Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JERRY E. PEREZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A LEVEL 3 GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE VITALI 
MEDICAL CENTER IN THE DISTRICT OF VITALI, CITY OF ZAMBOANGA, UNDER 
THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right to health is a constitutional mandate. Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution declares that “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them.” Similarly, Article XIII, Section 11 provides that the State 
shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development and make essential health 
services available to all at affordable cost, prioritizing the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, 
disabled, women, and children.  
To operationalize these constitutional guarantees, Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal 
Health Care (UHC) Act, mandates equitable access to quality and affordable health services. Section 2 
of the UHC Act states the State policy to ensure that all Filipinos have access to a comprehensive set 
of health services without financial hardship. Section 3 of the same Act underscores the need for an 
organized and integrated health service delivery network across the country.  
In line with this, Republic Act No. 4226, known as the Hospital Licensure Act, sets the legal 
and regulatory standards for the establishment and licensing of hospitals to ensure compliance with 
minimum requirements for safety, efficiency, and quality of care. 
The District of Vitali, located in the far eastern part of Zamboanga City, is a major population 
center encompassing numerous barangays and serving as the gateway to the Zamboanga Peninsula. 
Despite its strategic location, there is no government hospital in the district that provides 
comprehensive and advanced medical care. Residents must travel more than an hour to reach hospitals 
in Zamboanga City proper, causing delays in life-saving interventions.  
The establishment of a Level 3 general hospital in Vitali, to be known as the Vitali Medical 
Center, will bridge this gap. A Level 3 hospital is a tertiary facility that provides specialized and 
subspecialty care, advanced diagnostic and surgical services, and serves as a training and teaching 
center for medical and health professionals. It also supports the DOH's hospital development goals 
under the Universal Health Care framework.  
This proposed hospital will primarily serve the eastern barangays of Zamboanga City and will 
also augment healthcare capacity for neighboring municipalities such as Tungawan and R.T. Lim in 
Zamboanga Sibugay, given their proximity to Vitali. It will decongest existing hospitals in Zamboanga 
City proper and strengthen the health system’s capacity to manage emergencies, public health crises, 
and routine care.  
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By establishing this facility, the State will fulfill its obligation to make health services more 
accessible, equitable, and responsive to the needs of the people, especially in geographically 
underserved areas.  
 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
JERRY E. PEREZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JERRY E. PEREZ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A LEVEL 3 GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE VITALI 
MEDICAL CENTER IN THE DISTRICT OF VITALI, CITY OF ZAMBOANGA, UNDER 
THE DIRECT SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled. 
SEC. 1 Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Vitali Medical Center Act of 2025.” 
SEC. 2 Declaration of State Policy and Principle. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health of all Filipinos and to instill health consciousness among them, 
as mandated under Article II, Section 15 and Article XIII, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution.  
Consistent with the objectives of Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, 
the State shall ensure that all Filipinos have equitable access to quality and affordable health care 
services without financial hardship. 
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 4226, or the Hospital Licensure Act, the State shall establish and 
maintain hospitals that comply with the standards for safety, efficiency, and service capability to deliver 
comprehensive health care, including preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services. 
The establishment of the Vitali Medical Center in the District of Vitali, Zamboanga City is 
consistent with this policy, to provide accessible and responsive health care services to the people of 
Zamboanga City, particularly the eastern barangays, and to augment the health service capacity of 
nearby municipalities such as Tungawan and R.T. Lim in Zamboanga Sibugay. 
SEC. 3 Establishment of the Vitali Medical Center. There is hereby established in the District 
of Vitali, City of Zamboanga, a Level 3 General Hospital to be known as the Vitali Medical Center 
(VMC), which shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Department of Health (DOH). 
SEC. 4  Scope and Services. The Vitali Medical Center shall: 
a.
Have an initial authorized bed capacity of one hundred (100) beds, expandable as
necessary;
b. Be equipped with advanced medical, diagnostic, surgical, and ancillary facilities;
c.
Provide comprehensive health services, including emergency, inpatient, outpatient, and
specialized care; and
d. Serve as a training and research hospital for medical and allied health professionals,
consistent with DOH standards for Level 3 hospitals.
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SEC. 5 Hospital Classification and Upgrading. The Vitali Medical Center shall be classified as 
a Level 3 General Hospital in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 4226 (Hospital 
Licensure Act) and relevant DOH regulations. Any increase in bed capacity, upgrading of services, and 
expansion of facilities shall be in accordance with the hospital development plan prepared by the 
Department of Health. 
 
 
SEC. 6 Funding. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department’s program the 
operationalization of the Vitali Medical Center. The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Department of Health. 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued operation and maintenance shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. The City of Zamboanga may provide counterpart 
funding for land acquisition, site development, and support services. 
 
SEC. 7 Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Health shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from 
its effectivity. 
 
SEC. 8  Separability Clause – If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.  
 
 
SEC. 9 Repealing Clause – Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 10 Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect upon completion of its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved.