Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FE DATE 0.1 JU 205
TWENTIETH CONGRESS TIME ae,

First Regular Session

RECEIVED %

HOUSE BILL NO. 726

Introduced by Representative Antolin A. Oreta III

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND
COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the State recognizes the vital role of the
youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and
social well-being.” Republic Act No. 11036, or the “Mental Health Act.” further affirms the right of every
Filipino to mental health services and directs the State to develop policies and programs that promote
mental health and wellness.

While the Mental Health Act encourages the integration of mental health services in schools, many State
Universities and Colleges (SUCs) lack the institutional support, personnel, and programs necessary to
address the needs of their students, faculty, and personnel. The absence of dedicated Mental Health
Offices and qualified mental health professionals limits their ability to provide proper and adequate
mental health services.

This bill seeks to institutionalize accessible and inclusive mental health services across all SUCs through,
among others, the establishment of Mental Health Offices in every campus and the hiring, training, and
deployment of dedicated SUC-based mental health service personnel responsible for developing
programs and providing services that assist students in resolving emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial
issues. This measure intends to promote early intervention, reduce stigma, and create safe and supportive
learning environments conducive to academic and personal growth.

This bill was approved by the House of Representatives in the 19" Congress and was duly transmitted to
the Senate. This is refiled in the 20" Congress under the same considerations for which it was previously
approved.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. bt £EK A. ORETA III

Lone District of Malabon City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 726

Introduced by Representative Antolin A. Oreta III

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES A!
COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 the “State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs) Mental Health Service Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to uphold the basic
right of every Filipino to sound mental health and ensure access to appropriate interventions, therapy,
and treatment as needed. Pursuant to this mandate, the State shall institute policies to promote the mental
health and wellness of students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other personnel in the
campuses of SUCs through, among others, the establishment of a Mental Health Office in all SUCs, and
the hiring, deployment, and training of additional SUCs-based mental health service personnel.

All SUCs shall ensure that proper and adequate mental health services are provided to their
students, faculty, non-teaching staff and other personnel. In this regard, all SUCs, through their Mental
Health Offices, shall design programs and provide services that shall assist students in resolving
emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial issues that are barriers to learning and enhance the preparedness
of the faculty, teaching, non-teaching staff, and other personnel to foster an enabling environment for
students to acquire knowledge and to develop intellectually.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a) Guidance counselor refers to an individual who possesses a license or certification granted by
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and holds at the minimum a master’s degree in Guidance
and Counseling, Guidance, or Counseling, without prejudice to those registered under the grandfather’s
clause of Republic Act No. 9258, otherwise known as the “Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004”, and
is competent to perform guidance and counseling, career guidance and implement mental health
programs;

b) Mental health refers to a state of well-being in which the individual realizes one’s own abilities
and potentials, copes adequately with the normal stresses of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme
life events, works productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a positive contribution to the


community;

©) Mental health professional refers to a medical doctor, nurse, guidance counselor, psychologist,
or any other appropriately-trained and qualified person with specific skills relevant to, and necessary for,
the provision of mental health services;

d) Mental health services refer to the psychosocial, psychiatric, or neurologic activities and
programs along the whole range of the mental health support services including promotion, prevention,
treatment, and aftercare, which are provided by mental health facilities and mental health professionals;

e) Psychologist refers to a natural person who has professional training and clinical skills in
psychotherapeutic intervention and assessment for mental health problems and possesses a license or
certification granted by the PRC and holds at the minimum a master’s degree in Psychology without
prejudice to those granted licenses under the grandfather’s clause of Republic Act No. 10029, otherwise
known as the “Philippine Psychology Act of 2009”;

f) SUCs-based mental health service personnel refers to any mental health professional who is
hired or deployed by, or has a contract with an SUC to render mental health services in its campus.

SEC. 4. Establishment of Mental Health Offices in All SUCs Campuses. — The Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) shall, subject to the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission
(CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the policies, standards, and
guidelines of the CHED, require all SUCs to establish a Mental Health Office in all their campuses.

‘The Mental Health Offices shall set up campus hotlines with dedicated and trained guidance
counselors to provide assistance to the whole SUC Community, especially the students. Special attention
shall be given to those identified to have mental health problems or conditions, especially those at risk
of committing suicide.

‘The CHED and the SUCs, through their Mental Health Offices, shall initiate and sustain a
heightened campaign to raise the collective consciousness about mental health. The awareness campaign
shall give special emphasis to the issues of suicide prevention, stress handling, mental health and
nutrition, and guidance and counseling. The campaign shall ensure that the whole SUC community,
especially the students, is aware of in-campus mental health services.

The SUC, through the Mental Health Offices, shall implement mental health programs and
projects designed to promote the mental health and well-being of faculty, students, and personnel alike.

Each Mental Health Office shall be manned by trained mental health professionals who shall
serve as the mental health service personnel of the SUCs.

The SUCs-based mental health service personnel of the Mental Health Offices, including those
who shall be hired upon the effectivity of this Act, shall create a mechanism for timely crisis intervention
and suicide prevention and the appropriate response strategies for the whole SUCs community, especially
the students.

The CHED shall, in coordination with the SUCs, establish mechanisms to maximize existing
services offered by other executive departments such as the attached agencies to the Department of
Health (DOH) dealing with mental health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development


e) Review, revise and develop the duties and responsibilities of mental health professionals in
accordance with laws governing their professions;

f) Prepare a performance evaluation plan that considers the improvement of the efliciency and
organizational effectiveness of each counselor: Provided, That each employee shall be informed regularly
by their immediate supervisor of the evaluation of their performance; and,

g) Provide periodic training, aimed at retooling and upgrading the skills of mental health
professionals.

SEC. 7. Salary Scale. - The career and salary scales of mental health professionals in SUCs shall
provide for a gradual progression from a minimum to a maximum salary by means of regular increments,
to be given regularly based on merit and competencies.

The entry level of mental health professionals shall not be lower than Salary Grade 16, Mental health
professionals hired by SUCs as Psychometricians shall be hired at Salary Grade 11 at the entry level.

SEC. 8. Contractual Hiring of Mental Health Personnel. - In case of a scarcity of mental health
professionals who are available to work on a full-time basis in a Mental Health Office, the concerned
SUC may hire qualified professionals on a contractual or part-time basis, subject to the evaluation and
approval of the DBM.

SEC. 9. Benefits. - All mental health professionals employed in the various Mental Health Offices
shall enjoy the rights, privileges, and other benefits provided in Republic Act No. 7305, otherwise known
as the “Magna Carta of Public Health Workers”, Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise known as the
“Mental Health Act”, and other pertinent laws.

SEC. 10, Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this
Act, the CHED shall, in coordination with the DOH, the Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges, and other concerned stakeholders, issue rules and regulations to govern the hiring, training and
deployment of guidance counselors, psychologists and other mental health service personnel in SUCs,
and for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 12, Suppletory Application. - The applicable provisions of Republic Act No. 11036, otherwise
known as the “Mental Health Act”, insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
shall apply suppletorily.

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. — \f any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
remainder of this Act or any provision not affected, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 14. 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 is repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official


1 Gazette ot in a newspaper of general circulation.

3. Approved,