Batangas Tourism General Hospital

Schate Office of the Sectarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE FEB-5 P3:54 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 1790 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO AN ACT CONVERTING THE MABINI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MABINI, PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, INTO A LEVEL II HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE BATANGAS TOURISM GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The Municipality of Mabini, located in the Province of Batangas, is widely recognized as one of the country's premier diving and ecotourism destinations. The influx of both local and foreign tourists has brought significant economic opportunities to the area, but it has also highlighted the need for improved and specialized healthcare services that can cater not only to residents but also to visitors and tourism workers. At present, the Mabini Community Hospital serves as one of the primary healthcare facilities in the municipality. However, its existing capacity and resources are limited to general medical services, making it necessary to enhance its facilities to meet the growing health demands brought about by the municipality's flourishing tourism sector. This measure seeks to convert the Mabini Community Hospital into the Batangas Tourism General Hospital, a facility dedicated to providing comprehensive, specialized, and emergency medical care to both residents and tourists. The establishment of a tourism-oriented general hospital will ensure that medical services are readily available

to address injuries, diving-related incidents, and other health concerns common in tourism-intensive areas. Furthermore, the measure provides for an increase in the hospital's authorized bed capacity to accommodate more patients and enhance the delivery of medical services. Upgrading its capacity and facilities will not only improve health outcomes but also boost the province's readiness to handle emergencies involving both locals and tourists. By converting the hospital into a specialized medical institution, this bill aims to strengthen the linkage between public health and tourism, ensuring that the Province of Batangas remains a safe, sustainable, and competitive destination. It is a forward-looking initiative that complements the province's ongoing efforts to promote inclusive growth through health and tourism development. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO

Schate Offite of the serictate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES FEB -5 P3:54 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 1790 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO AN ACT CONVERTING THE MABINI COMMUNITY HOSPITAL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MABINI, PROVINCE OF BATANGAS, INTO A LEVEL II HOSPITAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE BATANGAS TOURISM GENERAL HOSPITAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. The Mabini Community Hospital located in the Municipality of Mabini,

2 Province of Batangas, is hereby converted into a Level II hospital to be known as the 3 Batangas Tourism General Hospital, and shall be placed under the direct supervision and 4 control of the Provincial Government of Batangas.

SEC. 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Batangas Tourism General Hospital

7 shall be increased from eighteen (18) to fifty (50) beds. Any future increase in bed capacity shall be consistent with the hospital development plan that shall be prepared by the Chief of Hospital of the Batangas Tourism General Hospital, and submitted to the Department of Health (DOH)

SEC. 3. The Batangas Tourism General Hospital shall:

(a) Specialize as a tourism hospital with capability to admit and treat illnesses and disorders of transients and tourists and to address tourism-related accidents;

(b) Keep, maintain, and upgrade its hyperbaric chamber and all other medical equipment and supplies; (c) Maintain sufficient number of land and sea ambulances and fast communication facilities to enable the hospital to quickly respond to tourism-related emergency calls; (d) Maintain sufficient number of specialists, physicians, as well as technical and medical professionals including support personnel in accordance with the hospital development plan; (e) Coordinate with the tourism offices of local government units within the Province of Batangas, as well as with legitimate tourism establishments and sites that are located and operating therein, to effectively address the medical tourism concerns of the entire province; (f) Admit other patients and address non-tourism related cases within the catchment area of the hospital; and (g) Accommodate indigent patients and provide charity beds in accordance with DOH regulations.

SEC. 4. The current health care facilities of the Batangas Tourism General Hospital

shall be upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the increase in bed capacity as provided for in Section 2 hereof. Similarly, the existing workforce of the hospital which includes doctors, nurses, and support personnel shall be increased correspondingly.

SEC. 5. The Provincial Government of Batangas shall provide for the necessary

funds to cover the maintenance and other operating expenses of the Batangas Tourism General Hospital. It shall also appropriate funds for the additional human resource complement to support the increase in bed capacity and the corresponding upgrading of its service facilities and professional health care services.

SEC. 6. The Secretary of Health shall include in the Department's subsidy program,

support for the capital outlay requirements of the Batangas Tourism General Hospital.

SEC. 7. All laws, executive orders, issuances, and rules and regulations inconsistent

with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

5 Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,