TO PROTECT the well-being of teachers, Rep. Tyrone Agabas of the 6th district of Pangasinan sought the approval of a measure that will establish a hospital for teachers and their dependents.

Agabas filed House Bill 4988 or the proposed Philippine Teachers’ Hospital Act to protect the interest and promote the well-being of Filipino teachers and their families.

Under the bill, the Philippine Teachers’ Hospital will be established in the National Capital Region and shall be the primary medical facility for the hospitalization and medical care of teachers and their families.

The measure also mandates each regional hospital to establish a teachers’ ward with at least 100 beds.

The hospital shall provide comprehensive healthcare services to all teachers and their dependents; complement the existing package of services under the National Health Insurance Program including preventive, diagnostic, curative and rehabilitative programs; conduct medical examination and set up a system that will effectively monitor the condition of patients.

The hospital will be administered by a board of directors consisting of the secretary of the Department of Education as ex-officio chairman and the secretary of Department of Health as ex-officio vice chairman.

The chairman of the Commission on Higher Education and the director general of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will be included in the list of ex-officio members.

An initial budget of P500 million shall be appropriated for the establishment and initial operations of the Philippine Teachers’ Hospital. The money shall be sourced from the savings of the Executive Branch.