FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
7 $;. -3 , , 
First Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 643 
I 
~~ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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. 
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. 
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. 
In consideration thereof, early approval of this bill is highly recommended. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
1 %  , 
I 
-7 ,& 
-:3 
, . ,  .. . 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH ON HEALTH IMPLICATIONS 
OF BREAST IMPLANTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as "Breast Implant 
Research and Information Act." 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. 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 to identify and evaluate 
the health effects of breast implants and to ensure that women and their doctors 
receive accurate information about such implants. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(a) 
(b) 
"Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 
"Breast Implants" refer to implants filled with silicone gel saline or a 
combination of the two: 
(c) 
SEC 4. Breast Implant Research. The Secretary shall conduct or support 
research to expand the understanding of the health implications of breast 
implants. Such research shall: 
"Committee" refers to the Committee on Breast Implant Research. 
(a) 
if 
determined to 
be scientifically 
appropriate, 
include a 
multidisciplinary, clinical, case-controlled study of women with 
breast implants; 
involve women who have had such implants in place for at least 
eight (8) years, focus on a typical disease presentation, 
neurological dysfunction and immune system irregularities; and 
evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman' 
who has or has not had breast implant. 
(b) 
(c) 


SEC 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, communications, and oversight of 
the policy formation, research and activities of the government regarding breast 
implants. 
SEC 6. The Commiffee shall be composed of nine (9) members: 
(a) 
(b) 
One (1) representative of any other agencies necessary to 
accomplish the purpose of the Committee; 
Four (4) physicians or practitioners with established credentials in 
the area of breast implants; and 
(d) 
Two (2) women who have or have had breast implants to be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines. 
The Secretary shall act as the chair of the Committee. He 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. 
Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health; 
(c) 
SEC 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 
presentations at such meetings. Each member shall make a presentation before 
the Committee at each meeting concerning the activities conducted by such 
member. 
SEC 8. Term of Office. 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 (I) 
year. 
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 causes in accordance 
with procedures established by the Committee. 
SEC 9. The Committee shall have the following functions: 
advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be 
undertaken by the Office with respect to research on the health 
impacts of breast implants; 
report to the Secretary on such research; 
provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding activities of 
the Committee; 
prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee; 
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. 
SEC 10. Appropriations. To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as may be necessary is. hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
National Treasury. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous 
operation of the research shall be included in the annual appropriation of the 
Department of Health. 
SEC 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. 
SEC 12. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC 13. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,