and Housing, the population in the City of Valencia alone totaled to
216,546. Valencia City is the most populated local government unit (LGU) of the
province of Bukidnon. Despite the dense population of Valencia City, it has no existing
government hospital, which will cater to the poor and marginalized constituents of the
city. In times of medical emergency which require even minor surgeries, the poor and
marginalized citizens of Valencia City need to travel 40.7 kilometers to the Bukidnon
Provincial Hospital located at the municipality of Maramag, which is part of 3° District
of Bukidnon. The general hospital component of the proposed farmers research
medical center will also address this dire need of the city and its neighboring
municipalities.


Due to the nature and location of their work, farmers are continuously exposed
to various physical hazards: weather, terrain, machinery, exposure to venomous and
virus-carrying reptiles and insects, toxic substances such as pesticides, fertilizers,
fuels, and organic dust, stress, among others. These lead to associated health
problems, including but not limited to dengue, malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis
cancer, respiratory diseases, kidney diseases, heart ailments, snake bites and bite
victims of other venomous animals. However, due to poverty and limited access to
social services, most ailments of our agricultural workers persist without proper
medical intervention. The big number of cases will serve as a good research endeavor
for the scientists and physicians to be affiliated with the facility where new treatment
modalities or improvement of the existing protocols may be discovered and improved.
A university - the Central Mindanao University is also located nearby, and the center
can forge a partnership and affiliation for its research endeavors. A study of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that in the years 2014 to 2018, the
agricultural sector accounts for 24.3 percent of the labor force in the Philippines,
totaling about 10 million Filipinos. They have, lamentably, the highest incidence of
poverty among the basic sectors in the country in the 2015 and 2018 survey of PSA.
They live in rural communities that are remote and prone to natural disasters, with
some areas lacking in emergency health care services.

Reports of individuals being attacked by snakes have become frequent in
Bukidnon as well as other agricultural areas in Mindanao. According to the Department
of Health, snake bite is an important medical emergency and cause of hospital
admission. It may result in the death or chronic disability of many active younger
people, especially those involved in farming and plantation work, if not given
immediate treatment. No facility in the region can produce anti-venom. An anti-venom
center will be part of the research initiative of the center.

This bill proposes the establishment of a research specialty hospital that will
cater specifically to the medical conditions of our farmers and other agricultural
workers and conduct research to establish prevention strategies, treatment,
rehabilitation and innovations in addressing farmer's and other tropical diseases. This
is in line with the desire of no other than our President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in
establishing specialty and research medical centers outside of the nation's capital.

The establishment of Teodoro N. Pepito Farmers Research and Medical Center
in Valencia City will not only cater to the poor and marginalized farmers of the 4"
District of Bukidnon. It will also serve the poor and marginalized farmers of neighboring
municipalities and nearby provinces, as well as the general population in the area.

Given the above premises, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

LAARNI|LAVIN ROQUE
Representative} 4" District

YED#A MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ JORQUE ACIDRE
ntative - TINGOG Party List Represepfftive - TINGOG Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BLL No, _3915

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES LAARNI LAVIN ROQUE, YEDDA MARIE K.
ROMUALDEZ and JUDE AVORQUE ACIDRE

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A SPECIALTY RESEARCH HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF
VALENCIA, PROVINCE OF BUKIDNON TO BE KNOWN AS THE TEODORO N.
PEPITO FARMERS RESEARCH AND MEDICAL CENTER (TNPFRMC), AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shail be established a specialty research hospital in the City
of Valencia, Province of Bukidnon, to be known as the Teodoro N. Pepito Farmers
Research and Medical Center (TNPFRMC).

SEC. 2. The hospital shall be under the direct control and supervision of the
Department of Health (DOH) and shall be designated as a specialty and research
facility and one of the apex hospitals in Northern Mindanao, Any future increase in bed
capacity and upgrading of health care services and facilities shall be based on the
hospital development plan which shall be prepared by the DOH.

SEC. 3. Medical Assistance. - The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
(DA) shalll ensure that existing health benefits and medical assistance programs are
strengthened to include, among others, subsidies on hospitalization and medical
procedures for farmers and qualified dependents.

SEC. 4. Research Department for Tropical Medicine. - There shall be
established a department for research on tropical medicine, which shall be under the
direct supervision of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

The department shall have the following functions:

a) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control, and
prevention of tropical diseases that are major causes of mortality and
morbidity in the Philippines;

b) — Conduct clinical trials aimed at better understanding and control
of tropical disease;


©) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical
personnel in the control of common tropical diseases in the country;

4) Provide high quality tertiary care and treatment to both inpatients
and out-patients suffering from tropical diseases included within the
scope of RITM's research activities;

e) Apply for, receive, and accept bequests, grants, and donation of
funds, equipment, materials and services needed for the attainment of
its objectives; and

f) Perform such other related activities as may be assigned by the
Secretary of Health.

SEC. 5. Review and Assessment. — The DOH and DA shall conduct a
mandatory review and assessment every five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act
to ensure its proper implementation and assess the performance of the Hospital.

A report shall be submitted to the Committee on Health and Committee on
Agriculture and Food on both houses of Congress within thirty (30) days from the
termination of the period of review and assessment.

SEC. 6. Appropriations - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the
Department's program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, the DOH, in coordination with the DA and other relevant
stakeholders, shall formulate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR)
to fully implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause - if any provision or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force
and effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,