1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF DR. PAULINO J. GARCIA 
MEMORIAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL CENTER IN THE CITY OF 
CABANATUAN, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA FROM FOUR HUNDRED (400) 
TO ONE THOUSAND (1,000) BEDS, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS 
PERSONNEL, UPGRADING ITS HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND PROFESSIONAL 
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 
Section 11 of Article XIII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides 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 under-privileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall 
endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.” 
Established under the Commonwealth Act 3114, as amended, the Dr. Paulino J. 
Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) was first known as the 
Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital. It was opened to the public on 15 December 1930 
with a capacity of thirty (30) beds. In 1935, the maternity and contagious pavilions 
were established which increased the hospital’s capacity to 75 beds. 
On 19 June 1971, President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 
6325 which converted the Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital into a national hospital 
known as the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center with a 
capacity of four hundred (400) beds. RA 6325 also provided for an appropriation of 
PhP500 thousand yearly as additional appropriation for operation and maintenance 
and PhP 2 million for construction of new buildings. 
In addition to recognition and awards the hospital was given, on 04 March 2017, 
PJGMRMC passed another international recognition as it upgraded to ISO 9001:2015. 
According to the International Organization for Standardization, ISO 9001:2015 is an 
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international standard dedicated to Quality Management Systems (QMS) and reviewed 
every 5 years. 
As of today, PJGMRMC offers the following services laboratory, internal medicine, 
OB-Gyne, ophthalmology, orthopedics and traumatology, pathology, radiology, ENT & 
HNS, pediatrics, rehabilitation and physical medicine, psychiatry, OPD, emergency, 
anesthesia, family medicine, and surgery. On 08 March 2021, PJGMRMC started 
COVID-19 vaccination where more than 500 health workers received their first dose. 
As the leading hospital in Central Luzon, PJGMRMC is committed to guarantee 
equitable, affordable, accessible, and quality health services to all by continually 
improving its quality management system in compliance to all statutory and regulatory 
requirements to the satisfaction of its clients. As such, it is imperative for the national 
government to step in and help the management realize its development plans and 
continue its efficient service to the public. 
This bill therefore seeks to increase the bed capacity of Dr. Paulino J. Garcia 
Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City, in Nueva Ecija from 400 
beds to 1,000 beds to address its need to upgrade its facilities and further improve its 
services and enable the public access to world-class health care and medical services 
as mandated by the State. 
In view of the foregoing, the expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
IMEE R. MARCOS  
 
 
 


 
 
 
1 
 
 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
 
SENATE 
S.B. No.   _______ 
 
 
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS 
 
 
AN ACT INCREASING THE BED CAPACITY OF DR. PAULINO J. GARCIA 
MEMORIAL RESEARCH AND MEDICAL CENTER IN THE CITY OF 
CABANATUAN, PROVINCE OF NUEVA ECIJA FROM FOUR HUNDRED (400) 
TO ONE THOUSAND (1,000) BEDS, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS 
PERSONNEL, UPGRADING ITS HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND PROFESSIONAL 
HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. The bed capacity of the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research 
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and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) shall be increased from four hundred (400) to one 
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thousand (1,000) beds. Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with 
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the hospital development plan which shall be prepared by the Department of Health 
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(DOH). 
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SEC. 2. The existing professional health care services and facilities of the 
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PJGMRMC are also hereby upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the 
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increase in bed capacity as provided for in Section 1 hereof. 
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SEC. 3. The existing workforce of the PJGMRMC, which includes doctors, nurses, 
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and support personnel, shall also be increased correspondingly. The Secretary of the 
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DOH shall, after consultation with the Chief of the PJGMRMC, and in coordination with 
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the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management and the Commissioner 
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of the Civil Service Commission, determine the additional new positions to be created 
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and filled up. 
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SEC. 4. The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately include in the Department’s 
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program the Implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
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SEC. 5. If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision of this Act shall be 
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declared as unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are 
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not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 6. All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulations. 
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Approved,