Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES 
TO INDIGENT CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 15, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall protect and promote 
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
Sec. 11, Art. XIII of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State shall adopt an integrated 
and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable 
cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, 
women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” 
The rising costs of medicines affected the medical and dental services that are supposed 
to be given to Filipino children.  
This bill aims to mandate free medical and dental services to indigent children. 
I believe that the children of our future. We must make sure that they live a healthy life for 
them to contribute to the nation- building.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
November 21, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE GIVING OF FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SERVICES 
TO INDIGENT CHILDREN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the Indigent Children Free 
Medical and Dental Service Act". 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Children are the future of Philippine 
society. Upon this premise, it is hereby declared the policy of the state to provide all 
the possible assistance it could provide to children especially those who are 
unfortunate to have no means of support or no one to support them. 
Sec. 3. Indigent Children; Definition. - Indigent children are those below 
eighteen (18) years old of age who has no visible means of support or whose parents 
or guardians have no means of providing for their immediate medical and dental 
needs. 
Sec. 4. Free Medical Service. - All hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other 
health institutions that provide frontline medical services throughout the Philippines 
are hereby mandated under this Act to provide free medical treatment to indigent 
children. 
Sec 5. Free Dental Service. - All dental clinics, medical centers and other 
health institutions that provide frontline dental healthcare throughout the country are 
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mandated under this Act to provide free dental healthcare to indigent children. 
Sec. 6. DSWD and DOH Function. - The Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD) in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) shall be 
the lead agencies in the implementation of this Act. The DSWD shall determine if the 
child is indeed an indigent while the DOH shall coordinate with the implementation of 
the free medical and dental services to indigent children. 
Sec. 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. 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, or executive 
orders, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date 
of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved