Rep. Alvarez files bill to expand Davao Reg'l Medical Center
Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez has filed a bill seeking to expand the healthcare operations of the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC), upgrade its facilities, and hire more health care professionals to further improve the delivery of health care services in the Mindanao region.

Under House Bill No. 7047, the former House Speaker sought to increase the bed capacity of the DRMC from 600 to 1,000.
Alvarez said he filed the bill "to sufficiently provide for the health service needs of the region, and further promote the development of Mindanao's health sector.”
He said the DRMC, a government tertiary training hospital located in Tagum City, is currently serving patients from Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur.
"Today, the DRMC provides top-notch health services to the region and has contributed significantly to Mindanao's health sector development. It holds the distinction of being the Cancer Center for Mindanao, and has the only accredited Kidney Transplant Program in Mindanao," he said.
"Additionally, it operates beyond Tagum City through its Extension Hospital in San Isidro, Davao del Norte, which is in dire need of competent manpower to adequately serve the population therein," he added.
Alvarez noted that in 2015, the DRMC's capacity was increased from 200 to 600 beds in response to the hospital's need to enhance its capacity to serve a larger area.
HB 7047 seeks to increase the authorized bed capacity of the DRMC in Apokon, Tagum City from 600 to 1,000.
The bed-capacity increase shall be implemented upon approval of the proposed Act.
The bill also seeks to increase the existing hospital facilities and professional health care services of the DRMC to conform with the increase in bed capacity.
"Upon consultation with the DRMC, the Department of Health (DOH) shall, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC), determine the additional plantilla positions to be created and filled up in the workforce of DRMC," according to HB 7047, which was filed last July 1.
The measure provides that the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of the proposed Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act of the year following the enactment into law and thereafter.