Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. 3953 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 by requiring local 
government units to allocate at least 15% of their IRA for health services including the 
provision of free medicines for their constituents. 
It is very sad to note that many Filipinos who are sick have little to no access to 
medicines and hospital services. Many are thus forced to just ignore their sickness or 
just deal with it. And while they may be attended to in health centers or hospitals, they, 
however, cannot but the medicines prescribed.  
Our Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to 
health of the people. To be able to do this, everyone should have free access to 
medicines. Poverty should not prevent the sick from getting access to medicines that 
can save their lives. 
The most appropriate and quick source of funding for free medicines to indigent 
patients is the Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) of local government units. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly 
requested 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
August 26, 2025
8:00 am


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 HOUSE BILL NO. 3953 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO EARMARK AT LEAST FIFTEEN 
PERCENT (15%) OF THEIR NATIONAL TAX ALLOTMENT SHARE FOR HEALTH 
SERVICES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 287 OF REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
CODE OF 1991 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 287 of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as 
the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 287. Local Development Projects AND HEALTH 
SERVICES. – Each local government unit shall appropriate in its 
annual budget no less than twenty percent (20%) AND FIFTEEN 
PERCENT (15%) of its annual [internal revenue] NATIONAL TAX 
allotment for development projects AND HEALTH SERVICES, 
RESPECTIVELY. Copies of the development plans AND HEALTH 
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROVISION OF FREE MEDICINES TO 
INDIGENT PATIENTS, of local government units shall be furnished 
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) AND 
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH). 


 
HEALTH PROGRAMS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS 
SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE LOCAL HEALTH BOARDS IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDARDS AND CRITERIA SET BY 
THE DOH PURSUANT TO PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11223, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT.” 
 
SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of 
Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Health 
(DOH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall jointly 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.   
 
SEC. 3.  All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
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,