Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The current pandemic has opened our eyes to the sad state of our public 
health system. The ever-present danger brought by viral infections and other 
contagious diseases coupled with the lack of knowledge about these illnesses and 
our lack of health and research facilities aggravated the situation.  
The deficiency in our available health personnel caused the country to 
resort to prolonged quarantines and lockdowns which adversely affected our 
economy and further depleted our scarce government resources. This was 
highlighted by the calls of our health workers to enforce a new round of lockdowns 
as they could no longer accommodate the sheer number of patients who were 
being rushed to hospitals during the surge of infections. 
As frontliners in times of health emergencies, the plight of our healthcare 
workers should not be overlooked since such issue would inevitably affect our 
efficiency in fighting these types of health crisis. While they are bound to take care 
of the sick, they, too, might be exposed to similar threats if they experience 
exhaustion and fatigue due to an undermanned public health system. 
The proposed Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Bill seeks to address this 
problem by organizing a group of equipped medical and health-related personnel 
for rapid mobilization in times of national or local public health emergencies which 
may require manpower support to reinforce and strengthen the capabilities of the 
national agencies and local governments. 
As a brief history, MRC Bill was already approved on Third and Final 
Reading during the Eighteenth Congress with Rep. Angelina “Helen” Tan as 
Chairman of the House Committee on Health which transmitted the bill to the 
Senate for appropriate action. 
In the view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this measure is 
earnestly sought. 
. 
EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
Representative, 4th District of Manila 
August 10, 2022
6:34 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by HON. EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Medical Reserve Corps 
1 
Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article Il, Section 15, of the Constitution 
4 
enjoins the State to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
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health consciousness among them. Article XIII, Section 11 also provides for the 
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adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. 
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The State further reiterates its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals 
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(SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which calls on the State to ensure healthy lives and 
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promote well-being for all at all ages. 
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The State recognizes the need for a reserve force of highly skilled and 
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medically trained professionals and volunteers who can be mobilized to maintain 
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the capacity to meet surges in the demand for the country's healthcare system and 
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provide assistance as may be needed in times of health crises. 
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Pursuant to this, it is the policy of the State to maintain a strong, proactive 
17 
and responsive healthcare system at all times, the workforce complement of which 
18 
can be expanded rapidly by a well-trained and well-equipped Medical Reserve 
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Corps (MRC) in times of public health emergency and health threats. Towards this 
20 
end, the State shall enhance the capacity of the nation to produce and call on the 
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needed manpower and expand its human health resources in times of disasters 
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and public health emergencies of both national and local scale through the 
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mobilization of the MRC 
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SECTION 3. Medical Reserve Corps Service. – There is hereby established an 
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MRC whose primary mission is to support the country's health system in times of 
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public health emergencies or health threats, and which shall be composed of the 
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following: 
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a. Licensed physicians including those who are retired and those who are
31 
no longer practicing in the hospital setting. The Department of Health
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(DOH) may coordinate and collaborate with the accredited integrated
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professional organization or accredited professional organization of 
1 
physicians for the engagement of private practitioners; 
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b. Medical students who have completed four (4) years of medical course, 
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graduates of medicine, and registered nurses who may be issued by the 
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Secretary of Health with a limited and special authorization to render 
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medical service pursuant to Republic Act No. 2382, otherwise known as 
7 
the Medical Act of 1959; and 
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c. Licensed Allied Health Professionals. 
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The MRC shall be organized, trained, developed and maintained so as to 
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ensure their readiness to immediately respond to the call to service. 
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SECTION 4. Organization. – The MRC shall be under the control and supervision 
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of the Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) of the DOH. 
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The DOH shall develop an effective and efficient MRC organization and 
18 
structure that is responsive to national and local disasters and other public health 
19 
emergencies, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Health may 
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prescribe. 
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SECTION 5. Registration and Training. – The DOH shall draft guidelines for the 
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recruitment, selection, compensation, and provision of incentives for joining and 
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continued membership, and length of service of the MRC members. 
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The DOH shall also prescribe a continuing training program for the MRC 
27 
recruits and members, through written, practical and simulation activities on 
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various aspects of health emergency management and response and on the 
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different health emergency situations and scenarios, such as natural and man-
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made disasters, epidemics, pandemics, and other threats to public health. To this 
31 
end, all recruits must undergo: 
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a. Compulsory basic training for a period to be set by the DOH on disaster 
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and health emergency response, the and structure of the MRC, and such 
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other areas as may be prescribed by the DOH. Recruits shall be given 
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compensation for their attendance thereto; and 
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b. Continuing training and other activities to be conducted in coordination with 
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relevant and qualified agencies in the private and public sector, including 
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the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the National Disaster Risk 
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Reduction and Management Council, to improve and reinforce skills. All 
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registered members shall undergo continuing training on a regular basis to 
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upgrade their proficiency. 
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Successful completion of the compulsory basic training shall be a requisite 
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for admission into the MRC. Successful completion of activities in the continuing 
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training program shall be a requisite for promotion within the MRC. 
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SECTION 6. Registry and Accounting of Members of the MRC. – Registered 
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members of the MRC shall be issued individual serial numbers which will serve as 
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their identification in case of deployment. 
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The DOH shall maintain and update a registry or database containing the 
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names of the members of the Corps, their serial numbers, address, contact details 
55 
and such other information as the DOH may determine, in accordance with 
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applicable privacy laws. For this purpose, all public and private colleges, 
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universities and learning institutions shall transmit annually their records of the 
1 
graduates covered under this Act to the DOH. 
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An MRC Identification Card that describes the certification information of 
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Corps members, as well as other necessary identifying information that may be 
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determined by the DOH, shall also be issued. 
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All graduates covered under this Act are required to update their addresses 
8 
and contact details on file with the DOH as often as necessary. Orders of 
9 
deployment sent to the addresses and/or through the contact details on file with 
10 
the DOH shall be sufficient notice for purposes of deployment. 
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In cases when a graduate has changed address immediately prior to 
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deployment, the LGU shall immediately exert efforts to locate his known closest 
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resident kin, who is then mandated to exert similar efforts. The use of digital 
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communications and social media shall be encouraged in locating such graduates. 
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SECTION 7. Medical Reserve Corps Mobilization – The prompt mobilization of 
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the MRC shall be carried out by authority of the Secretary of Health, upon the 
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recommendation of the Director of the HEMB or upon the request of national 
20 
government agencies or local government units (LGUs), in order to meet the needs 
21 
of the populace in times of public health emergencies, whether of local or national 
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scale, and for such other purposes in response to threats to public health. 
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The MRC may be mobilized partially or in full as may be necessary. The 
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DOH shall promulgate the mechanisms by which deployment is efficiently 
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implemented, including the organization of the Corps to be deployed, their 
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territorial assignments, how deployment orders are communicated to each 
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member of the Corps and to which mobilization center they will report. 
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As defined in Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the "Mandatory 
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Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act," 
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public health emergency refers to an occurrence or Imminent threat of an illness 
33 
or health condition that:   
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1. Is caused by any of the following: 
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a. Bio terrorism; 
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b. Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious 
40 
agent or biological toxin; 
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c. A natural disaster; 
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d. A chemical attack or accidental release; 
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e. A nuclear attack or accident; 
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f. An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials; and 
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2. Poses a high probability of the following: 
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a. A large number of deaths in the affected population; 
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b. A large number of injuries or long-term disabilities in the affected 
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population; 
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c. Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
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significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the 
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affected population 
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d. International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a 
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significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or 
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e. Trade and travel restrictions. 
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SECTION 8. Deployment Order. – The President of the Philippines, upon 
11 
recommendation of the DOH, may order the nationwide mobilization of the MRC 
12 
to complement the AFP Medical Corps in case of a declaration of a state of war, 
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state of lawless violence or state of calamity. 
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SECTION 9. Mobilization Centers. – There shall be established in each province 
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as many mobilization centers as needed to which members of the MRC shall report 
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to when mobilization is ordered. 
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Mobilization centers may be any establishment or facility that can adequately 
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house the MRC members, and their equipment and supplies during the period of 
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deployment, including multi-purpose halls, gymnasiums, and other similar 
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structures, based on other requirements that the DOH shall prescribe. The DOH 
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shall, in consultation with the local executives, prescribe the location of the 
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mobilization centers. The local executives shall disseminate to the widest extent 
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possible information to the public on the location of these centers. 
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SECTION 10. Mobilization Stock. – The minimum essential individual and 
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organizational and medical equipment and supplies shall be procured, stored, and 
29 
maintained to enhance rapid transition to readiness required for employment in the 
30 
shortest possible time 
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The DOH shall ensure and maintain the necessary capacity to scale up the 
33 
procurement of these equipment and supplies as needed during the period of 
34 
mobilization 
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SECTION 11. Enlistment of the AFP. – The Secretary of Health may enlist the 
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AFP to provide expertise on the organization and structure of the MRC for efficient, 
38 
effective and swift deployment, as well as for training of the MRC recruits on 
39 
disaster and emergency response. 
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The Secretary of Health may also recommend to the President the enlistment 
42 
of the AFP to supplement the mobilized MRC for the purpose of providing logistics 
43 
and manpower for large-scale operations In times of public health emergency, 
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contact tracing and monitoring of suspected cases, enforcing—quarantine 
45 
measures in specific areas or facilitating the transport of emerging infectious 
46 
diseases patients, and for such other related purposes. 
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SECTION 12. Protection to MRC Members. – . All MRC members shall be 
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accorded protection as provided by existing labor laws and standards and other 
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relevant occupations, safety, environmental, and social legislation. 
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SECTION 13. Compensation and Benefits. – Members of the MRC who render 
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service shall receive all the pay and allowances, medical care, hospitalization, 
54 
other privileges and benefits during the period of mobilization as prescribed by law 
55 
or regulation. They shall also continue to receive all pay, allowances, and other 
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privileges and benefits from their regular employment during the mobilization 
1 
period in accordance with law. 
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SECTION 14. Legal Liability and Malpractice Insurance –. No MRC member 
4 
shall be held liable or the death of or injury to any person or for the loss of, or 
5 
damage to, the property of any person where such death, injury, loss, or damage 
6 
was proximately caused by the circumstance of an actual public health emergency 
7 
or its subsequent conditions, or the circumstances of the formal exercise or training 
8 
if such formal exercise or training simulates conditions of an actual emergency. 
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The Insurance Commission is mandated to develop public health 
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emergency-specific malpractice insurance policy or modify existing policies that 
12 
would protect MRC professionals' efforts from any legal liability as provided for by 
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this Section to allow them to respond in good faith during public health 
14 
emergencies. 
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This Section shall not preclude liability for civil damages as a result of 
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gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct. 
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SECTION 15. Termination of Deployment– Upon the expiration of the period of 
20 
deployment, without an extension having been requested and approved by the 
21 
DOH, members of the MRC who are deployed pursuant to a public health 
22 
emergency shall be discharged from the performance of their duties. The 
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deployment may also be terminated earlier upon a determination by the DOH, in 
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consultation with the requesting national government agency or LGU, that such 
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deployment is no longer required in accordance with this Act. 
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SECTION 16. Annual Report. – The DOH shall regularly publish an annual report 
28 
containing a list of the accomplishments, status of the operations, demographic 
29 
profile of the membership of the MRC, an assessment of readiness for 
30 
mobilization, and the incidence and details of each mobilization 
for 
the 
year 
31 
concerned. The annual report shall also include the results of the audit
32 
investigation on the spending of funds appropriated, collected, or advanced for the 
33 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 17. Failure to Respond to Deployment. – Any member of the MRC 
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who fails to respond to the order of deployment without any justifiable reason 
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despite due notice shall be required to reimburse the total expenses incurred by 
38 
the government in the member's recruitment, selection, training, and 
39 
compensation, as may be determined by the DOH. 
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SECTION 18. Appropriations. – The Secretary of Health shall immediately 
42 
include in the Department's Program the implementation of this Act, the funding of 
43 
which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 19. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within thirty (30) days 
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from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall promulgate the necessary guidelines 
47 
for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 21. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act is declared 
50 
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of other provisions shall not be 
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affected thereby. 
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SECTION 22. Repealing Clause – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and 
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regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 23. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
1 
publication in the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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in the Philippines. 
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Approved, 
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