House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City 5th District Rep. PM Vargas has filed House Bill No. 3776, which seeks to empower the Department of Health (DOH) to adjust hospital bed capacity without needing congressional approval.
The proposed “DOH Hospital Bed Capacity Rationalization Act” would allow the agency to issue administrative orders to increase, decrease, or maintain bed capacity in DOH-retained hospitals.
Vargas said this would help government hospitals respond more quickly to real-time healthcare demands and ease the current 131% occupancy rate, which far exceeds the WHO’s recommended 80–85%.
He stressed that relying on Congress to pass new laws for each capacity adjustment causes delays that harm public health services.
The bill builds on previous efforts by his brother, former Rep. Alfred Vargas, and reflects his own commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 23, 2025
