FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE }
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 3544

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XII, Section 11 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in no
uncertain terms lays down the national health policy of our country in this
manner: “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.”

Unfortunately, it would seem that the State has failed, and continues to
fail, in performing the above-quoted Constitutional imperative. In fact, health
financing is not the government's priorities. It is unimaginable how Filipinos,
who are everyday below the poverty threshold in grappling with the hardships
of economic realities, will be able to afford a decent healthcare service for
themselves and their families.

Thus, this proposed measure mandates that every Filipino be entitled to
mandatory universal health care coverage by their immediate inclusion
and membership in the Philippine Health Insurance system which will entitle
them to all the healthcare benefits provided under Republic Act No. 7875. The
mandatory universal coverage mandated by this bill shall be supported by
premium payments made by the National Government to the PhilHealth, which
shall be included annually in the General Appropriations Act, without prejudice
to other sources of contribution.

In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

This is a House of Representative counterpart bill to one filed in the
Senate by Senator Mar Roxas.

Vs

MA. THERESA BONOAN-DAVID.
4th District, City of Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )}
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No8544

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

AN ACT TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FILIPINO IS GRANTED
WITH BASIC HEALTHCARE SERVICES, PROVIDING FOR THE
PURPOSE A MANDATORY UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
COVERAGE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory
Universal Healthcare Coverage of Every Filipino Act.”

SECTION. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 15, Article II of
the 1987 Constitution the State hereby declares the policy of protecting
and promoting the right to health of the people and instilling health
consciousness among them. Towards this end, 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 every Filipino at affordable cost.

SECTION. 3. Mandatory Universal Healthcare Coverage of Every Filipino.
- Every Filipino shall be entitled to mandatory universal healthcare
coverage by their immediate and automatic inclusion to Philippine Health
Insurance coverage and membership as provided for under Republic Act
No. 7875 otherwise known as the “National Health Insurance Act of
1995;” Accordingly, all the benefits under Republic Act No. 7875 shall
also be made applicable and available to every Filipino citizen, Provided,
That such universal coverage shall be funded by the National
Government through premium payments to the Philippine Health


Insurance Corporation, which shall be included annually in the General
Appropriations Act, without prejudice to other sources of contribution.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of
Health, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PHIC), shall within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is
hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.