2 pare 11 AUG 105

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH (20) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3477

Introduced by KAMANGGAGAWA Partylist
Representative ELIJAH R. SAN FERNANDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Healthcare is a constitutional right and a fundamental human entitlement. The
1987 Constitution explicitly mandates the State to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and to instill health consciousness among them,’ while also
directing the adoption of an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development that makes essential goods, health, and other social services available to
all? These constitutional guarantees reflect the fundamental principle that access to
healthcare is not a privilege reserved for a few but a right that must be ensured for
every Filipino, regardless of socio-economic status.

The problem in our public health system is not solely a matter of infrastructure
or funding. At its core lies a structural problem of human resource scarcity, aggravated
by uneven access to medical education and the exodus of trained professionals abroad.
While the demand for physicians steadily increases, access to quality and affordable
medical training remains concentrated in a few institutions and out of reach for most
Filipino students, especially those from working-class families. The high cost of medical
education and the limited number of government-subsidized medical schools have
rendered the dream of becoming a doctor unattainable for countless deserving youth.

This proposed measure alleviates that gap by establishing a College of M
in the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) - Quezon City Campus, a

* Art. II, Sec. 15 of the 1987 Constitution
* Art Xl, Sec. 11 of the 1987 Constitution

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strategic and socially grounded expansion of the university’s mandate. As a premier
state university with a long-standing commitment to accessible, pro-people education,
PUP is uniquely positioned to provide affordable, high-quality, and
community-oriented medical instruction that directly responds to the needs of our
healthcare system and our most vulnerable populations.

Under this bill, the PUP-Quezon City Campus College of Medicine shalll offer a
Doctor of Medicine program and an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine program.
This aligns with the national policy on the development of a health workforce as
outlined in Section 23 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act.

Moreover, the College shall also undertake medical research, health policy
studies, and extension services to support a more holistic, preventive, and inclusive
healthcare delivery system. It shall help cultivate a new generation of doctors whose
formation is rooted in public service, social justice, and scientific excellence.

This bill also builds on the momentum of other legislative efforts that aim to
increase access to medical education, such as the enactment of the “Doktor Para sa
Bayan Act” (RA 11509), which provides scholarships for aspiring physicians in state
universities and requires return service in underserved areas. By aligning with such
national initiatives, the proposed College will contribute to the broader goal of
democratizing healthcare access and promoting equitable distribution of medical
personnel across the country.

Education and healthcare are both tools of empowerment. When the State creates
institutions that combine these two vital pillars, it strengthens not only our public
health capacity but also the hope and aspirations of the working class and marginalized
sectors. PUP, with its tradition of excellence, activism, and service to the people, is an
ideal institution to carry this mandate forward.

Furthermore, this chamber in the 19th Congress had already passed this measure
on its third and final reading.

In solidarity with the working class, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

FERNANDO:

ZAWA Partvust

Page 2017


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH (20"') CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO,_3477

Tntroduced by KAMANGGAGAWA Partylist
Representative ELIJAH R. SAN FERNANDO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A COLLEGE OF MEDICINE IN THE POLYTECHNIC
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-QUEZON CITY CAMPUS, METRO MANILA
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment. - There is hereby established a medical school in the
Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Quezon City Campus (Branch), Metro Manila,
which shall be known as the “Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Quezon City
Campus College of Medicine.”

SEC. 2. General Mandate, - The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)-Quezon
City Campus College of Medicine, hereinafter referred to as the “College,” shall
primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine Program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and
Medicine Program, consisting of basic science and clinical courses, and using a
learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented approach. The primary
goal of the College shall be to develop a corps of professional physicians to strengthen
the healthcare system of the country, as well as to respond to the human resource
development needs of Quezon City, Metro Manila and the National Capital Region.

The College is also mandated to undertake research and extension services and
provide progressive leadership in these areas.

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SEC. 3. Governance. ~ Being an integral unit of the PUP System, the governance of the
College shall be vested in the Board of Regents of the PUP, whose powers and functions
are defined under Republic Act (RA) No. 8292, otherwise known as the “Higher
Education Modernization Act of 1997,” and other applicable laws and regulations,
unless otherwise provided or amended elsewhere in this Act.

SEC. 4. Administration. - The administration of the College shall be vested in the Dean
of the College insofar as may be authorized by its Board.

SEC. 5. The College Dean. ~ The College shall be headed by a Dean who shall be
appointed by the Board, subject to the guidelines, qualifications, and standards set by
the Board, and upon the recommendation of the President with qualifications pursuant
to the policies, standards, and guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED). The Dean shall render full-time service, serve a term of three (3) years, and
may be reappointed to another term.

Within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, the President of the PUP
shall constitute the Search Committee for the Deanship.

The powers and duties of the Dean of the College shall include those usually
pertaining to the Office of the Dean of similar state universities and colleges and those
delegated by the President.

The salary of the Dean of the College shall be in accordance with RA No. 11466,
otherwise known as the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019", and such other laws
amendatory thereto, which may hereinafter be enacted, and shall be comparable to that
being received by the Deans of similar educational institutions.

In case of vacancy in the Office of the Dean by reason of death, compulsory
retirement, resignation, removal for cause, or incapacity of the Dean to perform the
functions of the office, the Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President,
designate an Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the College, pending the appointment of a new
Dean: Provided, That the OIC shall serve only during the unexpired portion of the term.

The Dean of the College shall be assisted by a College Secretary, who shall be
appointed by the Board.

SEC. 6. - The Faculty. - The Board shall, upon the recommendation of the President of
the PUP, appoint the faculty members of the College: Provided, That no political belief,
sex, gender, cultural or community affiliation or ethnic origin, nor religious opinion or

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affiliation shall be a matter of inquiry in the appointment of faculty members of the
College: Provided, further, That said appointment shall be subject to the guidelines,
qualifications, and standards set by the Board in accordance with the policies of the
CHED: Provided, finally, That no member of the faculty shall teach for or against any
particular religious denomination.

SEC. 7. - Scholarship Programs and Admission. — The College shall provide scholarships
and other affirmative action programs to assist poor but deserving students who qualify
for admission to the College. Students who have availed themselves of the scholarship
program under RA No. 11509, otherwise known as the “Doktor Para sa Bayan Act,”
shall render a return service in accordance with the said law. Students availing
themselves of other nationally-funded scholarship programs to complete the medicine
degree program under the College may be required to render a return service
depending on the contract to be signed between the student and the College.

No student shall be denied admission to the College by reason of sex, gender,
religion, cultural or community affiliation, physical disability, ethnic origin, or any
other forms of discrimination.

SEC. 8. - Academic Freedom. - The College shall enjoy academic freedom, pursuant to
Paragraph 2, Section 5 of Article XIV of the Constitution.

SEC. 9. - Loan or Transfer of Supplies, Apparatuses, or Equipment, and Detail of Personnel to
the College. - Heads of national government agencies and instrumentalities may, upon
the request of the Board through the President of the PUP, loan or transfer of supplies,
apparatuses, or equipment, and detail personnel to the College: Provided, That such
loan, transfer or detail shall not be detrimental to public service.

The personnel to be detailed to the College shall perform such duties as may be
deemed required by the Dean of the College and the time spent for such duties shall be
counted as part of the detailed personnel's regular service.

SEC. 10. - Assets, Liabilities, and Personnel. ~ All appropriations, assets, both real and
personal, personnel, and records of the College, as well as its liabilities or obligations,
shall be titled or named after the PUP.

All parcels of land belonging to the government to be occupied by the College

shall be the property of the PUP and titled under its name: Provided, That should the
PUP cease to exist or be abolished or such aforementioned parcels of land be no longer

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needed by the PUP, the same shall revert to the local government unit concerned or to
the Republic of the Philippines, as the case may be.

SEC. 11. - Duty and Tax Exemptions. - The importation by the College of medical books
or publications, medical equipment or instruments which are for medical, laboratory or
scientific purposes shall, upon certification by the CHED, be exempt from customs
duties in accordance with the provisions of RA No. 10863, otherwise known as the
“Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA)”.

All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and contributions made to and
used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes by the College, shall be
exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from
gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donor in accordance
with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

SEC. 12. - Compliance with the CHED Requirements. — The provisions of this Act
notwithstanding, the establishment of the medical course shall become effective only
upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of
a panel of experts, which shall constitute for the purpose that the institution has
complied with the policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED for the Doctor of
Medicine Program: Provided, That the panel of experts may issue such recommendation
when the institution has substantially complied with the requirements provided in the
aforesaid order.

SEC. 13. - Suppletory Application. - The provisions of RA No. 8292, otherwise known as
the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997”, shall form part of this Act.

SEC. 14, - Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 15. - Implementing Rules and Regulations, — Within sixty (60) days from the approval
of this Act, the Board shall, in consultation with the CHED, issue rules and regulations
to implement its provisions.

SEC. 16. - Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected are
in full force and effect.

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SEC. 17. - Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, and rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are amended,
repealed, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 18. - Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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