THE House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a bill that seeks to require local government units (LGUs) to earmark at least 15 percent of their share in national taxes for health services.

If passed into law, House Bill (HB) 10392, will amend Section 287 of the Local Government Code to read that '[e]ach local government unit shall appropriate in its annual budget no less than twenty percent (20%) and fifteen percent (15%) of its annual national tax allotment for development projects and health services, respectively. Copies of the development plans and health programs, including provision of free medicines to indigent patients, of local government units shall be furnished to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DoH).'