Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1342

Introduced by Rep. LORETO B. ACHARON

AN ACT
UPGRADING THE DR. JORGE P. ROYECA CITY HOSPITAL IN THE LONE DISTRICT OF THE CITY
OF GENERAL SANTOS INTO A LEVEL Ill GENERAL HOSPITAL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE DR. JORGE
P. ROYECA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15 ARTICLE Il of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states and we quote, “The State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

Likewise, Section 11 ARTICLE XIll entitled Social Justice and Human Rights, “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 same principle relative to the Department of Health found in Section 1, Title IX, Chapter | of
Executive Order No. 292, is equally defined and we quote, “the State shall protect and promote the
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them; adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development, with priority for the underprivileged sick, elderly,
disabled, women, and children; endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services
available to all the people at affordable cost; establish and maintain an effective food and drug
regulatory system; and undertake appropriate health manpower development and research,
responsive to the country’s health needs and problems.”

Towards this end, this measure is hereby proposed to provide for a cohesive, whole-of-nation
approach and solutions to the continuing difficulties faced by the administration and personnel of the
Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in the City of General Santos.

It is the only government hospital of its size that caters to the medical and health needs of the people
of General Santos City (pop. of 697,395) and more often than not, by force of unfortunate
circumstances, the alternative choice of hospital for patients coming from Saranggani Province (pop.
of 558,926); and the Municipalities of Tampakan (pop. of 41,018), Tupi (pop. of 73,459) and Polomolok
(pop. of 172,605).


Per record and experience, the medical facility since the advent of the passage of the Local
Government Code of 1992, has failed to completely deliver on the promise of decentralization of
health services from the National Government to local authorities, for the simple reason that the
demand is overwhelmingly high while resources remain inadequate and short.

By upgrading the medical facility to Level Iii under the management, operational control, supervision,
administration, and all that such entails, of the Department of Health, the State will be able to respond
appropriately, provide quality and efficient health care services, support and effectively complement
the government's universal health care agenda under Republic Act No. 11223 otherwise known as the
“ACT INSTITUTING UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL FILIPINOS, PRESCRIBING REFORMS IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.”

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

LORETO B/ ACHARON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1342

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. LORETO B. ACHARON

AN
ACT UPGRADING THE DR. JORGE P. ROYECA HOSPITAL IN THE CITY OF GENERAL
SANTOS INTO A LEVEL Ill GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE DR. JORGE
P. ROYECA MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND
CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. The Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital in the City of General Santos is hereby
upgraded into a Level III general hospital to be known as the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Memorial Medical
Center under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

‘The bed capacity of the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Memorial Medical Center in the City of General
‘Santos shall be implemented in accordance with the hospital development plan that shall be prepared
by the DOH.

SEC. 2. The existing professional health care services and facilities are also hereby upgraded
to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity increase as provided in Section I hereof.

‘SEC. 3. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department’s program the implementation
of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 4. Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall
prepare the implementing rules and regulations upon consultation with the City Government of General
Santos and other stakeholders and shall be implemented consistent with the hospital development plan.

SEC. 5. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.