RECEIVED 2)
UATE: Sub 21 &

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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

7146

HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: HON. KRISTINE SINGSON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a tertiary hospital under the full and direct control,
supervision and management of the Department of Health to be known as the Ilocos
Sur Medical Center located in the City of Candon, Ilocos Sur.

One of the most crucial challenges in Ilocos Sur is the unavailability of tertiary
level hospitals (level 3 category hospital), especially for patients coming from
indigent families and it is the only province among the 4 provinces in Region I that
doesn’t have a DOH Operated Hospital. The opening of Ilocos Sur Medical Center
would complement and operationalize the passage of the Universal Health Care Act as
an End Referral Hospital in the Province of Ilocos Sur. It would effectively close the
gap in the region's need for hospital bed capacity, as well as ensure wider access to
affordable and quality healthcare services particularly in Ilocos Sur and the province
of Abra. Health care service gaps have been blamed as one of the causes of deaths in
the region. For instance, the nearest tertiary level hospital care service in Candon City
is two or more hours away in Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center
in Batac City, Ilocos Norte and San Fernando City’s Ilocos Training and Regional
Medical Center. It is imperative that the province gets its own tertiary hospital to close
that gap and to cater to the healthcare needs of the people in the area.

With this bill’s approval and passage, constituents from Ilocos Sur and the
nearby towns from nearby provinces including La Union, Abra and Mountain
Province, will be served with accessible and better-quality healthcare services. In this
light, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

Ww


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _7146
Introduced by: HON. KRISTINE SINGSON

AN ACT ESTABLISHING
A TERTIARY HOSPITAL UNDER THE CONTROL, SUPERVISION, AND
MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN THE CITY OF
CANDON, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR TO BE KNOWN AS THE ILOCOS
SUR MEDICAL CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. There shall be established a Tertiary Level Care Hospital (Level 3 Category
Hospital), known as the Ilocos Sur Medical Center, with a minimum capacity of two
hundred (200) beds, to be located in the City of Candon, province of Ilocos Sur, under
the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH).

Section 2. The DOH shall develop a hospital development plan to reflect the
developmental goals of the hospital. Any future increase in bed capacity, and
upgrading of healthcare services and facilities shall be based on the hospital
development plan.

Section 3. The Department of Health shall formulate the necessary guidelines for its
operation as a tertiary hospital and ensure funding for the acquisition of the land on
which the hospital will be established, the construction of the hospital buildings and
other complementary infrastructure, facilities and medical equipment as well as for
the costs for the necessary maintenance and personal services.

Section 4. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department's
programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be charged
against the current year’s unappropriated balance of the Department of Health. An
appropriation of Three Hundred Fifty Million Pesos (P_ 350,000,000.00) for PS
Appropriation shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for the
implementation of this Act, and One Hundred Million Pesos (P 100,000,000.00) for
MOOE thereafter for four (4) years or until the provisions of this Act are fully
implemented is hereby set aside for the purpose of this Act. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the continued operation of the Mlocos Sur Medical Center shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


Section 5. Within sixty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation

‘Section 6. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other
parts for provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain in full force
and effect.

Section 7. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended,
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.