Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right to health of 
every Filipino. Given the dynamic and vital roles that Filipino women play in 
society and the numerous risks to their health and well-being, we must adopt 
the best practices of developed countries and find ways to address these vital 
issues in health. 
In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that maternal 
death in the Philippines is high at 121 per 100,000 live births.1 Although this 
figure is a huge decline since the year 2000, trends show that maternal death 
in the country is dropping by only about 2% per year. This means that the 
number of Filipino pregnant women who die every year remains alarmingly 
high. 
Other indicators of women’s health related to motherhood, nutrition, 
and reproductive health, among others, have also been exacerbated by the 
consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which greatly challenged the health 
system, especially the developing countries like the Philippines. 
In a developed country like the United States of America, a remarkable 
1 Gavira, Bea Andrea et al.2020, Measuring Maternal Mortality Using Civil Registration 
Data. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 
https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/11_Measuring_Maternal_Mortality_Using_Civi
l_Registration_Philippines.pdf (Accessed on October 26, 2022) 
August 11, 2025
8:00 am
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move to address women’s health is the establishment of the Women’s Health 
Research Center (ORWH) at the National Institute of Health in September 
1990 in order “to strengthen, develop, and increase research on diseases, 
disorders, and conditions that are unique to, more prevalent among, or more 
serious in women, or for which there are different risk factors for women than 
for men.”2
The research undertaken by the OWRH has found that sex and gender 
identity play crucial roles in health, wellness, and disease progression. Hence, 
a research center focused on the nuances and specifics tailored to women’s 
health is important. 
This bill seeks to establish our very own research center to be called the 
Women’s Health Research Center in the hope of improving the overall health 
of Filipino women across the lifespan, and by extension, improve the health 
and wellbeing of their families and communities. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 
2 Pinn, V.M. (1994) “The Role of the NIH’s Women’s Health Research Center.” Academic Medicine:
Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 69(9): 698-702.


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Women’s Health 
Research Center Act". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to give 
priority to the needs of women. Taking into account the inherent disparity 
between men and women, the State shall undertake a research focusing on 
women's health which shall be responsive to the needs of every Filipino 
woman. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the term: 
a) “Center” shall refer to the Women’s Health Research Center;
b) "Committee" shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Women's
Health;
c) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of Health;
d) "Women's health condition" shall refer to all diseases, disorders, and
conditions –
i.
Unique to serious, or more prevalent to women;
ii.
For which the factors of medical risk or types of medical
intervention are different for women, or which it is unknown
whether such factors or types are different for women; or
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iii. 
With respect to which there has been insufficient clinical 
research involving women as subjects or insufficient clinical 
data on women; and 
 
e) "Women's health research" shall mean women’s health research 
conditions, including research on preventing such conditions. 
 
 
SECTION 4. Establishment of the Women’s Health Research Center. – 
The Research Center shall be headed by the Secretary with the following 
functions: 
 
a) To identify projects of research on women's or supported by both 
the government and non-government agencies; 
b) To promote coordination and collaboration among entities 
conducting research identified under paragraph A; 
c) To recommend an agenda for conducting and supporting such 
research; and 
d) To encourage the conduct of such research. 
 
SECTION 5. Advisory Committee on Women's Health. - In carrying out the 
provision of Section 4, the Secretary shall establish a Committee to be known 
as the "Advisory Committee on Women's Health." 
 
SECTION 6. Composition. – The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) 
members which shall include the following: 
 
a) Two (2) representatives from the Department; 
b) Four (4) physicians, practitioners and other health personnel; 
c) Two (2) representatives from a non-governmental organization 
which conducts research on women' 
d) One (1) representative from the general public; 
e) Majority of the members of the Committee shall be women. 
 
SECTION 7. Meetings. – The Advisory Committee shall determine the 
number, time, place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least 
one (1) public meeting each year at which the general public is given an 
opportunity to express views concerning the conduct of Women’s Health 
Research by the Center. 
 
SECTION 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 last three (3) 
members for one (1) year. 
 
Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filed in the manner 
as the original appointment. Any member of the Committee 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 the Center 
with respect to -  
 
i. 
Research of women's health; 
ii. 
Research on gender differences in clinical drugs trials, 
including responses; 
iii. 
Research to gender differences in disease etiology, course and 
treatment; 
iv. 
Research on obstetrical gynecological health conditions, 
diseases and treatment; and 
v. 
Women’s Health Research conditions which require a 
multidisciplinary approach. 
 
b) Report to the Secretary on such research; 
 
c) Provide recommendation to the Secretary regarding activities of the 
Center; and 
 
d) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee. 
 
SECTION 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 Women’s Health Research Center shall be included in the 
annual appropriations of the Department of Health. 
 
SECTION 11. Non-Impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under 
existing laws. 
 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in 
a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,