Lawmaker wants to establish hospital facilities of the Philippine

Childrens Medical Center in Visayas and Mindanao

A lawmaker has filed a measure that would ensure that a specialty hospital reaches
the Visayas and Mindanao. It aims to serve children diagnosed with diseases in these areas
that only a specialty hospital such as the Philippine Childrens Medical Center (PCMC in
Manila can cater to.
!ep. "es #atchalian (Party$list% Alay &uhay authored 'ouse &ill ()((% which
proposes to enact laws that will esta*lish the PCMC in Visayas and Mindanao to address a
decentrali+ation of the ,ational Capital !egion (,C!% so that those who may *e far from
the metropolis can also share in the *enefits of ur*an cities of the country.
In filing the measure% #atchalian cited the policy of the -tate which provides that
the -tate shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
which shall endeavor to make essential goods% health and other social services availa*le to
all the people at afforda*le cost.
#atchalian said there shall *e priority for the needs of the under$privileged% sick%
elderly% disa*led% women and children which the -tate shall endeavor to provide free
medical care to paupers.
According to #atchalian% since its hum*le *eginnings in ./01% the PCMC has *een
home to children with special medical concerns. Its presence at the heart of Metro Manila
has served a num*er of children diagnosed with diseases.
#atchalan said the living presence of pu*lic hospitals and government controlled
medical institutions have *een an assurance to the pu*lic especially to those who are less
in life% that a medical hospital with 2ualified doctors and advance facilities are ready to aid
their children.
34espite its more than three decades of e5istence% PCMC remains to *e the only
one among pu*lic institutions with such cali*er. 6he PCMC may have maintained its
sterling reputation and outgrown its medical capacities *ut it has not physically reached
yet the Visayas and Mindanao regions%7 #atchalian said.
#atchalian stressed that the *ill will *e of vital necessity especially to Visayan and
Mindanaoan constituents of the country who do not have the financial means to travel and
consult with medical e5perts in Metro Manila.
NR # 3486
JUNE 3, 2014
8nder the measure% the PCMC shall *e administered *y a &oard of 6rustees%
composed of seven mem*ers to *e appointed *y the President. It shall *e headed *y an
95ecutive 4irector who shall *e appointed *y the &oard.
6he 95ecutive 4irector shall act as the chief e5ecutive officer of the PCMC with
authority to appoint% remove and fi5 the compensation of the personnel% su*:ect to the
approval of the &oard of 6rustees. 6he si5 appointed mem*ers of the &oard shall serve
without compensation for a period of four years.
6he hospital 4irector for Visayas and Mindanao 'ospital ;acilities shall *e
appointed *y the &oard of 6rustees on the *asis of search process for a period of si5 years
and until their successors shall have *een appointed and 2ualified with a reappointment.
An amount of P<11 million for each hospital shall *e appropriated for the operation
of PCMC$Visayas and the PCMC$Mindanao including the land ac2uisition% construction
and ac2uisition of hospital e2uipment% furniture and fi5tures. ()1 lvc