House of Representatives, 11 August 2025 – Better Healthcare for Northern Cebu, Rep. Duke Frasco Calls for Support from the Cebu Provincial Government for the Passage of House Bill No. 331
Photo courtesy of the office of Rep. Duke Frasco
CEBU 5th District Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco has called on Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro and the Cebu Provincial Board to fully back House Bill No. 3313, a measure seeking to upgrade the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Danao City into a Level II general hospital to be known as the North Cebu Medical Center (NCMC).
The measure, refiled by Rep. Frasco on 06 August 2025, is a continuation of his long-standing advocacy to improve healthcare access and services not only for the people in the 5th District, but for all municipalities in Northern Cebu. Healthcare, alongside education and infrastructure, remains one of his top priorities. With HB No. 3313, he aims to deliver enhanced health services particularly those in far-flung areas who currently lack access to specialized care.
This legislative measure is part of Rep. Frasco’s steadfast commitment to improving healthcare access and services, not only in the 5th District but across all municipalities in the northern part of Cebu. Rep. Frasco first introduced the bill in the 18th Congress as House Bill No. 8275 on December 16, 2020, which was referred to the Committee on Health on January 18, 2021. However, due to the pandemic and time constraints, the measure remained pending in the committee. It was later refiled in the 19th Congress on June 30, 2022, as House Bill No. 107. Although the measure was scheduled for committee deliberation, it has remained pending since July 26, 2022, awaiting the passage of a provincial board resolution from the Cebu Provincial Board in support of the bill. The lack of such endorsement has been a large factor in the delay of the committee’s deliberations on the bill.
Now serving his third term, Rep. Frasco reintroduces the bill in the 20th Congress, maintaining his determination to see it passed. The bill is anticipated to be read on its first reading and referred to the Committee on Health this week. He hopes that support from the provincial government will finally allow this long-overdue measure to move forward.
If passed into law, HB No. 3313 will institutionalize the provincial hospital under the Department of Health (DOH), thereby securing direct funding from the national government. This will relieve the Cebu Provincial Government of financial responsibility for its operations, allowing them to redirect resources to other vital programs and services.
For Rep. Frasco, “this is not just about improving the hospital, it is about investing in the future of healthcare for my constituents, while also being fiscally prudent.”
The bill also seeks to address the overcrowding problems at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City, a tertiary-level hospital that currently serves patients from across the entire province and even neighboring regions. With VSMMC frequently operating beyond capacity, the upgraded Danao hospital would serve as a vital healthcare facility in the north.
“By establishing a fully capable Level II hospital in Northern Cebu, we will help decongest VSMMC and ensure that patients from distant municipalities will not have to travel far just to get life-saving treatment,” Frasco added.
As he continues to champion accessible and inclusive healthcare for his constituents, Rep. Frasco urges Gov. Baricuatro and the Cebu Provincial Board to rally behind the passage of HB No. 3313 and help bring the vision of North Cebu Medical Center (NCMC) into reality.
About the Author
