SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1300 
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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 i 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. 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. .1300 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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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 Research 
Implant and Information Acf'. 
SEC. 2. Dec/aration of Po/icy. 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) 
"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; 
(c) 
"Committee" refers to the Committee on Breast Implant Research. 
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: 
(a) 
if determined 
to 
be 
scientifically 
appropriate, 
include 
a 
multidisciplinary, 
cIJ"j~~I, case-controlled study of women with 
breast implants; 
(b) 
involve women who have had such implants in place for at least 8 
years, focus on a typical disease presentation, neurological 
dysfunction and immune system irregularities; and 
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(c) 
evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman 
who has or has not had breast implant. 
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 Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members: 
(a) 
Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health; 
(b) 
One (1) representative of any other agencies 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) 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 .Iess than twice each year, and compile 
information for the consideration of the full Committee at such meetings. 
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 of such meetings. Each member shall make a presentation to the 
full 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 (1) 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 cause in .accordance 
with procedures established by the Committee. 
SEC. 9. The Committee shall have the following functions: 
(a) 
advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be 
undertaken by the Office 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. 
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 is 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,