Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 1629

Introduced by Representative Jose Ch. Alvarez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the “State
shall protect the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among them.”

Since its establishment in 1901, the Ospital ng Palawan has evolved from 20-bed
capacity hospital into a level one health care facility. It plays a vital role in providing quality
health care services that are accessible, affordable, and equitable to all patients
especially the underprivileged in the Province of Palawan.

Even before the pandemic, the need to expand and modemize the Ospital ng
Palawan was already evident. In 2016, 33,711 both admitted and outpatients were
catered by the hospital, with a remarkable increase in 2017 to 45,195 clients, and
constantly rising to 53,065 in 2018. Owing to this progressive upturn is the congestion in
the clinical areas and exhausted financial manpower services. Further, in June 2022,
Republic Act 11887 was enacted, increasing the bed capacity of ONP from 100 beds to
400 beds.

As it is common knowledge, the Province of Palawan has been hailed as the Best
Island in the World. Tourists would be attracted to visit the province because of this
declaration. For this reason, the Western Philippines Multi-Specialty Medical Complex will
be more accessible and available to visitors from other places.

In MIMAROPA Region, only Palawan has a membership in the international
aggrupation of trading partners in the ASEAN Region. The BIMP-EAGA bolsters
Palawan’s unique position in the Philippines and in MIMAROPA as a venue for
government institutional establishment and advancement of support mechanism for
regional development.

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The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the inadequacies ONP. The
need to modernize ONP which caters the medical needs not just of the Palawenos, but
also of the MIMAROPA Region becomes all the more imperative and exigent.

Thus, to fully implement the modernization program and the recent approval of the
increased bed capacity, and to enhance the readiness of ONP to cope with the challenges
of @ pandemic, this measure proposes to convert the Ospital ng Palawan to Western
Philippines Multi-Specialty Medical Complex. The WPMMC shall be comprised of an
Ambulatory Care Center and a Multi-Specialty Medical Center. Through such conversion,
the health services provided to ONP's patients will definitely improve in view of the added
facilities for critical health care, diagnosis, dialysis, operating units, and patient care.

The conversion will ensure affordability and accessibility of health care services in
the Province of Palawan, decongest nearby hospitals, and open opportunities to
Palawenio medical professionals.

It is noteworthy that this legislative measure was filed in the Seventeenth and
Eighteenth Congresses as House Bill No. 4580 and House Bill No. 1621, respectively.

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

JOSE CH. ALVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _1629

Introduced by Representative Jose Ch. Alvarez

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE OSPITAL NG PALAWAN LOCATED IN THE CITY OF PUERTO
PRINCESA, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN INTO A MULTI-SPECIALTY MEDICAL
COMPLEX TO BE KNOWN AS THE WESTERN PHILIPPINES MULTI-SPECIALTY
MEDICAL COMPLEX, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Ospital ng Palawan located in the City of Puerto Princesa,
Province of Palawan, is hereby converted into a medical complex to be known as the
Western Philippines Multi-Specialty Medical Complex (WPMMC), and placed under the
direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

SEC. 2. The WPMMC shall be comprised of an Ambulatory Care Center and a
Multi-Specialty Medical Center. It may establish branches in accordance with DOH
programs and rule and in such locations as the WPMMC may thereafter identify.

SEC. 3. Any future increase in bed capacity, healthcare facilities, service
capability, and human resource complement shall be based on the hospital development
plan which shall be prepared by the DOH

SEC. 4. The WPMNC shall be headed by a Medical Center Chief, while the
Ambulatory Care Center and the Multi-Specialty Medical Center shall each be supervised
by a Deputy Medical Center Chief.

The salary grade of the positions of Medical Center Chief and Deputy Medical
Center Chief shall be at levels 27 and 25, respectively


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The Medical Center Chief and the Deputy Medical Center Chiefs shall be licensed
physicians who have earned a master’s degree in Hospital Administration or an

equivalent post-graduate degree in management, in accordance with civil service rules
and regulations for positions of the same level.

SEC. 5. The DOH shall determine the staffing pattern of the WPMMC subject to
the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and Management, and appoint

the officials and employees of the WPMMC in accordance with existing civil service laws,
rules and regulations.

SEC 6. The WPMNC shall be exempted from the licensing requirement under
Republic Act No. 4226, entitled: “An Act Requiring the Licensure of All Hospitals in the

Philippines and Authorizing the Bureau of Medical Services to Serve as the Licensing
Agency.”

SEC. 7. The Secretary of Health shall immediately 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. 8. If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 9. Republic Act No. 11887, entitled, “An Act Increasing the Bed Capacity of
the Ospital ng Palawan in the City of Puerto Princesa, Province of Palawan, from One

Hundred (100) to Four Hundred (400) Beds, and Appropriating Funds Therefor,” is hereby
amended accordingly.

All other laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations, inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,