EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
ih :p u b l ic  o f t h e  Ph il ip p in e s  
)
First Regular Session 
)
,  
0 1 ::
SENATE
*19 
JUL 16 P2-45
S.B. NO.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SIARGAO DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE PROVINCE OF 
SURIGAO DEL NORTE INTO A LEVEL 3 GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS 
THE ‘SIARGAO ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER,’ AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Siargao District Hospital in the Municipality of Dapa in Surigao del Norte, was a Level 1 
General Hospital with a bed capacity of fifty (50). However, the Provincial Government of Surigao 
del Norte was not able to provide sufficient funds for its staff, facilities and equipment resulting to 
the downgrade of the hospital to an infirmary with an existing bed capacity of only thirty (30). The 
infirmary, which caters the entire island of 43,700 hectares with a population of more than 110,000 
has only three (3) regular doctors and twenty three (23) nurses out of the needed thirty six (36) 
nurses. The hospital needs an automated blood machine, hemo-analyser. electrolyte machine, and 
delivery table, among others.
The unfortunate condition of the infirmary has affected not only the locals but also tourists. 
In numerous cases, when emergency situations were not responded to immediately and adequately 
because the lack of medical resources. Patients are forced to travel by sea for nearly 3-4 hours to 
Surigao City for treatment.
The Department of Tourism recorded 163,245 domestic and foreign visitors in 2018. With 
the influx of tourists, 90% are foreign arrivals, thereby making Siargao as one of the top tourist 
destinations not only in the country but also in Asia, the worrisome discrepancy between the 
accessibility of quality medical services and availability of medical practitioners and that of the 
number of patients reportedly needing medical assistance must be acted upon immediately.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
V f f i t r c r :
SENATE
’19 JUL 16 P2--45
S.B. NO.
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
CONVERTING THE SIARGAO DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE PRO\ INCE OF 
SURIGAO DEL NORTE INTO A LEVEL 3 GENERAL HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWTV 
AS THE ‘SIARGAO ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER,’ AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION I. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Siargao Island Medical Center Act
2 
of 2019.”
3 
SEC. 2. Conversion. The Siargao District Hospital (SDH) in the Province of Surigao del Norte
4 
is hereby converted into a Level 3 General Hospital to be known as the SIARGAO ISLAND
5 
MEDICAL CENTER (SIMC), and shall be under the supervision of the Department of Health
6 
(DOH).
7 
For this purpose, the bed capacity of SIMC shall be increased from fifty (50) to one
8 
hundred (100) beds. The increase in bed capacity shall be implemented for a period of not more
9 
than five (5) years from the approval of this Act.
10 
SEC. 3. Objectives. The SIMC shall pursue the following objectives:
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(a) To provide the Filipino people, particularly in the Province of Surigao del Norte with
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more affordable, quality and timely hospital care through a more efficient health service
13 
delivery system that prioritizes the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled,
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women and children, and as resources would allow, free medical care to indigent
15 
citizens;
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(b) To develop the SIMC into a world-class Level 3 general hospital that utilizes modem
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and advanced medical technologies;


1 
(c) To promote, encourage and engage in scientific research in the prevention of diseases
2 
and the care and treatment of patients and related activities, including the grant of
3 
scholarships and conduct of relevant congresses, conventions, seminars, conferences;
4 
(d) To teach and train physicians, nurses, medical technicians, health officers, social
5 
workers, and other health professionals on the scientific conduct of medical services
6 
and related activities and implementation of health programs; and
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(e) To provide other medical services pursuant to the goals, objectives and rules of the
8 
National Health Insurance Program.
9 
SEC. 4. Upgrade of Facilities and Services. -  The hospital facilities and services of the SIMC
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shall be upgraded and increased to conform with and be commensurate to the increase in its
11 
authorized bed capacity as provided for in Section 2 of this Act, and consistent with the
12 
requirements of modem medical services and its status as a Level 3 general hospital.
13 
The SIMC shall submit to the DOH its proposed hospital development plan which
14 
includes ftiture expansion of its scope of services as a specialty hospital that specializes in a
15 
particular disease or condition, or in one type of patient.
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SEC. 5. Medical Center Chief. - The SIMC shall be headed by a Medical Center Chief who
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is a licensed physician and with experience in hospital administration and management for at
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least five (5) years. The Medical Center Chief shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health.
19 
SEC. 6. Functions of the Medial Center Chief. - The Medical Center Chief shall be
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responsible for the following:
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(a) Overall management and administration of the SIMC; and
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(b) Formulation of policies, plans, programs, strategies, and their implementation to
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ensure high quality health care and high standards of clinical training for medical
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and allied medical personnel.
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In order to ensure a smooth transition, the incumbent Chief of Hospital of the SIMC, if
26 
qualified, shall assume the position of Medical Center Chief of the SIMC in an acting capacity
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until such time that a duly qualified successor has been appointed.
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SEC. 7. Medical and Service Personnel. - The number of medical and service personnel,
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maintenance and other operating expenses of the SIMC shall be correspondingly increase to
30 
conform with Section 2 of this Act. The Medical Center Chief of the SIMC, in coordination
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with the Secretary of Health, the Secretary of Budget and Management, and the Civil Service
32 
Commissioner, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up.
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SEC. 8. Assistance front Other Government Offices. - The SIMC may call upon any
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department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, including
35 
government-owned or controlled-corporations (GOCCs), for such assistance as it may need in
36 
the pursuit of its objectives. All individuals, entities and institutions are hereby enjoined to
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render full assistance and cooperation to the SIMC in the accomplishments of its objectives
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and activities.
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SEC. 9. Tax Exemption. - Any grants, bequests, endowments, donations and contributions
40 
made to the SIMC shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as
41 
allowable deduction from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of


1 
the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended; Provided, that such donation shall
2 
not be disposed of, transferred or sold.
3 
SEC. 10. Audit -  The Commission on Audit shall appoint a representative who shall be the
4 
auditor of the SIMC and such personnel as may be necessary to assist said representative in the
5 
performance of his duty.
6 
SEC. 11. Reports. - The Medical Center Chief of the SIMC shall, within three (3) months after
7 
the end of every fiscal year, submit periodic reports to the DOH as may be required.
8 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. -  The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the
9 
Department's programs the implementation of this Act. the funding of which shall be included
10 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.
11 
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). -  Within ninety (90) days from the
12 
approval of this Act, the Secretary of Health, in consultation with the Secretary of Budget and
13 
Management, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions
14 
of this Act.
15 
SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - 
If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
16 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain valid.
17 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. -  All acts, executive orders, administrative orders, proclamations,
18 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are
19 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 16. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
21 
Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
22
23 
Approved,