Republic Act No. 9792, enacted on November 19, 2009, renames the Davao Medical Center to Southern Philippines Medical Center and increases its bed capacity from 600 to 1,200. The Act mandates the upgrading of the center's facilities and healthcare services to match the new capacity. It also authorizes the creation of additional medical personnel positions, with implementation planned over a maximum of four years. Funding for these changes will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, and the Act takes effect 15 days after publication.
November 19, 2009
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9792
AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF THE DAVAO MEDICAL CENTER IN DAVAO CITY TO THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES MEDICAL CENTER, INCREASING ITS BED CAPACITY FROM SIX HUNDRED (600) TO ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED (1,200), UPGRADING ITS SERVICE FACILITIES AND PROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE, AUTHORIZING THE INCREASE OF ITS MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
SECTION 1. The name of the Davao Medical Center in Davao City is hereby changed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
SECTION 2. The authorized bed capacity of the Southern Philippines Medical Center is hereby increased from six hundred (600) to one thousand two hundred (1,200) beds.
SECTION 3. The existing service facilities and professional health care services of the Southern Philippines Medical Center are hereby upgraded to conform with and be commensurate to the bed capacity increase as provided for under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. The Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management and the Southern Philippines Medical Center, shall determine the additional plantilla positions to be created pursuant to this Act.
SECTION 5. The increase in bed capacity of the Southern Philippines Medical Center from six hundred (600) to one thousand two hundred (1,200) beds shall be implemented for a period of not more than four (4) years from the approval of this Act.
SECTION 6. The Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. ICcDaA
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved: November 19, 2009