The House Committee on Metro Manila Development is moving to help ensure that laws expanding the capacity of public hospitals actually translate into more beds, adequate facilities, medical equipment, and health workers—and ultimately better and more accessible care for patients.
Committee Chairperson and Caloocan City Representative Dean Asistio said the panel convened concerned government agencies and hospital officials to identify what has delayed the full implementation of laws increasing the bed capacities of several Metro Manila hospitals and determine what must be done to finally deliver their intended benefits to the public.
In his opening remarks, Asistio pointed out that the said laws “were purposely enacted to respond to a very basic and urgent need: to ensure that every patient who requires hospitalization has access to a hospital bed as needed”.
The legislator noted, however, that some of the laws that date back to the 17th Congress have yet to be fully implemented.
“Hanggang ngayon po, base sa nakalulungkot na karanasan ng marami nating mga kababayan, hindi pa po ito ganap na naisakatuparan. This is despite the fact that some of these laws have long been enacted during the 17th Congress. Halos mag-iisang dekada na po,” the lawmaker lamented.
“This delay is not only concerning but alarming. The need for quality hospital services has only become greater throughout the years,” he stressed.
Asistio stressed that the House is acting because the consequences of delayed implementation are ultimately borne by patients and their families, particularly those who depend on government hospitals.
“This is a call for accountability and moral responsibility.”
“Karapatan po ng bawat pasyente at ng kanilang pamilya na magkaroon ng maayos na programang pangkalusugan. Hindi lamang po ito isang medical o simpleng health emergency. This is a call for accountability and moral responsibility,” he stressed.
The committee is seeking explanations from concerned agencies, departments, hospitals, and their medical directors or chiefs on the causes of the delays so that Congress can help address the problems preventing the laws from being carried out.
“Tulad po ng isang sakit, nais po nating ma-diagnose kung bakit hindi naisasakatuparan ang mga batas para po makapagbigay tayo ng tamang solusyon,” Asistio said.
“Nais po ng komiteng ito na matugunan ang problema at makatulong hindi lang sa ating mga kababayang pasyente kundi sa mga ospital at tagapangisiwa ng mga ito,” he added.
Asistio acknowledged that increasing hospital capacity requires more than purchasing additional beds. Hospitals also need sufficient infrastructure and facilities, equipment, and medical and allied health personnel to serve additional patients.
“Alam po natin na ang pagdaragdag ng hospital bed capacity ay hindi lang tungkol sa bilang ng mga kama. Kakambal po nito ang mga infrastructure o facilities, karagdagang mga equipment at maging ng manpower o medical and health allied personnel complement,” he said.
“Wala po tayong ibang layunin sa araw na ito kundi ang maibigay ang serbisyong medikal mula sa gobyerno na mas maging makabuluhan at kapaki-pakinabang – at makatao,” Asistio added.
He explained that the hearing is intended not to assign blame but to bring the House, government agencies, and hospitals together to find solutions that can be acted upon.
“Hindi po tayo narito para manisi ng sinuman. Hindi po tayo narito para magturuan,” Asistio said.
“Sama-sama nating hanapin ang problema para sama-sama rin nating ilatag ang mga agarang solusyon.”
“Ang tanging hangad po natin ay sama-sama nating hanapin ang problema para sama-sama rin nating ilatag ang mga agarang solusyon,” he added.
Asistio emphasized that Congress has a responsibility beyond passing legislation: it must also help ensure that the laws it enacts produce real benefits for the people.
“We also want to ensure that the laws passed by this Congress to advance the Filipino people’s welfare genuinely redound to their benefit,” he explained. “Bawat taon na nade-delay ang implementasyon ng mga batas na ito ay pagtalikod sa tunay na sakit na nararamdaman ng taumbayan.”
With Congress heading into the budget season, the committee is also seeking clarity on what hospitals need to fully implement their mandated capacity increases, giving lawmakers an opportunity to determine how these requirements can be addressed.
Asistio said the House ultimately wants to ensure that legislation is felt not merely through statutes but through concrete improvements in public services.
The goal, he said, is “to ensure that the laws enacted by Congress genuinely translate into actual, accessible, and timely hospital and medical services for the people of Metro Manila.”
