0.3 DEC 2012
Seb PM

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES opp
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _ 6783

Introduced by Honorable Alfredo D. Marafion III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish the Philippine Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Center
which will provide comprehensive, high quality, affordable and specialized medical
services for the prevention, control and treatment of ear, nose throat, head and neck
(ENTHN) disorders.

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides, in part, that “he
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 incidence of ENTHN diseases in the country has become more prevalent
and has affected the quality of life of most Filipinos. Respiratory tract infections
which include colds, sinusitis, nasopharyngitis, and laryngitis are among the leading
causes of morbidity in the Philippines. Study shows that a ratio of 1-2 per 1000 live
births were born with cleft lip or cleft palate and more than a million Filipinos were
estimated to have hearing impairment. ENTHN diseases not only affect the
productivity and performance of a person but also cause permanent physical
disabilities and deformities. Despite the high prevalence rate of ENTHN diseases
and their tremendous effect on health, these conditions have not been given enough
attention and priority.


The establishment and maintenance of the Philippine ENT Center will focus
on the ENT diseases to primarily benefit persons suffering from ENTHN diseases
and those who are unable to secure the necessary medical treatment because of the
high cost of specialized medical services. The Philippine ENT Center will ensure
the accessibility and availability of specialized medical services needed by ENT
patients in the country. Also, it will enhance and integrate the research
undertakings of the government on these diseases. Further, the Philippine ENT
Center will be the venue for the advanced training of medical and technical
personnel to render high quality and state of the art medical services for the
prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN disorders.

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

Al D. MARANON IIT


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _6733

Introduced by Honorable Alfredo D. Maraiion III

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT)
CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to promote and protect the right of the people to health by providing
specialized health and medical services that will secure their well-being. Towards
this end, the State shall establish an ear, nose and throat (ENT) center that will
provide comprehensive, high quality, affordable and specialized medical services
for the prevention, control and treatment of ear, nose, throat, head and neck
(ENTHN) diseases.

SEC. 2. Philippine Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Center. — The Philippine
Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Center, hereinafter referred to as the Philippine ENT
Center, is hereby established under the supervision of the Department of Health to
intensify and consolidate the efforts and programs of the government in the

prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN diseases and provide


comprehensive, high quality, affordable and specialized medical services to citizens
afflicted with ENTHN disease.

The Philippine ENT Center shall have the following objectives:

a) Construct, establish, equip, operate and maintain a medical institution
which shall specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ENTHN
diseases, and provide medical care, rehabilitation and relief of persons suffering
from it;

b) Undertake medical and scientific researches relative to the prevention,
diagnosis, treatment of ENTHN diseases and create public awareness on its
prevention and control through information dissemination;

c) Finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions,
conferences, seminars, work-shops and training programs on ENTHN diseases,
diagnosis and management;

d) Facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and
information on the prevention, control and treatment of ENTHN diseases;

e) Encourage and assist in the education and training of physicians, nurses,
health officers, social workers and other medical and technical personnel in the
practical and scientific conduct and implementation of ENTHN diseases prevention
and treatment programs;

f) Coordinate and consolidate various efforts and activities of the
government in delivering more effective medical services to treat and prevent
ENTHN diseases; and

g) Help in the promotion of Philippine medical tourism by offering top

quality and world class medical services in treating ENTHN disorders.


SEC. 3. Scope of Services. — Consistent with its objectives, the Philippine
ENT Center shall provide the following services:

a) Hospital-based services to ensure the availability of medical facilities
and equipment necessary to provide treatment of ENTHN diseases;

b) Community-based services to develop and implement community-
based programs in partnership with local government units, conduct research and
external resource outsourcing to implement community-based diagnosis and
treatment of ENTHN diseases;

c) Education programs to pursue excellence and the highest level of
practice in the specialized field of ENTHN diseases and other related fields,
conduct post-graduate training and short-term courses for medical doctors and
allied medical professionals; and

d) Program development and research to develop cutting edge research

and programs to combat diseases of the ear, nose, throat, head and neck.

SEC. 4. Board of Trustees. -— The Philippine ENT Center shall be
administered by a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be
composed of seven (7) members to be appointed by the President of the Philippines
upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health.

The members of the Board shall serve for a period of three (3) years. All
members shall serve without compensation other than actual and necessary
expenses, in accordance with the existing laws, policies and rules and regulations on
the matter, incurred either for attendance in meetings of the Board or upon official

business authorized by a resolution of the Board.


SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. — The Board shall have the following
powers and functions in addition to their general powers of administration:

a) Formulate and adopt the by-laws, rules and regulations, policies,
guidelines and procedures consistent with law and the provisions of this Act to
govern the administration and operations of the Philippine ENT Center;

b) Formulate and develop programs for the prevention, control and
treatment of ENTHN diseases and adopt measures which are necessary to carry out
the provisions of this Act;

c) Enter into such agreements and arrangements with other medical
institutions, domestic or foreign, as may be necessary in attaining the purposes and
objectives of the Philippine ENT Center;

d) Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real or personal property
of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the Philippine ENT Center,
in accordance with the directions and instructions of the donor, and in default
thereof, in such manner as in its discretion the Board may determine;

e) Acquire and hold property of whatever nature or description, and to
dispose such properties under any mode of encumbrance and conveyance;

f) Invite foreign ENTHN specialists and similar experts in the various
medical fields to train the personnel of the Philippine ENT Center or send personnel
to research or medical institutes or universities for advance training or observation
or to attend international or regional conventions, conferences, congresses and
seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes and
objectives of the Philippine ENT Center; and

g) Perform all such other acts and things as are or may be necessary for or

incidental to the accomplishment of the objectives of the Philippine ENT Center.


SEC. 6. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern. — The Board shall
determine the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Philippine ENT
Center subject to the evaluation by the Civil Service Commission and of the
Organization Position Classification and Compensation Bureau of the Department
of Budget and Management. The Board may reorganize said structure, modify the
staffing pattern and create or abolish divisions, sections or units in the Philippine
ENT Center.

SEC. 7. Appointment by the Board. — The Board shall have the authority to
appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the officers and
employees of the Philippine ENT Center upon the recommendation of the

Executive Director, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations

SEC.8. Executive Director. — The Philippine ENT Center shall be
administered by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of
the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees.

The Executive Director shall exercise the following powers and functions:

a) Execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Board,
and be responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational
functions;

b) Submit for the consideration and approval of the Board proposed
measures, policies and guidelines and programs as may be deemed necessary for the
effective implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Act;

c) Direct and supervise the management, operation, and administration of
the Philippine ENT Center, and may delegate this power and any or some of the
administrative responsibilities and duties to the other officers of the Philippine ENT

Center;


d) Recommend to the Board the appointment, promotion, transfer,
dismissal and suspension of the officers and employees of the Philippine ENT
Center;

e) Execute on behalf of the Board all contracts and agreements which the
latter may enter into, and to execute, accomplish and deliver any and all documents
relative to such contracts and agreements; and

f) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be
vested by the Board.

SEC. 9. Program for Indigents. — The Board shall ensure that the Philippine
ENT Center shall adopt and enforce a program for indigents. The number of beds
allocated for indigent patients shall not be less than forty percent (40%) of the total

number of hospital beds.

SEC. 10. Tax Exemptions and Privileges. — The provision of any general or
special law to the contrary notwithstanding, all donations, grants, contributions,
gifts or endowments received by the Philippine ENT Center pursuant hereto, shall
be exempt from income, gift and all other kinds of taxes, and shall be further
considered as allowable deductions from the gross income of the donor, in
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended.

The Philippine ENT Center is hereby declared exempt from all income and
all other internal revenue taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other kinds of
taxes, fees, charges and assessments levied by the government and its political
subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities.

The Philippine ENT Center may request and receive assistance from the

different agencies, bureaus, offices or instrumentalities of the government,


including the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Philippine Amusement

and Gaming Corporation in pursuit of its purposes and objectives

SEC. 11. Annual Report. - The Philippine ENT Center shall submit an
annual report to the President of the Philippines, the Senate Committee on Health
and Demography and the House Committee on Health, on its activities,
accomplishments and recommendations to better improve their delivery of

specialized medical services.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Health
shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Budget and Management, promulgate

such rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. — The amount of Three hundred million pesos
(P300,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance
of the Philippine ENT Center. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for the
continued operation of the Philippine ENT Center shall be included in the annual

General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,