EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1552
-V HE P
of IHf
'*-i\
[S ft. TBT ,^av 27 2020 m
l0> time:.01:20 pm 1
ry;
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY PROVINCIAL 
HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF IBA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES INTO 
THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, UPGRADING AND 
MODERNIZING ITS FACILITIES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
It is the policy of the state to ensure that all communities have access to quality and 
accessible healthcare.
The Ramon Magsaysay Provincial Hospital situated in the Municipality of Iba, 
Zambales offers medical and health care services to the residents of the municipality 
and its neighboring communities. The current set up of the hospital is limited and 
cannot effectively attend to the health concerns of the people of Zambales. Advanced 
medical and surgical procedures cannot be performed due to the limited medical 
facilities and financial resources of the hospital. What is more pressing is that the 
nearest tertiary hospital is at least 60 kilometers away and is inaccessible to those in 
desperate need.
To address this issue, this bill seeks to convert the President Ramon Magsaysay 
Provincial Hospital into a tertiary public hospital to be known as the Ramon Magsaysay 
Regional Medical Center. The authorized bed capacity shall be increased to three 
hundred (300)-beds, the facilities shall be upgraded and modernized to be more 
responsive to the medical and health care needs of the people in Zambales and its 
neighboring municipalities and provinces.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
e /». (\ffuccy^
R. MARCOS
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 1552
%
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY PROVINCIAL 
HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF IBA, PROVINCE OF ZAMBALES INTO 
THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, UPGRADING AND 
MODERNIZING ITS FACILITIES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Ramon Magsaysay 
Regional Medical Center Charter."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right to health, instill health consciousness among the people 
and advance the integrated and comprehensive approach to health development 
research.
Section 3. Conversion, Upgrading and Modernization into a Regional Medical 
Center.-The Ramon Magsaysay Provincial Hospital in the Municipality of Iba, Province 
of Zambales is hereby converted into a three hundred (300)-bed capacity, tertiary 
public hospital to be known as the Ramon Magsaysay Regional Medical Center and 
shall hereinafter be referred to as the Medical Center. The Medical Center shall 
upgrade and modernize its existing equipment and facilities to ensure that it shall be 
responsive to the health needs of the people of Region III. It shall, likewise, endeavor 
to be abreast with the latest available biomedical and research facilities that shall be 
made available to patients at minimal cost.
Section 4. Scope and Coverage of the Regional Medical Center. - For purposes 
of this Act, the scope and coverage of the Medical Center shall be the treatment and 
study of all cardio-pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, neurologic, endocrinologic, 
intergumentary, musculoskeletal and other diseases of infectious, non-infectious or 
autoimmune nature with special attention to diseases that present differently in this


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
geographical region as compared to other regions; Provided, That the Department of 
Health (DOH) may include such other pertinent diseases in consultation with the 
Advisory Board that is herein created.
Section 5. Organization. - The Medical Center shall be organized as follows:
(a) The Medical Center shall be operated as a special project of the DOH in Region 
III. The Secretary of Health shall promulgate policies for and exercise overall 
supervision over the Medical Center;
(b) The Medical Center shall be headed by a Medical Director who shall be assisted 
by two (2) assistant directors, all of whom shall be appointed by the Secretary 
of the DOH. The Medical Director shall be responsible for the implementation 
of policies and the immediate management of the programs and operations of 
the Medical Center; and
(c) The assistant directors shall assist the Medical Director in the performance of 
his operational duties, and shall perform such other functions as may be 
directed by the Medical Director. One (1) assistant director shall be tasked to 
overlook the policy, planning and monitoring activities of the Medical Center, 
while the other shall be responsible for support staff services.
Section 6. Powers and Functions. -The Medical Center shall have the following 
powers and functions:
(a) Undertake research activities in the diagnosis, control and prevention of 
diseases that are major causes of mortality and morbidity in Region III;
(b) Conduct clinical trials aimed at better understanding and control of diseases;
(c) Conduct regular training courses for medical and paramedical personnel in the 
control of common diseases not just in the Region but in the country as well;
(d) Provide high-quality tertiary care to both inpatients and outpatients suffering 
from tropical diseases included within the scope of the Medical Center's 
activities;
(e) Participate in technical cooperation program in coordination with the DOH's 
Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in research activities in the diagnosis, 
control and prevention of tropical diseases;
(f) Apply for, receive and accept bequests, grants and donation of funds, 
equipment materials and services needed for the attainment of its objectives; 
and
(g) Perform such other related activities as may be assigned by the DOH.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
Section 7. Personnel. - The Medical Center shall have its technical and 
administrative support. The officers and employees of the Medical Center shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of Health, upon recommendation of the Advisory board, 
in accordance with existing laws governing such. Consultants may be drawn from the 
public and private sectors on consultancy or contractual basis and shall be granted 
honoraria or allowances at such amounts as may be determined in accordance with 
existing rules and regulations.
Section 8. Advisory Board. - There shall be in the Medical Center an Advisory 
Board to be administered under the direction of the Secretary of Health to be 
composed of the following officials or their duly designated representatives:
(a) The Secretary of the DOH or the duly designated representative;
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) or the 
duly designated representative;
(c) The Medical Director of the Medical Center;
(d) One (1) representative from the association of medical research organizations 
to be appointed by the Secretary of Health; and
(e) One (1) representative from the Philippine Medical Association. The functions 
of the Advisory Board shall be:
a. Formulate and recommend to the Secretary of Health policies, programs, 
standards and guidelines for the effective and efficient operation of the 
Medical Center;
b. Review, endorse and recommend to the Secretary of Health the annual 
budget plan;
c. Advise the Medical Center of the creation and implementation of its 
vision and missions;
d. Report annually to the Secretary of Health on its activities and, whenever 
necessary, make recommendations in relation to the performance of the 
Medical Center; and
e. Recommend to the Secretary of Health the appointments of officers, 
personnel and consultants of the Medical Center;
Section 9. Biomedical Research Functions. - The functions of the Medical Center 
involving biomedical research will be undertaken together with applicable 
appropriations, records, equipment, property and such personnel as may be 
necessary; Provided, That the conduct of any biomedical research in the Medical 
Center shall be upon the approval of an ethics review committee created for the 
purpose.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 
19
Section 10. Funding. - The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Department's appropriation funds necessary for the implementation of this Act which 
shall be charged against the current year's unappropriated balance of the Department 
of Health. An appropriation of one hundred million pesos (PlOO,000,000.00) shall be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year succeeding the 
implementation 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 
Medical Center shall be included in the GAA of the Republic of the Philippines.
Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, ordinances and rules 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified or repealed 
accordingly.
Section 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and binding.
Section 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,