RECEIVED

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS IS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) E pyreFEB LT
First Regular Session ) TIME:
A BY:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES K>,

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 5305
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) was established by P.D. 1631, originally
as the hospital known as Lungsod ng Kabataan. The law was passed, basically to construct,
establish, operate and maintain facilities for the children’s welfare, including a specialized
hospital for children.

Lungsod ng Kabataan is described as a “Wonderland for Children’. Inside the hospital, the
child is greeted by colorful, educational, cultural and historical murals that line its corridors.
The rooms have various fancy beds designed as jeepneys, fire wagons, speedboats, and
slippers or bakya. This aims to make the child's hospital stay a soothing and comfortable
‘experience, as well as informative, educational and enjoyable. The decorative rooms also
distract children from their ills and pain, making their environment conducive to healing. IT
was renamed to the PCMC thru Memorandum Order No. 2.

At present, PCMC’s expert service and infrastructure capabilities showcase the largest ICU
for children in the country. It has the biggest neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] that is
integral to the Perinatal Care and Neonatology Center. It's Child Neurology and
Neurosurgery Service Program, inclusive of a neurodevelopment center, is fully equipped
with up-to-date services. It also has the most comprehensive pediatric rehabilitation facility
and the most extensive pediatric multi-specialty for inpatients, as well as for clinic service to
‘out-patients and referrals. Among these are the Cancer and Hematology Center, Adolescent
Center (Teen Republic); Pediatric Lung, Heart, Kidney and Liver Center; Pediatric Critical
Care Center, and: the Clinical Centers for General Pediatric Services and Surgical & Allied
Medical Services, respectively.

This is why we need to have PCMC's in the Visayas and in Mindanao. We need to make
their services to the children patients in Visayas and Mindanao.

The establishment of PCMC-Visayas and PCMC-Mindanao will alleviate the plight of parents
and children in these regions of additional costs and burden of travelling to Quezon City in
order to avail of the medical services of PCMC.

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

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES i

First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill No, 6305
AN ACT

ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER FOR VISAYAS AND
PHILIPPINE CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER FOR MINDANAO AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
right to health of the people, especially the children, including proper care and nutrition and
to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development. Towards this
end, the State shall ensure the accessibility of medical services and the availability of
specialized health care to children in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

SEC 2. Philippine Children's Medical Center for Visayas and Mindanao. - There shall be
established, under the supervision of the Department of Health, a Philippine Children's
Medical Center in lloilo City and a Philippine Children's Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro
City to be known as the Philippine Children’s Medical Center for Visayas and Philippine
Children’s Medical Center for Mindanao, subject to the provisions of Presidential Decree
1631

The PCMC-Visayas and PCMC-Mindanao shall be constituent specialty hospitals of
the Philippine Children's Medical Center and shall be administered by its existing Board of
Trustees of the Philippine Children's Medical Center, hereinafter referred to as the Board.

The PCMC-Visayas and PCMC-Mindanao shall have a bed capacity of at least one
hundred fifty (150) each.

SEC 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Secretary of Health, in consultation
with the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Children's Medical Center, shall formulate and
promulgate, the rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC 4. Appropriations—The amount of Ten Billion Pesos (Php 10,000,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated for the establishment, initial operation and maintenance of the PCMC
- Visayas and PCMC - Mindanao. Thereafter, such amounts as may be necessary for the
continued operation and maintenance of the PCMC - Visayas and PCMC-Mindanao shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC 5. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, orders, proclamations, rules and regulations,
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or
modified accordingly.

SEC 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,