Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

-- oF

HOUSE BILL Ni
Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill, which seeks to convert the Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in Tagum
City, Province of Davao del Norte, into a medical training center and increasing its
present bed capacity of 200 to 500, has been passed on Third Reading in the 15"
Congress. But due to time constraints its eventual enactment into law was not
materialized

For over 40 years since its establishment, DRH has served as the forefront
health service provider for the residents of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao
Oriental, Compostela Valley and the neighboring Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur,
Bukidnon and Saranggani provinces.

Established in 1969 as Davao del Norte National Hospital initially with a 50-bed
authorized capacity under Republic Act 5702, it has been reclassified from provincial to
a regional level hospital in 1980 by virtue of Administrative Order No. 82 thereby
increasing the bed capacity to 150 in 1987 and later on to 200 under Republic Act 7179
in 1992.

DRH has also served as a venue for training and development of medical
practitioners and personnel. Over the years it underwent several improvements in terms
of infrastructure expansions and procurement of hospital facilities. Its National Cancer
Center for Mindanao is already operational

DRH’ holds the distinction of having the only accredited kidney transplant
program in the whole of Mindanao. To bridge the gap between the hospital and the
people, it conducted the Surgical Network Extension Program (SNEP) that has served
at least 17,000 major and minor surgical cases in far-flung municipalities.

There has been a steady increase in the influx of patients, mostly indigents, who
want to avail of utmost medical care. To date, the daily in-patient traffic reaches 600 or
thrice its mandated occupancy. Necessary infrastructures are already in place but
upgrading its present set-up from 200 to 500 bed capacity is a viable solution to
institutionalize the operation, since tuming away patients from getting treatments is
never an option in DRH.

Likewise, its conversion into a medical training center will further improve the
delivery of basic health services to the growing populace in the region.

In view thereof, timely approval of this bill in the 16" Congress is earnestly
sought.

- G. DEL ROSARIO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO___ 6?

Introduced by REP. ANTHONY G. DEL ROSARIO

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE DAVAO REGIONAL HOSPITAL INTO DAVAO REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7179

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

SECTION 1. Republic Act No. 7179 is hereby amended by inserting a new Section 1, to
read as follows:

“SECTION 1. THE DAVAO REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN TAGUM CITY IS.
HEREBY CONVERTED INTO A MEDICAL TRAINING CENTER TO BE KNOWN
AS DAVAO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER WITH A CAPACITY OF FIVE
HUNDRED (500) BEDS”

SEC. 2. Section 1 of the same Act is hereby deleted.
SEC. 3. Section 2 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 2. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be CHARGED TO THE APPROPRIATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH. THEREAFTER, SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE HOSPITAL SHALL BE INCLUDED
in the ANNUAL [g] General Appropriations Act [of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter].”

SEC. 4. A new Section 3 is hereby inserted to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. THE INCREASE IN BED CAPACITY OF THE DAVAO
REGIONAL HOSPITAL FROM TWO HUNDRED (200) TO FIVE HUNDRED
(500) BEDS SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR A PERIOD OF NOT MORE THAN
FOUR (4) YEARS FROM THE APPROVAL OF THIS ACT.”

SEC. 5. Section 3 of the same Act is hereby amended and renumbered as Section 4 to
read as follows:

"SEC. [3] 4. This Act shall take effect [upon its approval] FIFTEEN (15)
DAYS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION IN AT LEAST TWO (2) NEWSPAPERS OF
GENERAL CIRCULATION".

Approved,