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

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 5648

Introduced by Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, particularly Article XIII, Section 12 provides that
“The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and
appropriate health, manpower development, and research, responsive to the country's
health needs and problems".

It is on these grounds that this bill seeks to establish a Philippine National
Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Center in all the regions of the country, in light
of the deadly COVID 19 pandemic that has gripped the Philippines and the whole world.

‘As humans encroach deeper into the wildemess for exploratory and sometimes
exploitative intent in the name of progress and development, we are exposed to a more
varied strain of new viruses and bacteria from wild animals which can be transferred to
humans and jumpstart a pandemic not far from what COVID 19 has brought to the world.
Modern technology has also provided humans the potential tools to generate or create
such viruses in the laboratories in the pursuit of possibly developing advantages in highly
controversial and unconventional types of warfare.

The highly infectious disease has brought the whole world and the Philippines in
particular to unchartered territory since the virus is a new strain. The pandemic has
emphasized the importance of a dedicated hospital and research center catering to the
treatment, prevention, control, and study or research of existing and emerging highly
infectious diseases whether from natural or man-made sources to better prepare us for
the next deadly outbreak.

The proposed Philippine National Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research
Center shall be the principal hospital and research facility responsible for the treatment,
control, prevention, and research of highly communicable diseases in the Philippines. It
will be established in the different regions of the country so that its services and facilities
can be available throughout the Philippines.


It is also tasked to conduct researches on various infectious diseases and to
advocate government actions and policies to solve medical health problems. It will also
seek to improve the management of infectious diseases including the ill-effects to the
health of humans from various hazardous chemicals.

The hospitals and research centers will conduct surveillance and clinical
researches on important pathogens, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses.

The Institution also will perform molecular epidemiology to investigate the
mechanisms contributing the drug resistant pathogens.

The proposed bill will address the lack of institutional capacity to implement
comprehensive public health management programs to protect the public from serious
health and socio-economic problems brought about by fatal infectious diseases like
COVID 19.

In view of this, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

“AUMENTADO


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

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 6648

Introduced by Rep. Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PHLIPPINE NATIONAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL AND
RESEARCH CENTER IN ALL THE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY

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

SECTION 1. CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL INFECTIOUS
DISEASES HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTER (PNIDHRC)

There shall be established an Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research
Center to be known as “Philippine National Infectious Diseases Hospital and
Research Center” to be located in all the regions of the country.

SECTION 2. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES - The Philippine National
Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Center (PNIDHRC) shall be
administered by a Board of Trustees, composed of seven (7) members, to be
appointed by the President of the Philippines who shall be the Governing
Board of all the hospital facilities of the PNIDHRC in the different regions of
the country.

The six appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve with
compensation for @ period of five (5) years and until their successors shall have
been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by
appointment by the President of the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve for
the unexpired term. The Board of Trustees of the PNIDHRC shall elect a Chairman
from among themselves, who shall be presiding officer of the Board of Trustees.


SECTION 3. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - There shall be an Executive
Director who shall be appointed by the Board who will serve as the Vice-Chairman
of the Board of Trustees and shall have the rank of a Bureau Director, with a salary
grade of 30 and with a fixed term of five (5) years, renewable for another term. The
ED shall exercise administrative supervision of all facilities of the PNIDHRC and
primary implementor of policies and guidelines set by the Board of Trustees with
the authority, among others, appoint, remove, and fix the compensation thereof,
subject to the approval of the Board.

SECTION 4. CHIEF OF HOSPITAL - A hospital facility of the PNIDHRC shall

be headed by a Hospital Chief, appointed by the Board of Trustees for a
period of four (4) years on the basis of search process. The Hospital Chief
shall have the salary grade of 28. The Hospital Chief shall be under the
supervision of the Executive Director.

Sec. 5. APPROPRIATIONS. The sum of Twenty Billion Pesos (Php.
20,000,000,000) shall be appropriated for the initial operation and maintenance of
the hospitals and research facilities of the PNIDHRC including the land acquisition,
construction and the acquisition of hospital and research equipment, furniture and
Personnel services. Thereafter, the necessary amount to support the continued
operation and maintenance of the PNIDHRC shall be appropriated in the Annual
General Appropriations Act for the continued implementation of this Act.

Sec. 5. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,