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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 1992, then Health Secretary Juan M. Flavier established the Traditional Medicine 
Program through Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 12. The program was 
envisioned to promote and advocate traditional medicine in the Philippines. With the support of 
former President Fidel V. Ramos, this program was institutionalized in 1997 through the enactment 
of Republic Act No. 8423 or the "Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997." 
The law recognizes the importance of traditional and alternative medicine in providing essential 
health care to Filipinos. 
RA 8423 has succeeded in institutionalizing traditional and alternative health care in the 
country, formalizing the bounds of Traditional and Alternative Medicine  as “any knowledge, skill 
and practice, other than those in biomedicine, which is used in the prevention, diagnosis and 
elimination of physical or mental disorder.” In fact, the Philippine Standard Occupational 
Classification (PSOC), at present,  recognizes traditional and alternative medicine practitioners  
and assigned them in two categories: (a) Associate professional of traditional and complementary 
medicine practitioners,  which includes drugless treatment healer, bonesetter, faith healer, healer 
of indigenous people (i.e. Mansi-bok, Mansip- ok), herbalist, scraping and cupping therapist, 
village healer, witch doctor, and acupressure therapist; and (b) Traditional and complementary 
medicine professionals, which includes Acupuncturist, Ayurvedic practitioner, Chinese herbal 
medicine practitioner, chiropractor, homeopath, hydrotherapist, naturopath, and unani practitioner. 
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However, the growing interest in, and use of traditional and complementary medicine 
(T&CM) necessitates government intervention not only to ensure the safety of practitioners, but 
also to encourage consumers to seek services from qualified practitioners, clinics, and training 
centers. Proper regulation of Republic Act No. 8423 is critical to the delivery of high-quality, safe, 
and effective T&CM services. This is especially important in rural areas, where T&CM services 
are sometimes the only affordable and accessible source of health care. 
This bill seeks to empower the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health 
Care (PITAHC) by vesting the same with regulatory powers. One of these powers is to formalize 
the registration of TC&M practitioners in the country.  This would protect  both the consumers 
and practitioners. For the consumers, they would be assured that registered TC&M practitioners 
are verified and qualified with respect to a specific healing art or modality. Conversely, such 
registration process would also protect authentic professionals by providing them with the proper 
government certifications.  
Similarly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), registering products, 
practices, and practitioners will promote better understanding and respect for traditional medicine, 
as well as its safe and effective use. WHO reported that in the Western Pacific, Australia, Hong 
Kong, and Singapore have already established a practitioner registration system.  
The enactment of this bill would increase protection for the consumers of TC&M and 
enable them to make informed choices in alternative healthcare. This would benefit the entire 
industry by providing standardization of products, guaranteeing safety and efficacy.  
Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
RICHARD I. GOMEZ, DPA


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session  
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Richard I. Gomez, DPA 
AN ACT VESTING REGULATORY POWERS TO THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF 
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE (PITAHC), AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8423, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
“TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT OF 1997” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION. 1. IN GENERAL, THIS ACT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE 
TRADITIONAL 
AND 
ALTERNATIVE 
HEALTH 
CARE 
SYSTEM 
IN 
THE 
PHILIPPINES TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE WITH A WIDER RANGE OF HEALTH 
SERVICES AND PRODUCTS THAT ARE PROVEN TO BE SAFE, EFFICIENT, 
EFFECTIVE AND OF QUALITY AT MUCH AFFORDABLE PRICES. 
AS SUCH, THIS ACT PRIMARILY AND SPECIFICALLY SEEKS TO 
EMPOWER THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE 
HEALTH CARE (PITAHC) BY VESTING UPON PITAHC, ON TOP OF ALL ITS 
OTHER EXISTING POWERS, THE NECESSARY REGULATORY POWERS TO BE 
EXERCISED OVER THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 
(T&CM) PRACTICES, PRACTITIONERS, AND PRODUCTS; 
SEC. 2.  Section 4 of the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, is 
hereby amended by inserting new definition: 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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“Traditional and Alternative Health Care SYSTEM” – the sum total of knowledge, skills, 
and practices on health care other than those embodied in biomedicine, used in the prevention, 
diagnosis and elimination of physical or mental disorder; 
 
“Alternative health care modalities” – other forms of non-allopathic, occasionally non-
indigenous or imported healing methods, though not necessarily practiced for centuries nor handed 
down from one generation to another. Some alternative health care modalities include WHICH 
SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO, reflexology, acupuncture, massage, acupressure, 
chiropractic, 
nutritional 
therapy, 
HILOT, 
NATUROPATHY, 
HOMEOPATHY/HOMOTOXICOLOGY, 
TUINA 
MASSAGE, 
OSTEOPATHY, 
ANTHROPOSOPHIC MEDICINE and other similar methods MODALITIES; 
 
“COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE” – A BROAD SET OF HEALTHCARE 
PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THE COUNTRY’S OWN TRADITIONAL OR 
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE AND ARE NOT FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE 
DOMINANT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IT SHALL BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY 
WITH THE TERMS ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE; 
 
“PHILIPPINE Traditional healers” – the relatively old, highly respected people with a 
profound knowledge of traditional remedies A PERSON WITH KNOWLEDGE IN 
INDIGENOUS AND/OR PHILIPPINE BELIEF SYSTEMS, ORAL TRADITIONS AND 
HEALTH PRACTICES, WHO USES THE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OF THE 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES/ INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (ICCS/IPS) 
AND/OR OTHER ETHNO- LINGUISTIC GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES; 
 
“TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE” – MERGES THE 
TERMS 
TRADITIONAL 
MEDICINE 
AND 
COMPLEMENTARY 
MEDICINE, 
ENCOMPASSING PRACTICES, PRACTITIONERS AND PRODUCTS; 
 
SEC. 4. Section 6 of the same Act, is hereby amended by inserting additional powers and 
functions and the same are hereby renumbered accordingly: 
 
(i) To formulate, ESTABLISH, AND PRESCRIBES RULES, REGULATIONS, 
standards, code of ethics and REQUIREMENTS for the practice of traditional and alternative 
health care modalities. FOR THIS PURPOSE, PITAHC SHALL BE VESTED WITH QUASI 
JUDICIAL POWER; for approval and adoption by the appropriate professional and government 
agencies; 
                                          


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(j) TO INSPECT AND MONITOR ALL T&CM FACILITIES TO ENSURE THEIR 
CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 
CORRECTION 
OF 
DEFICIENCIES 
FOUND 
DURING 
INSPECTION 
AND 
MONITORING; 
 
(k) TO PROMULGATE AND IMPLEMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS 
GOVERNING THE LICENSURE OF T&CM PRACTICES AND OPERATION OF 
T&CM FACILITIES AND TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW AND AMEND THE SAME, 
SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND IN 
CONSULTATION WITH THE SECTORS CONCERNED; 
 
(l) TO GRANT LICENSE FOR THE PRACTICE OF T&CM MODALITIES AND 
FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF T&CM FACILITIES, AND TO 
SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE SAME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISION OF 
THIS ACT; 
 
(m) TO PRESCRIBE THE NECESSARY GUIDELINES, CRITERIA, PRODUCT 
STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS TO BE COMPLIED WITH IN THE 
REGISTRATION OF T&CM PRODUCTS; 
 
(n) TO ASSUME PRIMARY AUTHORITY TO INSPECT, COLLECT AND 
ANALYZE SAMPLES OF ALL T&CM PRODUCTS COVERED BY THIS ACT; AND 
 
(o) TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE OR GRANTS OF 
AUTHORITY TO MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS, EXPORTERS, DISTRIBUTORS, 
WHOLESALERS, AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS AND FACILITIES OF T&CM 
PRODUCTS AFTER SPOT-CHECK AND/OR AFTER THEIR DUE COMPLIANCE 
WITH TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. THESE CERTIFICATES 
OR GRANTS SHALL SERVE AS LICENSE OF THE COVERED ENTITIES TO 
OPERATE AND/OR TO CONTINUE OPERATING. 
                                           
SEC. 5.  A new provision is hereby added to read as follows: 
 
SEC. 7 SPECIAL RULES AND EXEMPTIONS - RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE 
MANNER IN WHICH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF TRADITIONAL 
MEDICINE ARE HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER 
WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE OF FORMAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING, 
PRACTITIONERS 
IN 
THIS 
CATEGORY 
SHALL 
BE 
EXEMPT 
FROM 
CERTIFICATION REQUIRED BY THIS ACT. NONETHELESS, THEY ARE STILL 


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MANDATED TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOGNITION 
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PITAHC GUIDELINES. THE TRADITIONAL 
PRACTITIONERS MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT NO RELATED COMPLAINTS, 
WHETHER REPORTED OR NOT, WERE MADE AGAINST THEM OVER THE 
COURSE OF THEIR PRACTICE AS WELL AS THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH 
THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO HAVE PRACTICED TRADITIONAL MEDICINE. 
 
SEC. 8. PROHIBITED ACTS 
 
(1) THE PRACTICE OF ANY OF THE APPROVED T&CM MODALITIES BY 
ANY PERSON OR T&CM FACILITIES WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE, 
CERTIFICATE OR GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO PRACTICE; 
 
(2) THE CONTINUOUS PRACTICE OF ANY OF THE APPROVED T&CM 
MODALITIES BY ANY PRACTITIONER OR T&CM FACILITIES WHOSE 
ACCREDITATION OR GRANT OF AUTHORITY HAS ALREADY EXPIRED OR HAS 
BEEN CANCELED OR REVOKED; 
 
(3) THE PRACTICE OF ANY UNAPPROVED T&CM MODALITIES BY ANY 
PERSON, WHETHER CERTIFIED OR NOT TO PRACTICE IN THE PHILIPPINES; 
 
(4) THE MERE ACT OF INTRODUCING TO THE PUBLIC BY ANYPERSON, 
CERTIFIED OR NOT, OF A T&CM MODALITY THAT IS NOT VALIDLY APPROVED 
BY PITAHC; 
 
(5) THE ACT OF A CERTIFIED PRACTITIONER OF ALLOWING A PERSON 
TO COMMIT AN UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF T&CM WHETHER IT BE UNDER 
HIS/HER DIRECT OR INDIRECT SUPERVISION; 
 
(6) THE ACT OF ASSISTING OR PERFORMING IN AN UNAUTHORIZED 
PRACTICE OF T&CM, WHETHER FOR PROFIT OR NOT; 
 
(7) THE ACT OF USING T&CM SERVICES TO CAUSE INJURY, ILLNESS OR 
DEATH TO A CONSUMER/CUSTOMER; 
 
(8) OFFERING T&CM PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS OR RENDERING T&CM 
SERVICES BY TRAINING CENTERS WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE OR 
AUTHORITY FROM PITAHC; 
 


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(9) RENDERING T&CM SERVICES BY ACCREDITED TRAINING CENTERS 
THAT ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THEIR APPROVED PROGRAMS AND 
TRAININGS; 
 
(10) 
THE 
ACT 
OF 
INTENTIONALLY 
COMMITTING 
FRAUD 
AND 
MISREPRESENTATION OR USE OF FALSIFIED OR FORGED DOCUMENTS IN 
OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PITAHC APPROVAL OR CERTIFICATE OR GRANT 
OF AUTHORITY; AND 
 
(11) ANY OTHER ACT WHICH VIOLATES OR UNDERMINES ANY OF THE 
EXPLICIT POWERS OF OR WHICH TENDS TO IMPEDE PITAHC FROM 
EXERCISING ANY OF ITS FUNCTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ACT. 
 
SEC. 9. PENALTIES 
 
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 8 
HEREOF 
SHALL, 
UPON 
CONVICTION, 
SUFFER 
THE 
PENALTY 
OF 
IMPRISONMENT RANGING FROM ONE (1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) 
YEARS OR A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) BUT 
NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), OR BOTH, AT 
THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. 
 
THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE ISSUANCE OF CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER OR TO 
THE EXERCISE OF PITAHC OF ITS POWER TO REVOKE OR CANCEL 
CERTIFICATES, APPROVALS OR GRANTS IT HAS ISSUED AND/OR TO THE 
FILING OF APPROPRIATE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL ACTION, WHENEVER 
APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY. 
 
IN CASE, HOWEVER, OF ILLNESS, INJURY OR DEATH AS PROVIDED FOR 
UNDER PARAGRAPH (A)(7) OF SECTION 8, THE INTENTIONAL USE OF TAHC 
SERVICES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A SEPARATE CRIME. RATHER, THE USE OR 
EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH SERVICE SHALL SERVE AS AN AGGRAVATING 
CIRCUMSTANCE TO QUALIFY THE APPLICABLE CRIME/S AS PROVIDED FOR BY 
THE REVISED PENAL CODE. 
 
SHOULD THE OFFENSE BE COMMITTED BY A JURIDICAL PERSON, THE 
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL 
MANAGER, OR THE PARTNERS AND/OR THE PERSONS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE 
THEREFORE SHALL BE PENALIZED. 


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SHOULD THE OFFENSE BE COMMITTED BY A FOREIGN NATIONAL, 
HE/SHE SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED, BE DEPORTED 
WITHOUT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AFTER SERVICE OF SENTENCE. 
 
SEC. 10. HUMAN RESOURCE - THE PITAHC SHALL REVIEW ITS EXISTING 
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE WITH ITS STAFFING PATTERN, POSITIONS, 
AND TITLES. NEW OR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, TITLES, OR RANKS, SHALL BE 
CREATED IF THERE BE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MANPOWER AS IDENTIFIED 
AND DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND APPROVED BY THE 
BOARD. 
 
SEC. 11. RETENTION OF INCOME – PITAHC SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO 
RETAIN ALL OF ITS INCOME DERIVED FROM THE OPERATIONS OF THE 
HERBAL PROCESSING PLANTS AND ITS OTHER INCOME GENERATING 
SERVICES/ACTIVITIES AND SHALL BE UTILIZED TO AUGMENT ITS NEEDED 
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATING EXPENSES, CAPITAL OUTLAYS, UPGRADING 
AND MODERNIZATION. 
 
SEC. 12. APPROPRIATION - THE AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE INITIAL 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT SHALL BE CHARGED AGAINST THE CURRENT 
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND 
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE. THEREAFTER, THE AMOUNT NEEDED FOR THE 
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PITAHC SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE 
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT. 
 
SEC. 6. Section 8 (d) of this Act, is hereby amended and to be read as follows: 
 
The power to appoint, transfer, promote, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline any 
subordinate officer or employee of the Institute shall be TRANSFERRED FROM THE BOARD 
AND BE VESTED UPON THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, thereby, effectively amending 
Sections 8 (d) and 10 of the Act. 
 
SEC. 7. Section 9 of this Act, IS hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
SEC. 9. (a) Director General - The Institute shall be headed by a Director General who 
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary 
of Health for a term of six (6) years. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL SHALL ENJOY THE 
BENEFITS, PRIVILEGES AND EMOLUMENTS EQUIVALENT TO THE RANK OF 
UNDERSECRETARY. 


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AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE INSTITUTE, THE DIRECTOR 
GENERAL SHALL EXERCISE GENERAL SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER THE 
OPERATIONS OF THE INSTITUTE SAVE THOSE AFFAIRS THAT ARE 
EXCLUSIVELY WITHIN THE FUNCTION OF THE BOARD. 
 
(b) Deputy Directors General - The Director General shall be assisted by such Deputy 
Director(s) General(s) WHOSE TERM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD. THE 
DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL(S) SHALL BE CAREER OFFICIAL(S) AND SHALL 
ENJOY THE BENEFITS, PRIVILEGES AND EMOLUMENTS EQUIVALENT TO THE 
RANK OF AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 
 
(c) Other Officers - THE DIRECTOR GENERAL SHALL LIKEWISE BE ASSISTED 
BY DEPARTMENT MANAGERS/COORDINATORS AND SUCH OTHER OFFICERS 
AS THE BOARD DETERMINE TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES 
OF THIS ACT. 
                           
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, PITAHC in collaboration with the concerned agencies and stakeholders, 
shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 9. Transitory Provision. - Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, 
during the transformation of PITAHC into a regulatory body, the Food and Drug Administration 
shall serve in a hold- overcapacity the registration of T&CM products until PITAHC is 
reconstituted and capacitated. 
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - Chapter XIII of Presidential Decree No. 856, otherwise 
known as the “Code on Sanitation of the Philippines,” is hereby repealed. All laws, decrees, 
executive orders and issuances, ordinances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,