QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 9790)
RA 9790 is titled the “Culion Sanitarium Conversion and Upgrading Act of 2009.”
It covers the Culion Sanitarium in the Municipality of Culion, Province of Palawan, created under Executive Order No. 35 (s. 1904).
The Culion Sanitarium is converted into the “Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.”
A conversion plan must be drawn up by the Central Office of the Department of Health (DOH), with coordination involving specified officials and stakeholders.
The plan must be constituted and coordinated by the DOH with the Center for Health Development IV-B Regional Director, Chief of Culion Sanitarium, medical and non-medical personnel through legal or duly designated representatives, and other stakeholders.
All assets (movable and immovable), records, liabilities, and obligations are transferred to the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital.
No. RA 9790 provides security of tenure: positions, seniority, security, and other rights of tenure of personnel shall continue to be honored.
It requires continued acknowledgement and service by the Culion Sanitarium and General Hospital, including possible livelihood assistance to indigent patients using the hospital’s assets.
The Secretary of Health must immediately include operationalization in the DOH program, funded initially from the current year’s appropriations; thereafter, continued operation funding must be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The Center for Health Development IV-B Regional Director and the Chief of Hospital, in coordination with concerned local government units, must draw up a mechanism for sourcing supplementary funds.
If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the unaffected portions remain valid and operative—preserving the constitutionality of the remaining parts.
All laws, decrees, orders, letters of instruction, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with RA 9790 are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
It takes effect immediately upon approval.
They reflect the legal policy of protecting employees’ rights (security of tenure, seniority, and tenure-related benefits) and ensuring continuity of essential health services for indigent patients.
It must draw up the conversion plan, include operationalization in its program and appropriation planning, and coordinate the conversion process with the regional health development center, facility chief, personnel representatives, and stakeholders.
It mandates continued service to indigent patients under the Leprosy Control Program and directs that efforts include possible livelihood assistance using hospital assets.