THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
'04 JIJL -1 
Ala :I 5 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY @TE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 12 mandates the State to undertake appropriate 
health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's health needs and 
problems. 
Breast implants have been widely suspected to increase the risk of a range of problems, 
including cancer, connective tissue disease, implant rupture and hematoma. Despite reports and 
conjectures showing adverse health impacts of breast implants, there are still women who 
consider having breast implants 
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Women need complete and accurate information about the potential health risks and 
advantages of breast implants, in order to know what to expect if they choose implant surgery 
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This bill seeks to promote research to identify and evaluate the health effects of 
breast implants, and to ensure that women and their doctors receive accurate 'information about 
such implants. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
’04 JUi. -1 
A10 11 5 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH ON HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF 
BREAST IMPLANTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Breast Implant Research 
and Information Act ” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. 
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The Constitution, Article 13, Section 12 
mandates the State to undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, 
responsive to the country’s health needs and problems. Taking into account this mandate, the 
State shall promote research 
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to identify and evaluate the health effects of breast implants, and to 
ensure that women and their doctors receive accurate information about such implants. 
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SECTION 3 .  Dejhition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 
(B) “Breast implants” refer to implants filled with silicone gel, saline, or a combination of 
the two, 
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(C) ‘Committee” refers to the Committee on Breast Implant Research 


SECTION4. Bveast Implant Research. 
- The Secretary shall conduct or support 
research to expand the understanding of the health implication of breast implants. Such research 
shall: 
(A) if determined to be scientifically appropriate, include a multidisciplinary, 
clinical, case-controlled study of women with breast implants; 
(B) involve woment who have had such implants in place for at least 8 years, 
focus on a typical disease presentation, neurological dysfunction, and immune 
system irregularities; 
(C) evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman who has or 
has not had breast implant. 
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SECTION 5. Committee On Breast Implant Research 
- To assist the Secretary in 
receiving accurate and complete information about the risk of breast implants, there shall be 
established a committee, to be known as the Committee on Breast Implants, to ensure the 
strategic management, communication, and oversight of the policy formation, research, and 
activities of the government regarding breast implants 
SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members: 
(A) Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health; 
(B) One (1) representative of any agency necessary to accomplish the purpose of the 
Committee; 
(C) Four (4) physicians or practitioners with established credentials in the area of breast 
implants; and 
(D)Two (2) Gzment who have or have had breast implants to be appointed by the 
President. 
The Secretary shall act as the chair of the Committee. IHe shall convene meetings of the 
Committee, not less than twice each year, and compile information for the consideration of the 
full Committee at such meetings. 


SECTION 7. Meetings. The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and 
public witnesses shall be given the opportunity to speak and make presentation at such meetings. 
Each member shall make a presentation to the full Committee at each meeting concerning the 
activities conducted by such member. 
SECTION 8. Term. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of three 
(3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three (3) years, three' (3) 
members for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year 
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Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment 
Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with procedures 
established by the Committee 
SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions; 
(A) Advise the Secretary on.appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the Ofice 
with respect to research on the health impacts of breast implants; 
(B) Report to the Secretary on such research; 
(C) Provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding activities of the Committee; 
(D) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee; 
(E) Ensure that materials concerning breast implants provided by the Department are 
available, up to date, and responsive to reports of problems with breast implants, and that timely 
aggregate data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public upon request and 
consistent with existing confidentiality standards. 


SECTION 10. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of the this Act, such 
amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. ThereaAer, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the research 
shall be included in the annual appropriation of the Department of Health 
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SECTION 11 Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instructin, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 13 Efectivzty Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
Approved 
FN: 
1252 
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