The House of Representatives on Monday approved on second reading the bill establishing a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) intended to assist the national and local government in case of public health emergencies and war, among others.
The House, in plenary session Monday, passed House Bill 8999 or the “Medical Reserve Corps Act” through a voice vote.
HB 8999 is a consolidation of several bills filed on the subject under Committee Report 886 with Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan as the measure’s principal author.
The MRC as proposed in the bill shall compose of licensed physicians, medical students who have completed their four years of medical course, graduates of medicine, registered nurses, and licensed allied health professionals who may be called upon to assist the national government, its agencies, and instrumentalities, and local governments.
It shall be created under the supervision of the Department of Health.
The bill recommends that the President shall be given the power to mobilize the MRC nationwide in case of a declaration of a state of war, a state of lawless violence, or a state of calamity. Maricel V. Cruz
It proposes to enlist the Armed Forces to provide expertise on the organization of the MRC for efficient, effective, and swift deployment, as well as provide training to the recruits in disaster and emergency response.
The Armed Forces shall complement the MRC logistics and manpower for large-scale operations in times of disaster or other public health emergencies.
