Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HoUSE BILL No.  9575
RECEIVED
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Introduced by Representative Anna York Cristina P. Bondoc
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article 11 Section 15 Of the  ]987 Philippine Constitution provides that:
The State shall protect and promote the right to health Of the people and
instill health consciousness among them.
Moreover, Section 16 thereof provides that:
The State shall protect and advance the right Of the people to a balanced
and healtlrful ecology in accord with the rlrythm and harmony Of nature.
The World Health Organization states that climate change is the single
biggest health threat facing hunarity, and health professionals worldwide are
already responding to the health harms caused by this unfolding crisis. It has
been causing extreme natural phenomena such as droughts, rapid wind flows,
and wide temperature ranges. These lead to indirect effects such as increases in
air pollutants and expressions of pollen and fungal allergens.
Climate changes result in changing of blooming seasons for flowers and
erratic dispersal of pollen and fungal spores. This is extremely alarming because
air pollutants, pollen, and fungal spores are established usual causes of allergic
airway  diseases.  In  recent  years,  the  prevalence  of respiratory  allergies  is
continuously increasing worldwide. In the Philippines alone, the prevalence of
asthma among adults and children is 8.7% and 9.2% respectively. There is an
even higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis at 20.0°/o.
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Pollen grains, the microscopic structures that carry the male reproductive
cell of plants, are significant causes of respiratory allergies. Grass pollen is the
major cause ofpollinosis in many parts of the world. 1 Wind-borne pollen grains
(anemophilous   pollen  grains)   are   smaller,   lighter,   and  are  the   clinically
significant pollen allergens. These commonly come from the flowers of grasses
and weeds. The antigens of grass pollen, like those of the other allergenic pollen
gralns, are rapidly released when allergen-canying pollen comes into contact
with the oral, nasal, or eye mucosa, thereby inducing the appearance of hay-
fever  symptoms  in exposed patient.  A  local  study  likewise  showed that the
distribution of the average monthly asthma consults follows the pattern of the
monthly total pollen counts.
In more developed countries, forecasts of pollen and fungal spores are
available to  guide people  suffering from pollen allergy.  In making a pollen
forecast, wind directions, temperature, and precipitation play important roles.
Under  wet  conditions  or  during  thunderstorms,  pollen  grains  may  become
fragmented into small particles that can be inhaled into the lungs and trigger
respiratory diseases.
Moreover,  studies have shown that urbahization, high levels of vehicle
emissions,   and   westernized   lifestyle   are   correlated   with   the   increasing
frequency of pollen-induced respiratory allergy. Thus, people who live in urban
areas tend to be more affected by pollen-induced respiratory allergy than people
living in rural areas. The pollen of areas of higher air pollution was found to
contain more allergenic proteins as compared to areas of lesser air pollution. As
climate  change  persists,  pollen  production  is  expected  to  intensify  with
increased temperature and carbon dioxide levels.
Here  in  the  Philippines,  a  study  showed  that  the  atmospheric  pollen
pollution in Quezon City is heavy in November, December and January; in Los
Bafios  during January, February,  March, April,  June  and November;  and  in
Baguio City during February, March, April and May. A decade later, another
study reported that pollination in the Philippines is perennial and continuous
throughout the year for many of the grass species. In many areas, particularly
Metro Manila, there are two peak pollinations:  from March to April and from
November to December, the latter having the higher peak. However, the last
pollen calendar was done in the late 1990s.
A pollen calendar reveals the peak pollen times for different types of plant
pollen, which causes allergic reactions in certain people. A pollen calendar will
be of benefit both to the patients and physicians as this can predict probable
pollen concentrations in the atmosphere. This can aid the physician in giving
instructions  for  avoidance  measures  or  in  starting  controller medications  to
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avoid the "priming effect". Pollen counts are different from pollen forecasts.
Pollen counts are reported for specific plants, such as trees, grasses, and weeds
as well as for mold spores. Pollen forecasts are predicted based on the previous
year' s counts and current weather conditions.
Currently, the Philippines has no updated pollen calendar and no pollen
forecast.  There  is  a  project  proposal  with  DENR  entitled  "Association  of
Environmental Pollutants, Pollen Grains, Fungal Spores and Respiratory
Allergic Diseases in Metro Manila''. This collaborative project is the first in
the country to evaluate the relationships between biotic and abiotic pollutants
with incidences  of allergic airway  diseases.  This  research  will  also assist in
creating policies for sustalning good environmental quality and in providing
proper public  advisories to prevent,  if not lessen, the  prevalence  of allergic
respiratory problems.
The project specifically aims to address the following objectives:
1.     To measure monthly major traffic airway-related pollutants at key selected
sites in Metro Manila;
2.     To identify the aerial pollen grains and fungal spores at these sites;
3.     To determine and monitor the number of visits and hospital  admissions
with allergic airway diseases;
4.     To assess the relationships among air pollutants, pollen grains, and fungal
spores with the prevalence of allergic alrway diseases; and
5.     To determine the peroentage of mix molds, pollen grains, and air pollutants
on the atmosphere.
There is a great need for dally pollen forecast so that Filipinos can keep
themselves  healthy.  By  monitoring  the  pollens  in  the  environment,  pollen-
stimulated respiratory disease can be avoided.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.
ui-wit
REP. ANNA
st Di strict, Pampanga
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Republic of the  Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HoUSE BILL No. 9575
Introduced by Representative Anna York Cristina P. Bondoc
AN ACT
PROVIDING    A    POLLEN    DHTECTI0N    AND    MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM,  CREATING  FOR THE  PURPOSE  THE  POLLHN  AND
MIXMOLD    MONITORING    SERVICE,    AND    APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of the  Representatives  Of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SEC.1. Srfeo# r!tJa -This Act shall be known as the "Po//e# Defec/z.o#
and Management Act."
SEC. 2. DecJ&ra&.o7. a/Po/I.ey. -It is the declared policy of the State to
protect  and  promote  the  right  to  health  of  the  people  and  instill  health
consciousness among them. The State shall also protect and advance the right
of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.  Towards this end, the  state  shall  endeavor to protect its
citizens  from threats  to public  health by  formulating a pollen detection and
management program to prevent allergic reactions, respiratory conditions, and
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other  pollen-related  respiratory  diseases  and  other health  issues  among  the
population.
SEC.  3. .4d-Hoc Concmr.#ee.  - There shall be created an Ad-Hoc Pollen
Grains and Mix Mold Services Committee composed of the following: (1) the
Undersecretary  for  Scientific  and  Technical  Services  of the DOST;  (2)  the
Administrator of PAG-ASA; (3) the Undersecretary for Finance, Infomation
Systems  and  Climate  Change  of  the  Department  of Energy  and  Natural
Resources; and (4) the President of Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma and
Immunology  (PSAAI),  or any  of their respective permanent representatives.
The Committee shall be administratively attached to the DOST and chaired by
the  DOST  Secretary  or her permanent  representative.  The  Committee  shall
conduct public hearings and consult concerned stakeholders from the proper
private and non-governmental sectors.
The Committee shall convene within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of
this Act and shall have one ( 1 ) year to design the National Pollen and Mix Mold
Services. Thereafter, the Committee shall be functus officio and the PAG-ASA
shall ensure the full and continuing implementation of this Act.
EEC.  4. Pollen  and Mix  Mold Monitoring  Service.  - There is holeky
created a division to be known as the Pollen and Mix Mold Monitoring Service,
hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  "Service,"  under  the  Philippine  Atmospheric
Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA).
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The  Service  shall be the technical  authority  on forecasting,  analysis,
collection, and standards development for preventing pollen-related respiratory
diseases.
SEC. 5. Fwmcffous. -The Service shall have the following functions:
(a) Conduct comprehensive tracking, monitoring, and prediction of pollen
Grains,  mix  mold  levels,  and  air  pollutants  in  the  atmosphere  across  the
Philippines;
(b) Provide accurate and timely information to the public, healthcare,
professionals, and other relevant stakeholders, enabling them to make informed
decisions regarding allergies and respiratory illnesses;
(c)  Collect, analyze, and interpret data on pollen grains, mix mold levels,
and  air  pollutants,  including  their  sources,  distribution  patterns,  and  health
impacts;
(d) Collaborate with national government agencies, academic institutions,
healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to enhance the understanding
of pollen, mix mold, and air quality issues in the Philippines; and
(c)  Provide regular updates, forecasts, and alerts on pollen grains, mix
mold   levels,   and   air   quality   conditions   to   the   public   through   various
communication   channels,   including   online   platforms,   social   media,   and
traditional media.
SEC.  6.  Coordi.#¢fl.oil ¢#d Reporfl.#g.  - The  Service  shall coordinate
with other relevant national government agencies, including the Department of
Health, Department of Environment and National Resources, and Department of
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Education,  to  ensure  the  integration  of pollen,  mix  mold,  and  air  quality
infomation into relevant policies, programs, and guidelines.
The  Service shall submit regular reports to the Department of Science
and Technology detaihng its activities,  finding,  and recommendations.  These
reports shall be made available to the public and relevant stakeholders.
SEC. 7. C¢pacrty B«z./dr.«g. -The Service shall formulate and implement
training programs  for its staff and provide technical  assistance and capacity-
building initiatives to other agencies, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders
involved in pollen, mix mold, and air quality management.
SEC.  8. ftib/I.c P¢rrz.c[.p¢fz.om - The Service shall develop mechanisms
for  public  participation,  including  the  establishment  of  an  advisory  board
composed of representatives from relevant sectors, such as academe, healthcare
provider,   environmental   organizations,   and  patient  advocacy   groups.   The
advisory  board  shall  provide  input,  feedback,  and  recommendations  to  the
Service to ensure that the monitoring and forecasting efforts align with the needs
and concerns of the public.
SEC. 9. £4ppropri.¢fl.om -The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriation of the Department
of Science and Technology. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for
the continued operation of the program shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.
SBC ,10 . Irr\plementing Rules and Regulations. -W+thin s+xrty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Science and Technology and the
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Administrator of PAGASA shall, in coordination with the Secretaries of Health,
Environment and Natural Resources, and Education, promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC.  11. Sep¢rtzbz./rty C7¢wseL - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.
SEC.  12. jRepcaJI.„g CJ¢#se. -All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or
parts  thereof inconsistent  with  or  contrary  to  the  provisions  of this  Act  are
amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
SEC.  13. EJj7rec#vfty. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the O#cjcJ/ Gczze//e or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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