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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

Heese El Now ore”

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pre-Hospital Emergency medicine is relatively a new field of medical practice in the country.
Despite this, theprovision of emergency medical service in the country is continuing to grow
and the linkages amongpractitioners/providers have become established. It has provided
relevant life support services topatients with injuries and illness, or those in critical condition.
Its growing practice and relevance in the country'shealthcare therefore calls for the need to
professionalize and regulate the practice.

This bill seeks to institutionalize a Prehospital Emergency Medical Care System (EMS) in
thecountry through the creation of National Prehospital Care Council (NPCC). The Council
shall be incharge with the formulation of policies governing the field of prehospital
emergency medicalservices and related institutions; the development of high standards of
operation for prehospitalemergency care support service providers; and the engagement in
research on prehospital care,technology, education and training; and the formulation of
curricula and evaluation of existingcourses, assessment and examination procedures. This bill
also seeks to create one nationalemergency number to enable the public to access emergency
medical services.

The increase in the number of highly qualified Emergency Medical Technicians and
Paramedics isalso sought in this measure through the creation of plantilla positions for
Emergency Medical Technicians in all government hospitals.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

MANUE) HAN III
Representati
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

f 3839
House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A PRE-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
SYSTEM, PROVIDING FORTHE ESTABLISHMENT, SUPERVISION AND
REGULATION OF THE PRE-HOSPITAL EMERGENCY, AND PROVIDING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Pre-Hospital
EmergencyCare Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protectand promote the right to health of the people. Pursuant to this national policy, the
governmentshall set up a climate conducive to the practice of pre-hospital emergency care
and maximize thecapability and potential of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and
other pre-hospital careprofessionals and institute a standard system of pre-hospital emergency
medical services in thecountry.

SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act has the following objectives:
a) To create a National Pre-Hospital Care Council;

b)

To develop and institutionalize a pre-hospital emergency medical service system atthe
national and local levels;

°)

To establish a national standard for the provision of pre-hospital emergency
medicalservices by duly certified/registered pre-hospital care professionals;

4) To supervise, control and regulate the practice of pre-hospital care professionals;

°)

To provide a program standardization for the training of pre-hospital
careprofessionals;

f) To prescribe certification, registration and recertification requirements of pre-
hospitalcare professionals;


g) To establish standards for design, manufacture, accreditation and regulation
ofemergency medical vehicles;

h) To adopt and implement a National Universal Emergency Telephone Number
(NUETN); and

i) To establish and provide support services to pre-hospital emergency medical services.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are

a) Pre-hospital emergency medical services:

1) Pre-hospital emergency care shall refer to independent delivery of pre-

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hospitalemergency medical services by appropriately trained and certified
EMTs, usually in a mobile orcommunity setting, in full accordance with the
National Pre-Hospital Emergency MedicalTreatment Protocols established by
the National Pre-Hospital Care Council (NPCC), hereinafterreferred to as the
Council, created under this Act.

Pre-hospital advance life support shall refer to advanced pre-hospital
standards forthe care of seriously ill or injured patient by appropriately trained
and certified EMTs, asestablished by the Council.

These pre-hospital standards may include advanced pre-hospital
trauma care, advancedpre-hospital cardiac life support and the care of high
dependency patients for inter-hospitaltransfer, among others.

b) National Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Treatment Protocols shall refer
toemergency medical procedures outlining approved clinical practices and therapies
to be observedby pre-hospital care professionals, as established by the Council.

©) Pre-hospital care professionals:

1) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) shall refer to a pre-hospital emergency

2

careprovider who has fulfilled the requirements of and continues to hold the
qualificationsestablished by the Council, in coordination with the Technical
Education and SkillsDevelopment Authority (TESDA), the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) and theProfessional Regulation Commission (PRC),
among others.

Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (REMT-P) shall refer
to a pre-hospital emergency care provider who is capable of performing
extensive pre-hospital careservices such as administering medications orally
and intravenously, interpretingelectrocardiograms (ECGs) tracings,
performing endotracheal intubations, and using monitorsand other complex
equipment. A REMT -P is required to maintain the qualifications and fulfillthe
requirements set by the Council.


3) Ambulance Dispatch Officer (ADO) shall refer to a person duly trained and
certifiedin the administration, management and operation of the ambulance
dispatch and communicationsystem and who has fulfilled the requirements
and who continues to hold the qualificationsestablished by the Council, in
coordination with the TESDA, the CHED and the PRC, among others.

4) Ambulance Assistant shall refer to a person who, having gained the
minimumcertification as a Medical First Responder (Advanced First Aider), is
charged with the operationand general care of emergency medical vehicles
(ambulance driver), in addition to providingbasic medical care for patients
under the direct supervision of an EMT or REMT-P.

5) Other pre-hospital care professionals providing other support services for
theprovision of pre-hospital emergency medical care.

4) Competency-based assessment shall refer to evidence gathering and judgment by
anauthorized assessor who evaluates the technical and practical skills, abilities and
knowledge of apre-hospital care professional in accordance with the standards and
guidelines established by theCouncil, in coordination with the TESDA, in the case of
one who holds a technical non-degreeCertified Emergency Medical Technician course
falling under the TESDA jurisdiction; or incoordination with the CHED and the PRC
in the case of one who holds a REMT -P degree courserequiring the issuance of a
professional license.

fc)

Accredited training institutions shall refer to training institutions offering
trainingprograms, courses and continuing education in emergency medical services
for pre-hospital careprofessionals that meet the standards established by the Council,
in coordination with the TESDA, the CHED and the Department of Health (DOH),
among others, and are dillyrecognized by the TESDA or the CHED, as applicable,
and duly registered in good standing withthe Council.

f) Ambulance/Emergency medical vehicle shall refer to an ambulance or other vehicle
foremergency medical care and transportation which provides, at a minimum: (1) a
driver'scompartment; (2) a patient compartment with sufficient space to safely and
comfortablyaccommodate an EMT and a patient who can be given intensive life-
support during transit; (3)equipment and supplies for emergency care at the scene as
well as during transport; (4) two-wayradio, telephone or electronic communication
with the ADO; and (5) when necessary, equipmentfor light rescue/extrication
procedures. The emergency medical vehicle shall be so designed andconstructed to
provide the patient with safety and comfort, and to prevent aggravation of thepatient's
injury or illness. The designated vehicle marking of "Ambulance" is hereby
restrictedfor use by emergency medical vehicles only.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Medical Director shall refer to a
licensed-physician with training in emergency medicine and with at least five (5)
year- experience inemergency medical care as approved by the Council or the local
medical authority charged withthe supervision of EMS and the implementation of
approved emergency medical treatmentprotocols set by the Council.

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CHAPTER I
NATIONAL PRE-HOSPITAL CARE COUNCIL

SEC. 5. Creation of the National Pre-hospital Care Council. - A body to be known

as the "National Pre-hospital Care Council (NPCC)" is hereby created under the DOH.

SEC. 6. Functions of the NPCC. - The Council shall perform the following functions:

a)

To formulate policies governing the field of pre-hospital emergency medical
servicesand related institutions;

b) To implement policies in coordination with affiliated medical and
educationalinstitutions;

°)

To develop national standards for the provision of pre-hospital emergency
medicalservices to include, among others, the skills, abilities and knowledge required
of a pre-hospitalcare professional, and the development of mandatory national
medical treatment protocols to beobserved by pre-hospital care professionals and such
other entities as it may considerappropriate;

d)

To promulgate a Code of Ethics for EMTs;

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To develop high standards of operation for pre-hospital emergency care
supportservice providers;

f) To establish and maintain: a roster of certified EMTs;

g) To develop standards and protocols for the design, construction, outfitting
andoperations of emergency medical vehicles; and

h)

To engage in research on pre-hospital care, technology, education and training,
theformulation of curricula and the evaluation of existing courses, assessment and the
examinationprocedures.

SEC. 7. Membership of the Council. - The members of the Council shall be

composed of the following:

a) Ex officio members:
1) The Secretary of the DOH as Chairperson of the Council;
2) The Secretary ofthe Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);
3) The Director General of the TESDA; and

4) The Chairperson of the CHED; and


2)

4)

6)

b) Members to be appointed by the Secretary of the DOH upon nomination by
theirrespective associations:

1) One (1) nominee of a national organization duly registered with the Securities
andExchange Commission and recognized by the DOH as being representative
of the profession ofEMT within the Republic of the Philippines:Provided. That
upon the organization of the national accredited professional organizationof
EMTs, mandated under Section 31 of this Act, its nominee shall hold this seat
in the Council;

Four (4) nominees of local health boards, one (1) each from the National
Capital Region Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;

3

One (1) registered emergency medical practitionerrepresenting a recognized
professional-based organization with interest on emergency medicine;

One (1) registered medical practitioner representing a recognized professional-
basedorganization on cardiology;

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One (1) registered nurse holding a qualification in emergency room
nursing,representing a recognized _professional-based organization
ofemergency care nurses;

One (1) representative from an educational or training institution providing
EMTprograms, which has been duly accredited by the TESDA or the CHED
and recognized by theCouncil in accordance with its rules and regulations;

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One (1) representative from a recognized national professional association of
medicalpractitioners;

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One (1) representative from a recognized national organization of private
hospitals;

9) One (1) representative from a DOH hospital; and

10) One (1) representative from the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

SEC. 8. Term of Office. - Each member of the Council shall not serve for more than
three (3) consecutive terms. A term shall be for a period of two (2) years.

SEC. 9. Powers and Functions. - To carry out its mandate, the Council shall exercise
the following powers and functions:

a) Encourage and facilitate the organization of a network of pre-hospital
careprofessionals to ensure the provision of EMS to the general public on a national
basis;

b) Maintain a roster of qualified pre-hospital care professionals and providers
andtraining institutions, and oversee their licensing and accreditation;


©)

Establish a Secretariat under an Executive Director for the administrative and day-to-
day operations of the Council;

4) Create committees and other mechanisms to help expedite the implementation ofplans
and strategies;

e) Set up a system of networking and coordination among all existing government
healthagencies, local government units (LGUs) and nongovernment medical
institutions/agencies forthe effective implementation of its programs and activities;

f) Generate resources from —local,_—_—national ~—and_ international
organizations/agencies,whether government or private sector, for its operation;

g) Receive and accept donations and other conveyances including funds, materials
andservices by gratuitous title: Provided, That not more than thirty percent (30%) of
said funds shallbe used for administrative expenses;

h) Prepare an annual budget of the Council and submit the same to the President
forinclusion in the annual General Appropriations Act;

Advise the President on matters pertaining to pre-hospital EMS;

Review membership of the Council in line with changes in the status of
concernednational organizations duly recognized as involved in emergency medical
care/pre-hospitalemergency medical care, as required by this Act;

i

k) Investigate complaints against violators of this Act, its rules and regulations
andpolicies of the Council;

1) Request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau or agency of the
government,including LGUs, to render such assistance as it may require in order to
carry out, enforce orimplement the provisions of this Act; and

m) Promulgate rules and regulations and policies of the Council, and enforce
theprovisions ofthis Act.

SEC. 10. The Secretariat. - The Council shall organize a Secretariat to be headed by

an Executive Director coming from anyone of the Undersecretaries or Assistant Secretaries
from the DOH acting in a concurrent capacity. The Secretaries of the DOH and the DILG and
the Chairpersons of the TESDA and the CHED shall designate their respective staff to serve
as members of the Secretariat.

In establishing the Secretariat, the Council shall consider the following areas:

a) Education and Standards Development;
b) National Examination/Assessment System for Pre-hospital CareProfessionals;
©) Research;

d) Supervision and Regulation;

e) Policy, Planning and Research;

f) Administration;


g) Finance; and

h) Programs of the following areas:
1) Human Resource Development;
2) Emergency Medical Vehicles; and
3) Emergency Communications.

SEC. 11. Meetings. - The Council shall meet at least once every quarter.

SEC. 12. Program Plans, - The Council shall, within six (6) months after having
been officially constituted and finally staffed, adopt and immediately cause to be
implemented, in coordination with medical and related agencies, a short-range program in
support of relevant existing projects and activities and, within one (1) year, a long-range five
(5)-year development program. This development program shall be developed and subjected
to annual review and revision by the Council, in coordination with relevant public and private
medical agencies and organizations.

SEC. 13. Accreditation. - The Council shall issue certifications and licenses for the
following:

a) Accreditation of training institutions for EMTs and related personnel; and

b) Accreditation of emergency medical vehicle providers.

CHAPTER III
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS

SEC. 14. Creation of Plantilla Positions for Emergency Medical Technicians
(EMTs).- There shall be created a minimum number of plantilla positions for EMTs in the
following government hospitals/health facilities within the next five (5) years upon approval
of this Act:

a) Level 3 and 4 Hospitals - Five (5) EMTs and at least one (1) Ambulance Assistant;

b) Level 1 and 2 Hospitals - Three (3) EMTs and at least one (1) Ambulance
Assistant;and

©) Other Health Facilities - as may be deemed necessary by the Council. The
annualfinancial requirements needed to pay for the salaries of EMTs shall be included
in the annualgeneral appropriations ofthe respective hospitals, health facilities and
LGUs.

SEC. 15. Scope of the Practice of Emergency Medical Care. - The emergency
medical care practice involves services performed in responding to the perceived needs of an
individual for immediate medical care in order to prevent loss of life or aggravation of
physiological or psychological illness or injury delivered in a pre-hospital, inter-hospital and
hospital emergency care setting. For this purpose, the Council shall develop the scope of
work of EMTs based on internationally-accepted standards, as adapted to the Philippine
setting.


SEC. 16. Authorized Training Institution. - Training programs, courses and
continuing education for an EMT shall be conducted by an institution that has been granted a
Certificate of Program Registration (COPR) by the TESDA, in case of technical non-degree
courses falling under the TESDA jurisdiction, or a Certificate of Accreditation as a Higher
Education Institution (HEI) as well as Program Accreditation by the CHED, in the case of
degree programs falling under the CHED jurisdiction. The requirements prescribed by the
Council shall serve as the minimum requirement for program registration. The DOH can
provide training programs for EMTs: Provided, that these shall be in accordance with the
standards set by the Council.

SEC. 17. Certification, Registration and Recertification. - Certification, registration
andrecertification of EMTs in the Philippines shall be governed by the TESDA for non-
degree courses and by the PRC for degree courses in accordance with PRC rules and
regulations and without prejudice to the enactment of a licensure law for EMTs. A
certification is valid for a period of three (3) years. The TESDA and the PRC shall recertify
EMTs upon submission of a competency-based assessment statement from a recognized EMS
Medical Director.

SEC. 18. Qualifications. - All applicants for registration as an EMT must be a citizen
of the Philippines, at least twenty-one (21) years of age, of good moral character and must
produce before the NPCC satisfactory evidence of good moral character and a certification
that no charges against one's person involving moral turpitude have been filed or are pending
in any court in the Philippines.

SEC. 19. Examination Required, - All applicants for registration as an EMT shall be
required to undergo a nationally-based assessment test or licensure examination, respectively,
to be given in such places and dates as may be designated by the TESDA, for those who hoid
non-degree courses, and by the PRC, for those who hold degree courses.

SEC. 20. Schedule of Examination. - National written examinations for EMTs in the
Philippines shall be given by the TESDA and the PRC at least twice every year.

SEC. 21. Release of the Results of Examination. - The results of the examination
shall be released by the TESDA within twenty (20) working days and by the PRC within two
(2) months from the date of the examination.

SEC. 22. Issuance of the Certificate of Registration and EMT Identification Card.—
A Certificate of Registration shall be issued to the examinees who passed the national
EMTexaminations given by the TESDA or the PRC. The Certificate of Registration shall
remain in full force and effect until revoked or suspended in accordance with this Act. An
EMT identification card, bearing the registration number, date of issuance and expiry date,
duly signed by the TESDA Director General or the PRC Chairperson, shall likewise be issued
to every registrant upon payment of the required fees.

The EMT examination card shall be renewed every three (3) years upon satisfactory
compliance with the requirements of the TESDA or the PRC as prescribed by the Council.

SEC. 23. Disqualification. - The TESDA, the PRC and the Council shall not accept
the application for competency requirement nor issue a national certificate to any person who
has been convicted by final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal

8


offense involving moral turpitude, or has been found guilty of immoral or dishonorable
conduct after investigation and due process, or has been declared to be of unsound mind by
competent authority, or for other grounds as may be determined by the Council in the
implementing rules and regulations. The reason for the refusal shall be set forth in writing.

SEC. 24, Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration, EMT
Identification Card or Cancellation of Temporary/Special Permit. - The Council, upon
recommendation of the TESDA or the PRC in accordance with the prescribed procedures and
due process, may revoke or suspend the national certificate or EMT identification card.

SEC. 25. Reinstatement, Reissuance or Replacement of Certificate of Registration
and EMT Identification Card. - The TESDA or the PRC, upon the recommendation of the
Council in accordance with the rules and regulations may, after two (2) years from the date of
revocation of the Certificate of Registration, reinstate any revoked Certificate of Registration
and reissue a suspended EMT identification card after compliance by the applicant with the
requirements for reinstatement.

SEC. 26. Continuing Education. - The Council shall develop a program for the
continuing education of EMTs as a condition for EMTs to maintain their license and
accreditation.

SEC. 27. Roster of Certified EMTs. - The Council, in coordination with the TESDA,
the CRED, the PRC and the accredited professional organizations representing the profession
of EMT within the country, shall prepare, update and maintain a roster of certified EMTs and
REMTS-P.

SEC. 28. Issuance of Temporary/Special Permit, - Upon application and payment of
the necessary fees, and subject to the requirements specified by the Council, the TESDA or
the PRC, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) may issue
temporary/special permits to EMS personnel from foreign countries whose services are
urgently needed in the absence or inadequate supply oflocal EMTs in the Philippines.

SEC. 29. Registration Without Examination for EMTS. - All practicing EMTs at the
time this Act is passed shall be deemed qualified for registration as an EMT if, in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the Council, they have performed work within the scope of
the practices of an EMT as defined in this Act, for such period of time as may be required by
the Council and have been certified by an EMS Medical Director to have performed full
EMT functions in a pre-hospital and inter-hospital care setting.

SEC. 30, Registration with Examination for EMTs. - All practicing EMTs who are
not graduates of an EMT program from a TESDA or CHED accredited public or private
educational/training institution at the time this Act is passed shall be deemed qualified for
registration through examination using the following procedures:

a) All applicants must provide a full record of initial training completed as an EMT.
Thisrecord must include details of the training establishment, a full syllabus of
training completed, arecord of ongoing training and proof of having worked as an
EMT in any local or internationalorganization for at least one (1) year and has been
certified by an EMS Medical Director to haveperformed full EMT functions in a pre-
hospital and inter-hospital care setting; and


b) Once approved by the Council as qualified for examination, the candidate will
bereferred to an approved TESDA, PRC or EMT assessment center-for qualifying’
‘examinations for'EMT registration.

SEC. 31. Accredited Professional Organizations. - All certified EMTs shall belong
to one (1) national organization which shall be recognized by the Council as the one and only
accredited EMT organization in the country. A certified EMT duly registered with the
TESDA or the PRC shall automatically become a member of the accredited professional
organizations of EMTS and shall enjoy the corresponding benefits and privileges.

SEC. 32. Code of Ethics of EMTs. - The Council, in coordination with the accredited
professional organizations, shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and the Code of
Technical Standards for EMTs to include, among others, duties of EMTs to pre-hospital
emergency care patients, to the community, to their colleagues in the profession and to allied
professionals.

CHAPTER IV
EMERGENCY MEDICAL VEHICLES

SEC. 33. Emergency Medical Vehicles. - The Council shall develop minimum
requirements for the design, construction, performance, equipment, testing and appearance of
emergency medical vehicles. As such, only emergency medical vehicles shall be allowed to
display the word "Ambulance" and the universally-accepted "Star of Life" symbol. It shall
also provide for the operation protocols of said vehicles. It shall also design an accreditation
system, to provide the public with ambulances and other emergency medical vehicles that are
easily identifiable, nationally recognizable, properly constructed, easily maintained and,
when appropriately equipped, will enable EMTs to safely and reliably perform their functions
as basic and advanced pre-hospital life support providers. While failure of an emergency
medical vehicle to conform to the Council standards may be a ground for the removal of its
certification, such failure shall not bar EMTs from:

a) Responding and providing appropriate basic or advanced life support on-site
topersons reported experiencing acute injury or illness in a pre-hospital setting, and
transportingthem, while continuing such life support care, to an appropriate medical
facility for definitivecare;

b) Providing inter-hospital critical transport care; or

©) Transporting essential personnel and equipment to and from the site of a
multiplemedical emergency or a triage site and transporting appropriately triaged
patients to designatedmedical facilities.

CHAPTER V
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

SEC. 34. Adoption of a National Universal Emergency Telephone Number. — There
shall only be one (1) national emergency number to enable the public to access emergency
medical services. Towards this end, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)

10


shall develop a program for the adoption of a national emergency number. It shall consult and
cooperate with national and local agencies and institutions; LOU s and officials responsible
for emergency service and public safety; the telecommunications industry (specifically
including the cellular and other wireless telecommunications service providers); the motor
vehicle manufacturing industry; emergency medical service providers; emergency dispatch
providers; transportation officials; public safety, fire service and law enforcement officials;
consumer groups; and hospital emergency and trauma care personnel (including emergency
physicians, trauma surgeons and nurses).

SEC. 35. Compliance. - It shall be the duty of every voice service provider to provide
its subscribers with access to the national universal emergency number in accordance with
the implementing rules and regulations to be adopted pursuant to this Act.

SEC. 36. Prohibited Acts and Penalties on Emergency Communications. -

a) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency telephone number withintent
to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person who answers the telephone call shall
beguilty of an offense and, subject to subsection (c) of this section, shall be given a
warning for thefirst offense, and shall be compelled to attend a seminar on the proper
use of the nationalemergency telephone number on the second offense. Upon
commission of the offense for thethird time, the offender shall, upon conviction, be
imposed with a fine of not less than Fivehundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than
One thousand pesos (PI,000.00). Upon commissionof the offense for the fourth and
succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, beimposed with a penalty of
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6)months or a fine
of not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand
pesos (P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

b) Any person who makes a telephone call to an emergency telephone number and,
uponthe call being answered, makes or solicits any comment, request, suggestion,
proposal or soundwhich is obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy or indecent, shall be given
a warning for the firstoffense, and shall be compelled to attend a seminar on the
proper use of the national emergencytelephone number on the second offense. Upon
commission of the offense for the third time, theoffender shall, upon conviction, be
imposed with a fine of not less than Five hundred pesos (P500.00) but not more than
‘One thousand pesos (PI,000.00). Upon commission of the offensefor the fourth and
succeeding times, the offender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with apenalty of
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month but not more than six (6) months or afine
of not less than Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand
pesos(P5,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

c) A person who gives a false report of a medical emergency or gives false informationin
connection with a medical emergency, or makes a false alarm of a medical
emergency,knowing the report or information or alarm to be false; or makes a false
request for ambulanceservice to an ambulance service provider, knowing the request
to be false, shall be given awarning for the first offense, and shall be compelled to
attend a seminar on the proper use of thenational emergency telephone number on the
second offense. Upon commission of the offensefor the third time, the offender shall,
upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less than Two thousand pesos
(P2,000.00) but not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) andpayment of

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damages. Upon commission of the offense for the fourth and succeeding times,
theoffender shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a penalty of imprisonment of not
less than one (1) year but not more than three (3) years or a fine of not less than Five
thousand pesos (P5,000.00) but not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) and
payment of damages, orboth, at the discretion of the court.

CHAPTER VI
OTHER PROVISIONS

SEC. 37. Service Requirement. - The Council shall develop policies regarding
mandatory service requirement for all pre-hospital emergency care providers as a condition
for maintaining their license and accreditation.

SEC. 38. Role of the LGUs. - The LGUs are hereby mandated to develop and
institutionalize a pre-hospital emergency care system within their area of jurisdiction. The
Council shall include in its programs, activities that will support and enable the LGUs to
accomplish such task.

SEC. 39. Other Prohibited Acts. - The following acts shall constitute an offense
punishable under this Act:

a) Practicing or offering to practice pre-hospital emergency care services in
thePhilippines or offering oneself as an EMT, or using the title, word, letter, figure or
any signtending to convey the impression that one is a registered .and licensed EMT,
or madvertising orindicating in any manner whatsoever that one is qualified to
practice pre-hospital emergencycare, unless one has satisfactorily demonstrated the
prescribed competency standards, in fullaccordance with the requirements of the
Council and is a holder of a National Certificate inEmergency Medical Services or a
temporary/special permit duly issued by the Council;

b)

Providing pre-emergency hospital care within the meaning of this Act without a
validCertificate of Registration and a professional identification card or a valid
temporary/specialpermit issued in accordance herewith;

c) Presenting or using a Certificate of Registration or a professional identification
cardbelonging to another person;

d)

Giving any false or forged evidence of any kind to the Council, the TESDA,
theCHED or the PRC in obtaining any of the foregoing documents;

©)

Falsely impersonating any registrant with like or different name;
f) Abetting or assisting by any registered and licensed emergency hospital technician
theillegal practice of a person who is not lawfully qualified to provide pre-emergency
hospital carewithin the meaning ofthis Act;

g) Attempting to use a revoked or suspended Certificate of Registration or any invalid
orexpired EMT identification card or a cancelled temporary/special permit;

h) Operating an EMS training institution without proper accreditation; and

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i) Using without appropriate authority an ambulance/emergency medical vehicle such
as,but not limited to, transporting illegal drugs and transporting passengers and
personnel which arenot valid emergency cases.

SEC. 40. Penalties. - The commission of any of the prohibited acts stated under
Section 39 shall be penalized with imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more
than five (5) years or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more
than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 41. Appropriations. - The Secretaries of the Departments concerned shall
include in their programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 42. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Except as otherwise provided, the
Council, in coordination with the NTC, the TESDA, the CHED, the PRC and the DOH, shall
issue and promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within
one hundred twenty (120) days upon constitution of the Council.

SEC. 43. Separability Clause. - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act
shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or
impact any other part of this Act.

SEC. 44. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of laws, orders, agreements, rules or
regulations contrary to and inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 45. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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