Legislation

On 14 May 2008, the Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Hon. Iggy T. Arroyo,

 held the deliberation on House Bill 3229 which was introduced by Congressman Diasnes. 

This bill seeks to establish parts of Itbayat as a protected area or sanctuary for Tatus or

Birgus Latro in accordance with the shared desire of the LGU officials and their

constituencies to preserve and protect the specie.

 

In recognition of the rarity and uniqueness of the Tatus, Cong. Diasnes is pushing for the

establishment of a sanctuary.  This is a measure intended to serve as intervention such

that the depletion and eventual extinction of the Tatus will be prevented. This measure

 shall henceforth be known as The Itbayat Island Tatus Sanctuary Act. The objectives of

this act are:

 

a)To protect, conserve and rehabilitate the natural habitat of the specie;

 

                                                              b) Organize and empower communities to enable

                                                                  them to participate actively in  the conservation

                                                                  and rehabilitation of its habitat;

 

                                                              c) Develop, promote and manage sustainable

                                                                 alternative livelihood systems;

 

                                                              d) Inform, educate and raise ecological

                                                                  consciousness of all the stakeholders in

                                                                  Itbayat; and

 

e) Ensure that the National Integrated Protected Areas System Law under Republic Act 7586

A policy-making body to be known as Tatus Sanctuary Management Board will be created. 

The composition, term of office and powers and functions of the Board are also explained in

the bill.

 

During the deliberation, Congressman Diasnes sought the immediate approval of the said bill. 

In response, the Committee cited RA 8991 which established “Batanes seascape and

landscape as protected area”.  They then advised that the protection and preservation of the

Tatus be done through zoning and with “stronger implementation of the RA by the local

government.”

 

Congressman Diasnes however proposed amendments to the RA citing economic reasons. 

He noted that RA 8991 declares the entire province as a protected area, thus, the catching of

Tatus is prohibited. Implementing this, he said, poses a threat to those who earn a living

catching and selling Tatus, as well as to ordinary folks who simply wish to eat the delicacy.

Moreover, tourists always request that cooked tatus be served to them.  For years now, he

added, people continue to flout with and skirt around the law  as they continue to covertly

hunt for the Tatus and sell them.

 

Congressman also proposed the provision of an alternative option for those to whom

catching tatus is a primary or alternative source

of living.As regards the RA 8991, the Congressman

said, “I propose the amendment of the RA so that

only a specific area will be declared 'protected' or

'a sanctuary' because the RA declares the whole

 province as protected area.”

 

He further proposed that the Tatus Sanctuary

Management Board be funded so that it can

deputize a “Patrol” to monitor the implementation

of the laws. On account of all the points he raised,

the Congressman proposed that RA 8991 be either

 BILL TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE

OUR TATUS

 

revised or strengthened in order to achieve a perfect balance between protecting the natural

environment of Batanes and providing livelihood for the Ivatans.

 

The Vice Chair of the Committee Congressman Arrel R. Olaño, supported by the Chair,

Congressman Iggy Arroyo, endorsed the proposals to the technical board for further analysis.

LEGISLATIVE WORKS TO

ADVANCE THE INTERESTS

OF IVATANS AND FILIPINOS

 

Being the Vice Chair of the House Committee

on Health, Congressman Diasnes establishes

partnership with agencies that are directly or

principally related to public health and hygiene,

medical, hospital and other health facilities,

devices and technology, and services. A primary

agency in this regard is the Department of Health.

 

The Congressman is also the Chair of the

Subcommittee on Health Human Resource.  It is

the subcommittee that handles “all matters relating

to human resource and health professional

regulation and other allied services.“

 

Hence, on a number of occasions, he has met with

DOH personnel to discuss matters regarding human resource which the Congressman then

translates into House Bills with assistance from DOH.

 

The Congressman has submitted the following bills related to his subcommittee:

1)AN ACT INCREASING THE ENTRY LEVEL SALARY OF PRIORITY HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH (HRH)

This Act shall be known as “Entry Level Salary of Human Resources for Health Act of 2008”.

 

[Condensed] Explanatory Note:

The problem of migration of our health care workers is usually rooted in low salary and

compensation given to them. One of the pull factors of migration is the presence of better

compensation and benefits in the receiving countries. Data shows that there is a wide

discrepancy existing between Philippine and foreign employment, between health professionals

compared with other professionals in terms of compensation or wages.

 

The figures on salaries of doctors and nurses explain why most of our health care workers are

leaving the country. They are poorly compensated in spite of the fact that they have greater

responsibility since they are dealing with life as compared to other professions.

 

This bill proposes a higher entry level salary as a means of retaining our health care workers. By providing them with better compensation, it is our hope that competent health care workers will remain in our country and deliver quality health care.

2)AN ACT TO MANAGE MEDICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE

PHILIPPINES

This Act shall be known as the “Medical Residency Act of 2008”.

 

[Condensed] Explanatory Note:

The production of doctors in the Philippines

 has reached an alarming stage as shown by

the decreasing enrolment trend in medicine.

This condition is even complicated by the fact

that doctors are going into nursing which is

known as the nurse medic phenomenon as a

means of working abroad especially in the

United States (US).

 

Many Filipino physicians prefer to go into

nursing or work abroad rather than go into

residency training because of poor compensation and inhumane working conditions. The

entry position of medical residents in government hospitals is Medical Officer III with a

salary grade of 18 that is equivalent to a starting salary of P15, 841.00. This amount is not

enough to sustain a family and have a decent living. Aside from meager salary, residents are

often times exploited. This is the reason why we have to change the way we treat our

medical residents if we would like to retain them. 

 

Because of the abovementioned situation of medical residency training in the Philippines,

changes should be instituted to address these issues and problems. At present, different

specialty societies accredit residency training. As such, there is no uniform standard set for

residency training for all specialties and there is no structure or organization that is

overseeing the accreditation being done by these specialty societies. Also these specialty

societies only evaluate the technical aspect of residency training but it doesn't look into

other facets such as working conditions and welfare of medical residents.   

 

This bill proposes changes that will ensure the quality of residency training for all

specialties, uplift the working condition of medical residents and upgrade their salary and

compensation.

 

 

HB5223 - AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH NETWORK  AS A STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

 

The Philippines is known as the source of highly qualified, experienced and skilled Human

Resources for Health (HRH). Better compensation and benefits of working abroad resulted

to migration of our HRH to developed countries such as the United States (US), Canada and

the Middle East. The US' opening its doors for permanent migration of Filipino nurses led

to the nurse medic phenomenon wherein doctors are going into nursing in order to work in

the US. However, the recent trends of decreased production of doctors and fast turn over of

highly skilled nurses threaten to compromise Philippine health care delivery system.

 

The problem of HRH migration is compounded by the fact that there is lack of structure to

support HRH development in the Philippines in spite of the clear intention of the State to

“undertake appropriate health manpower development” as stated in the Philippine

Constitution of 1987. Presently, there are several government agencies with mandates on

HRH development. The efforts of these agencies are often fragmented and not harmonized

in such a way that it does not promote long term solutions to persistent HRH problems

such as migration.

 

Recognizing the problem of lack of structure, the Department of Health (DOH) spearheaded

the creation of the Human Resources for Health Network (HRHN) in October 25, 2006

through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among the heads of fourteen

member organizations. The HRHN is composed of several government agencies, non-

government organizations and the academe with an aim of supporting HRH development

in the Philippines.  

 

Prior to the creation of the HRHN, HRH experts recommended the establishment of a

commission to address the problem of lack of structure. However, the establishment of a

commission would mean creating another government agency which entails human

resource, budget, office and equipment. In a country like the Philippines wherein there is

already too much bureaucracy, creating another government agency might not be the

solution.

 

Although barely two years of existence, the HRHN is efficiently functioning as an

organization as shown by the numerous projects and activities it has undertaken to solve

the most pressing HRH problem at the moment which is migration. However, in order to

ensure maintenance and continuous existence of the HRHN, it is recommended to enact a

bill that will institutionalize it and enshrine it within the national policy framework of our

country. The presence of a structure that will support HRH development such as the HRHN

will hopefully provide long term solutions to HRH problems through high level

coordination among the different government agencies and non-government organizations

with mandates on HRH.

 

Being a medical doctor himself, Congressman Diasnes also understands deeply the concerns of

the hospitals in the province as well as the repercussions of everything that happens in and to the

hospitals.  Thus, he filed these two bills related to the need for certain changes in the hospital

service in Batanes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ House Bill No. 5162]

1)AN ACT TO UPGRADE HOSPITAL FACILITIES OF THE ITBAYAT DISTRICT HOSPITAL

IN THE PROVINCE OF BATANES WITHOUT CHANGE IN STATUS AND TRANSFER OF ITS

DIRECT CONTROL, SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

 

                                                                                  [Condensed Explanatory Note]

                                                                                  The re-nationalization of the Itbayat District

                                                                                  Hospital, although it will remain a primary

                                                                                  level hospital, is the only means by which the

                                                                                  basic right of the Ivatans to health can be given,

                                                                                  upheld and sustained.  Its re-nationalization

                                                                                  will make it responsive to the health needs of

                                                                                  the people. The people of Batanes deserve

                                                                                  nothing less. By putting the hospital under the

                                                                                  supervision, monitoring and administration of

                                                                                  the Department of Health, people will be ensured

                                                                                  of better facilities, supplies and services. The

                                                                                  national government can likewise facilitate the

provision of much-needed facilities and supplies. The Itbayat District Hospital is totally dependent

on the provincial government which has limited financial resources.  It is for this reason that the

Itbayat District Hospital, which has long been inadequate in answering the medical needs of the

people, be re-nationalized.

 

[House Bill No. 5163]

1)AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN THE

MUNICIPALITY OF SABTANG, PROVINCE OF BATANES

There shall be established, under the supervision of the Department of Health, a district

hospital in the Municipality of Sabtang, Province of Batanes, to be known as the Sabtang

District Hospital.

 

[Condensed Explanatory Note]

The municipality of Sabtang, which has 6 barangays, has no existing hospital. The sick need to

make the 1-hour trip by motor boat to the mainland and another 30-minute ride to the capital

to get to the Batanes General Hospital.  During the harsh months when travel by sea is perilous

or impossible, patients would simply submit themselves to fate.  Aggravating this situation is

the fact that the island is marked by dangerously curved and unpaved roads. 

The long and perilous travel results in deaths or life-threatening situations.  Hence, it is

imperative to create a hospital where patients from the far barangays can be first brought and

where decisions can be made before they receive further treatment at the general hospital