Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Noo 202

Introduced by 2" District of Agusan del Norte Representative
HON. MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 11 of the Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor
to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at affordable
cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled,
women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers.

Moreover, Section 15, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among them.

At present, the Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital is located in Butuan City which
is situated at the center of the province. The hospital caters to the medical and health needs of
the people of the Province of Agusan del Norte including the high urbanized city of Butuan
and nearby provinces in Caraga region. The hospital is a Level 1 medical institution with a one
hundred (100) bed capacity. For the past three years, the hospital is operating on a 124% bed
occupancy rate which is too high in comparison to the 85% standard. Based on the provincial
hospital’s records from year 2016 to 2018, the average inpatient service days is 45,175
providing medical attention to patients inside and outside of the province, thus, showcasing
that medical services have no boundaries.

This bill seeks to convert the Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital into a Level 3
hospital and regional training center for doctors, nurses, medical technologies, midwives,
radiologists, pharmacists and allied professions which shall be under the supervision and
control of the Department of Health. Currently, there are no public and private hospitals with
an equivalent of Level 3 Teaching and Training capability in the province of Agusan del Norte
and Butuan City that caters to its growing population. The nearest of which is a five-hour travel
from the north of the province and an eight-hour travel from the south of Agusan del Norte.

The creation of this proposed hospital will help upgrade current government hospitals
which are mostly infirmaries due to their major deficiency of trained doctors and other health
workers. By having this training facility within this zone, there will be a continuous supply of
medical specialists and other trained health workers to supply the need of the people of Agusan
del Norte. This hospital will also serve as one of the most culture sensitive training facility in
Mindanao since the Caraga Region is home to almost a million indigenous people.


Furthermore, establishing a Regional Training and Teaching Hospital in Butuan City is
strategic because of its position being situated in the central hub of the region.

In view thereof, it is imperative that this regional hospital, as a training and teaching
institution which is more responsive and comprehensive, be established to provide a more
efficient health service, not only to the people of Agusan del Norte but also to nearby provinces
in the region. Likewise, the upgrade of facilities and manpower will emphasize the immediate
availability of preventive care for patients and will result to a decrease of mortality rate in the
region.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANGEL M. AMAN¥E-MATBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

5501
House Bill No.

Introduced by 2" District of Agusan del Norte Representative
MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA

AN ACT
CONVERTING THE AGUSAN DEL NORTE PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN
BUTUAN CITY, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL NORTE INTO A LEVEL II
TEACHING AND TRAINING HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE AGUSAN DEL
NORTE GENERAL HOSPITAL AND TRAINING CENTER AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. The Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital in Butuan City, Province of
Agusan del Norte is hereby upgraded into a Level 3 hospital with capacity as a teaching and
training facility, in accordance with the standards of the Department of Health, to be known as
the Agusan del Norte General Hospital and Training Center.

The authorized bed capacity of the Agusan del Norte General Hospital and Training
Center is hereby upgraded from one hundred (100) to three hundred (300), to be implemented
for a period of not more than two (2) years from the approval of this Act.

SEC. 2. The existing medical equipment and facilities, its operating funds and
construction of the needed infrastructure of the Agusan del Norte General Hospital and Medical

Center are hereby upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the increase in bed

capacity as provided in Section | hereof.


SEC 3. The amount necessary for the upgrade, including the acquisition of additional
medical equipment and facilities and the construction of needed infrastructure shall be charged
against the current year’s appropriations and thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its
continued operations shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC 4. The Secretary of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations
for the implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.

SEC 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,