A proposed measure by Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre that would establish the Batasan General Hospital in Quezon City was approved by the House Committee on Health on Thursday, Nov. 10.

Three other bills that would establish local hospitals in Rizal and Zamboanga del Sur, as well as one that would increase the bed capacity of the Wao District Hospital in Lanao del Sur also got the nod from the House panel.

The committee okayed House Bill (HB) No. 1941, or “An Act Establishing a General Hospital in Quezon City, Metro Manila to be known as the Batasan General Hospital, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”

In the bill’s explanatory note, Romualdez explained that the basis of the proposed measure is anchored on Article Il of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which provides the obligation of the State to protect and promote the health of the people.

“In line with the policies of the State, this bill seeks to mandate the establishment of a general hospital in Quezon City to be known as the Batasan General Hospital. It shall be a twenty-five (25) bed facility under the supervision and maintenance of the Department of Health (DOH),” she wrote.

“This will strengthen and increase the capacity of the State to provide accessible, affordable, and sustainable quality medical services to the patients, especially the poor,” the bill added.

The proposed measure sought to put the “direct supervision” of the proposed 25-bed hospital in Quezon City under the DOH.

The amount needed to operate and maintain the hospital shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), the bill stated.

The DOH posed no objection to the establishment of the Batasan General Hospital, provided it will be under the “supervision and control” of Quezon City.

So far, the city has 45 licensed hospitals, eight of which are DOH hospitals, 31 are private hospitals, four are military hospitals, and three are hospitals under the local government.

During the committee meeting, the members also approved HB 955 for the establishment of the Northern Tagalog Regional Hospital in Rodriguez, Rizal by Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, HB 1257 for the establishment of the Ramon Magsaysay District Hospital in Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur by Rep. Divina Grace Yu, and HB 3140 for the increase to 100 beds from 25 beds of the Wao District Hospital in Lanao del Sur by Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.

The House panel also gave its nod to HB 320, which would establish the Ruben E. Ecleo, Sr. Hospital, the first Level 2 General Hospital in the Province of Dinagat Islands, authored by Dinagat Islands Lone District Rep. Alan Ecleo.

In his sponsorship speech, Ecleo explained that all current health facilities in Dinagat Islands are on an infirmary level status, requiring Dinagatnons "to endure a long and perilous journey to seek out adequate health care elsewhere."

The proposed measure seeks to make necessary health services easily accessible for the first time in the Province.

This would include an adult intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit, and a high-risk pregnancy unit with a surgically capable team to handle trauma cases and cesarean section.