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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“No, 3519

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

Furthermore, Section 11, Article XIII of the Constitution states that “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.”

According to the Department of Health, as of October 30, 2020, majority of the Level
3 government hospitals, or the Tertiary Care government hospitals, are located in the National
Capital Region (NCR). The NCR alone has 14 Tertiary Care government hospitals, out of the
37 Tertiary care government hospitals spread throughout the Philippines. Region IV-B and
Region XIII do not have any Tertiary Care hospital within their respective regions. At the very
least, other regions such as the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region IV-A, Region
VIII, Region IX, Region X, and Region XII have at least | Tertiary Care hospital within their
respective regions.

The lack of access to tertiary care government hospitals forces our fellow Filipinos to
flock into the NCR hoping to get admitted to these hospitals. Filipinos all the way from
Northern Luzon, Visayas, or even Mindanao, would travel to NCR hoping to get admitted.
Rather than just worrying about the hospital bills, our fellow Filipinos would also worry about
their transportation and their lodging as they reach NCR.

The proposed bill aims to build at least one (1) tertiary care hospital within each region.
This shall make tertiary care hospitals more accessible to our fellow Filipinos, especially for
those regions without any or have at least 1. Filipinos do not deserve to have added burdens of
transportation and lodging just because the hospital that would provide their needed treatment


is in the NCR. Along with the accessibility to our fellow Filipinos from other regions, this shall
Jessen the burden on the tertiary care hospitals in the NCR.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly $0



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

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No. 3919

Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TERTIARY CARE
HOSPITALS IN ALL REGIONS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “Regional Tertiary Care Hospitals
Act.”

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared as the policy of the State to adopt
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development, which shall be available and
accessible to all the people at affordable cost. Towards this end, the Philippine health delivery
system must be reformed and modernized in order for it to be available, accessible and
affordable pursuant to the common goal of bringing universal health care for Filipinos.

SEC 3. Establishment of Tertiary Care Hospitals in All Regions. — Within five (5)
years from the effectivity of this Act, all regions must have at least one (1) tertiary care hospital
operating within its territorial jurisdiction. The Department of Health (DOH) must formulate a
prioritization plan for the purpose of implementing this Act, subject to the following
considerations:

a) Top priority shall be given to all regions which do not have any regional hospital of
whatever classification lower than tertiary care hospital;

b) Provinces which are geographically isolated (e.g. island provinces) from their region’s
tertiary care hospital shall likewise be given priority for the establishment of a tertiary
care hospital; and

©) Existing Regional Hospitals, as identified by DOH, shall be considered for upgrading,
modernization and conversion to a tertiary care hospital.

SEC 4. Audit and Inventory of Regional Hospitals. — Within six (6) months from the
promulgation of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act, an audit and inventory of
the physical facilities, equipment and instruments as well as the personnel of the Regional
Hospitals shall be conducted to determine the present classification of the respective regional
hospitals. The result of the audit and inventory shall be the basis of the respective upgrade and
modernization plan for each Regional Hospital.


SEC 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations of the Department of Health.

SEC 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health, in coordination with other relevant
government agencies, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, or any part thereof, which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 8. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision or part of this Act, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this,
Act shall not be affected thereby.

SEC 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,