TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 594
Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo
J' l'i y Ilf I , ■ 
:
25 JUL 15 A9 36
RtCEiV:. ' . V
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE PHILIPPINE ORTHOPEDIC 
CENTER, ENHANCING ITS HEALTH CARE SERVICES, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders has 
placed significant demand on the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) 
- the country’s sole tertiary specialty hospital dedicated to orthopedic 
and rehabilitation services. Presently, it is a 700-bed tertiary hospital 
tasked to provide quality orthopedic and rehabilitation services. It also 
serves as a training center for orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, 
and other healthcare professionals.
Despite its critical role in providing specialized care, the POC 
faces challenges in delivering modern, efficient, and accessible health 
services due to outdated facilities, limited bed capacity, and insufficient 
medical equipment.
This measure proposes to modernize and revitalize our Philippine 
Orthopedic Center through the repair, rehabilitation and construction


of necessary facilities and the acquisition of the necessary hospital 
equipment.
Some of the key provisions of this measure include:
a. Establishment of a POC Rehabilitation and Modernization 
Council to oversee the implementation of the modernization plan;
b. Increase in bed capacity from 700 to 1,000 beds to accommodate 
more patients;
c. Allocation of funds for the repair, rehabilitation, and procurement 
of modern medical equipment; and
d. Mandatory annual reporting to ensure transparency and 
accountability in the use of funds and the progress of 
modernization efforts.
For these reasons, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
RWIN T. tULFO


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
'•’/ 
. if-'il of I ;
25 JUL15 A9.-36
RECEIVED
Senate Bill No. oS4
Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MODERNIZING THE PHILIPPINE ORTHOPEDIC CENTER,
ENHANCING ITS HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 
^Philippine Orthopedic Center Modernization Act”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the poliey 
of the State to modernize the health care delivery system to a level 
where it can fully and effectively perform its Constitutional mandate to 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health 
eonsciousness among them.
Towards this end, the State shall undertake the modernization and 
rehabilitation of the Philippine Orthopedie Center (POC), which is the 
country’s only tertiary speeialty hospital under the Department of 
Health tasked to provide quality orthopedic, rehabilitation, and other 
services relating to musculoskeletal disorder and related conditions.


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SEC. 3. POC Rehabilitation and Modernization Council. - In 
order to properly execute the modernization of POC, there is hereby 
created a POC Rehabilitation and Modernization Council (“Council”) 
composed of the following:
a. Secretary of Health as its Ex-Officio Chairman;
b. POC Medical Center Chief as Co-Chairman; and
c. Five (5) members consisting of representatives from academic 
and medical communities in the field of orthopedic medicine 
as may be determined by the Secretary of Health.
The Council shall meet quarterly to review progress and address 
any challenges in the implementation of this Act.
SEC. 4. POC Modernization Plan. - Within six (6) months from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Council shall establish a POC 
Modernization Plan (“Plan”).
The Plan shall principally be a re-tooling of POC with modern 
equipment and facilities, including but not limited to the following:
a. Procurement of the latest and most up-to-date medical 
instruments, tools and apparatus;
b. Rehabilitation of major areas which need to be rehabilitated 
such as patient rooms and wards, operating rooms, lavatory 
areas and comfort rooms and other physical facilities;
c. Integration of new technologies to enhance the hospital’s 
capabilities in delivering timely and reliable medical services.
The Council shall formulate the Plan, guided by the following 
considerations:
a) It must undertake the repair and rehabilitation of the POC 
to be a premier tertiary specialty hospital, referral center, 
and training institute;


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b) It must upgrade, modernize, acquire and procure state-of- 
the-art medical equipment, and the latest model of critical 
apparatus and instruments;
c) It must involve renovation and modernization of its 
facilities and the application of new technologies to 
improve the hospital’s capabilities in providing timely and 
reliable medical services for its patients; and
d) It must render quality health and medical care services to 
indigent patients by maintaining seventy percent (70%) 
allocation of beds for government-sponsored patients.
In addition to the Plan, the bed capacity of POC shall be increased 
from seven hundred (700) to one thousand (1,000) hospital beds.
SEC. 5. POC Rehabilitation and Modernization Fund. - There is 
hereby created the POC Rehabilitation and Modernization Fund which 
shall be used exclusively to fund the modernization plan provided 
under this Act.
The initial amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos 
(PhP500,000,000) to comprise the said fund shall be included in the 
General Appropriations Act of the year immediately following the 
approval of this Act.
The total amount allocated herein shall be used exclusively for 
the repair, rehabilitation, renovation of the POC, the procurement of 
hospital materials, equipment, furniture and fixtures pursuant to the 
program and guidelines as determined by the Council.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall, 
within sixty (60) days from effectivity of this Act, issue the rules and 
regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 7. Annual Report. —
a. The Council shall submit an annual financial report to the 
Commission on Audit (COA), detailing the allocation.


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utilization, and management of the POC Rehabilitation and 
Modernization Fund.
b. The Couneil shall also submit to the Offiee of the President 
and Congress, through the House and Senate Committees on 
Health, an annual comprehensive report on the progress, 
outcomes, and challenges of the POC modernization 
activities, including operations, patient outcomes, and 
recommendations for improvement.
Provided, that both reports shall be made publicly accessible 
through the official websites of the Department of Health (DOH) and 
the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC).
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of 
this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions 
and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, 
shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - 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,