EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
)
)
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SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2080
*21 MAR “2 P4-.03
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TERTIARY HOSPITAL UNDER THE CONTROL, 
SUPERVISION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
IN THE CITY OF CALBAYOG, SAMAR TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAMAR 
ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Samar Island is the third largest island in the Philippines, divided into three 
provinces, namely Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. It is home to 
around two million residents, almost half of the total population of the whole region 
of Eastern Visayas, which in 2015 stood at 4.4 miliion.
The region's population is currently being served by 51 government-owned 
and 27 privateiy-owned hospitals. It has only two Department of Health-retained 
hospitals: the 500-bed capacity Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in 
Tacloban City, and the 25-bed capacity Schistosomiasis Research Hospital in Palo, 
Leyte.
In a statement by DOH Region VIII Director Minerva Moion, it was bared 
that the doctor-to-patient ratio in Samar Island currently stands at 1:10,337. 
Furthermore, the island does not have any tertiary hospitals, and residents in need 
of high-level specialty care need to travel for hours to reach the nearest 
government tertiary hospital in Tacloban, Leyte.
This bill seeks to establish a tertiary hospital under the control, supervision, 
and management of the Department of Health in the City of Calbayog, Samar to 
be known as the Samar Island Medical Center. With this measure, we endeavor to 
bring quality and affordable healthcare services cioser to Samarnons as well as 
help improve the doctor-to-patient ratio on the island.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this biil is earnestiy sought.
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2080
*21 MAR-2 P4:03
n-x:
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
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AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A TERTIARY HOSPITAL UNDER THE CONTROL, 
SUPERVISION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
IN THE CITY OF CALBAYOG, SAMAR TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAMAR 
ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. There shall be established a tertiary general hospital, known as 
the Samar Island Regional Medical Center, with a minimum capacity of one 
hundred (100) beds, to be located In the City of Calbayog.
Sec. 2. The Samar Island Regional Medical Center shall be under the direct 
administrative and technicai supervision of the Department of Health.
Sec. 3. The Department of Health shall formulate the necessary guidelines 
for its operation as a tertiary hospital and ensure funding for the acquisition of the 
land on which the hospital will be established, the construction of the hospitai 
buildings and other complementary infrastructure, facilities and medicai 
equipment, as weli as for the costs for the necessary maintenance and personal 
services.
Sec. 4. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shail 
be charged against the current year's unappropriated baiance of the Department 
of Health. An appropriation of two hundred miliion pesos (P 200,000,000.00) shali 
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year succeeding the 
implementation of this Act, and one hundred miilion pesos (P 100,000,000.00)


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thereafter for four (4) years or until the provisions of this Act are fully implemented 
is hereby set aside for the purpose of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary 
for the continued operation of the Samar Island Regional Medical Center shall be 
included In the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 5. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
other parts for provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to remain 
in full force and effect.
Sec. 6. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following completion of 
its publication in the Official Gazette and in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,