Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2444

HOUSE BILL NO.“

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Province of Camarines Sur including the cities of Naga and Iriga is the only
province in the Philippines without any provincial hospital. The reason for this is that
the provincial hospital then located in the Municipality of Naga which later on became
a city, was converted into a regional hospital and then into the Bicol Medical Center
(BMC).

But the Bicol Medical Center as it stands today for the various services it has to offer
has only three hundred bed capacity in its main buildings in Naga City which are
earmarked among other for Internal Medicine, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics,
Surgery, Orthopedics, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat, Dialysis Unit, Physical Therapy
Services and Diagnostic Laboratory Facilities. The BMC itself needs expansion in
terms of bed capacity, equipment and professional personnel.

It should be highlighted that one of the biggest gaps in the province of Camarines Sur
in terms of health care is the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics needs of the province
with 35 municipalities and 2 cities.

Apart from local concerns, it is to be re-emphasized that it is our country's commitment
under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to reduce child mortality, improve
mental health and combat other women’s and children's diseases. The establishment


of the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital as herein proposed is geared towards
the attainment of such goal within the province of Camarines Sur.

It is therefore proposed in this bill that instead of reestablishing a provincial hospital
for general medical services, a women's and children’s hospital be organized as a
specialized institution that will complement and supplement the facilities and services
that the BMC is presently able to offer.

It is proposed therefore that a 200 bed-capacity hospital strictly for women's and
children’s health requirements as defined under this bill be organized through the
enactment of the appropriate law as herein proposed under this bill.

This proposed bill has also been approved at third and final reading during the 17”
Congress of the House of Representatives but was unable to move forward in the
Senate. Considering the merits of this bill and its approval in the prior Congress, early
approval hereof is earnestly requested.

ig

LUIS IN} RAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Queson City
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2444

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S
HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PAMPLONA IN THE PROVINCE OF
CAMARINES SUR, TO BE KNOWN AS THE BICOL WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S
HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THREOF

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

SECTION. 1. There shall be established under the direct supervision of the Secretary
of the Department of Health, a women’s and children’s hospital in the Municipality of
Pamplona in the Province of Camarines Sur, to be known as the Bicol Women’s and
Children's Hospital. It shall be authorized to operate a two hundred (200)-bed capacity

hospital dedicated to women's and children’s health requirement.

SEC. 2. The Hospital shall specialize on the care of women and children and shall
focus on women and children health care, prenatal testing, obstetrician and
gynecology services, pediatrics care, lactation programs, nutrition services, neonatal
care, immunization services, postpartum depression support and education classes

for parenting, and women's and children's health awareness.


SEC. 3. The Provincial Goverment of Camarines Sur shall provide funding for the
establishment and operation of the Bicol Women's and Children’s Hospital. The
Secretary of Health shalll include in the Department's subsidy program, support for the
capital outlay of the said hospital.

SEC. 4. The Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,