TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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i;t i)
SENATE
2b JIJI. 14 A11 :12
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S. No.
505
Introduced by Senator Francis G. Escudero
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES 
AND COLLEGES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Mental health and wellness, given its impact on academic success and personal 
development, have become one of the critical issues in the education sector today. 
Failure to timely detect mental health concerns and implement necessary interventions 
can adversely affect not only academic achievements and personal well-being, but at 
times could come at the cost of one's life.
While many educational institutions, particularly state universities and colleges 
(SUCs), have begun to take steps toward supporting mental health and wellness 
through interventions such as counseling services and peer support initiatives, there 
remains a need for structure by which effective and accessible mental health 
intervention can be delivered, especially within public education institutions.
This bill seeks to address this concern by requiring all SUCs to establish a Mental 
Health Office. The office shall be responsible for implementing mental health programs 
and projects, including the establishment and operation of a 24/7 Mental Health 
Hotline, among others. To ensure the recruitment and retention of competent and 
trained mental health professional, the bill require all SUC Mental Health Office to 
comply with relevant laws, including Republic Act Nos. 7305, 9258, 10029,10912, and 
11036; and to engage in other work arrangements such as contract-of-service or part- 
time employment when so required. It also directs the government to provide 
competitive remuneration and salary progression for mental health professionals 
employed by the SUCs, and the Commission on Higher Education to formulate 
continuing professional development and training programs for SUC mental health 
personnel. Ultimately, the establishment and operation of SUC Mental Health Offices 
is seen to protect and promote the mental health and wellness of students, faculty, 
teaching and non-teaching staff, and other SUC personnel.


In view of the foregoing, as well as the constitutional mandate to protect and 
promote the people's right to health, the swift passage of this measure is earnestly 
requested.
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
2'd JUL 14 All ;12
SENATE
S. No.
c: 05
Introduced by Senator Francis G. Escudero
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES 
AND COLLEGES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assem ble
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "State Universities and 
Colleges Mental Health Services Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - 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 and needed interventions, therapy, and treatment. 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 of state 
universities and colleges (SUCs) through, among others, the establishment of a Mental 
Health Office in all SUCs, and recruitment, deployment and training of additionai SUC- 
based mental health service personnel.
All SUCs shall ensure the provision of proper and adequate mental health 
services to their respective students, faculty, non-teaching staff and other personnel. 
In this regard, all SUCs, through their Mental Health Offices, shall design programs 
and provide services to assist in the resolution of emotional, behavioral, and 
psychosocial issues and to foster an enabling environment for knowledge acquisition 
and intellectual development.


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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) Guidance Counselorsh^W refer to a natural person who has been registered
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and issued a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid Professional Identification
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Card by the Professional Regulatory Board of Guidance and Counseling and the
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Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in accordance with Republic Act No. 9258,
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otherwise known as the "Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004," and, by virtue of
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specialized training, performs the functions of guidance and counseling for a fee,
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salary or other forms of compensation: Provided, That this definition shall be without
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prejudice to those registered as guidance counselor pursuant to Section 14 of Republic
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Act No. 9258;
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(b) Mental Health shall refer to a state of well-being in which the individual
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realizes one's own abilities and potentials, copes adequately with the normal stresses
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of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme life events, works productively and
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fruitfully, and is able to make a positive contribution to the community;
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(c) Mental Health Professional shall refer to a medical doctor, nurse, guidance
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counselor, psychologist, or any other appropriately-trained and qualified person with
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specific skills relevant to, and necessary for, the provision of mental health services;
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(d) Mental Health Services shall refer to the psychosocial, psychiatric, or
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neurologic activities and programs along the whole range of mental health support
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services including promotion, prevention, treatment, and aftercare, which are
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provided by mental health facilities and mental health professionals;
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(e) PsychologistshaW refer to a natural person who is duly registered and holds
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a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card as a
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professional psychologist, issued by the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology
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and the PRC pursuant to Republic Act No. 10029, otherwise known as the "Philippine
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Psychology Act of 2009," for the purpose of delivering different psychological services:
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Provided, That this definition shall be without prejudice to those registered as
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psychologists pursuant to Section 16 of Republic Act No. 10029;
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(f) State Universities and Colleges or SUCs shall refer to public higher education
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institutions established by law and managed by their respective independent and
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separate governing boards; and


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(g) SUC-Based Mental Health Service PersonnelshdiW refer to any mental health
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professional who is hired or deployed by, or has a contract with an SUC to render
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mental health services in its campus.
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Sec. 4. Establishment of Mental Health Offices in Campuses of State Universities
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and Colleges. - All SUCs shall be mandated to establish a Mental Health Office in their
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respective campuses to be operated by trained mental health professionals serving as
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mental health service personnel of SUCs: Provided, That the establishment and
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operation of mental health offices in SUC campuses shall be subject to the policies,
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standards and guidelines issued by Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
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Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC).
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The Mental Health Offices in SUCs shall perform the following duties and
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functions:
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(a) Implement mental health programs and projects designed to promote
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mental health and well-being of students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff,
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and other personnel employed in SUC campuses;
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(b)Set up twenty-four seven (24/7) campus hotline numbers attended by
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dedicated and trained guidance counselors to provide assistance to the whole SUC
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community, with special attention paid to the needs of students, individuals with
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history of mental health problems or conditions, and those who have high-risk factors
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for self-harm or suicide;
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(c) Initiate and sustain a heightened campaign to raise the collective
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consciousness about mental health, with emphasis on preventing suicides, handling
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life stresses, promoting mental health and nutrition, and guidance and counseling;
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(d) Create a mechanism for crisis intervention and response, particularly for
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cases involving suicide and other immediate or life-threatening emergencies;
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(e) Establish systems to maximize the utilization of existing mental health
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services provided by other government agencies, such as, but not limited to,
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Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Social Welfare and Development
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(DSWD); and
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(f) Perform other duties and functions in relation to mental health awareness
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and promotion as may be identified by CHED.


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Sec. 5. Recruitment, Training and Deployment of Mental Health Professionals
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in State Universities and Colleges. — Within five (5) years from the effectivity of this
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Act, all sues shall ensure that their respective mental health offices are staffed with
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mental health professionals. For this purpose, SUCs shall, in coordination with CHED
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and subject to evaluation and approval of DBM, formulate the appropriate
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organizational structure and staffing pattern for their respective mental health offices.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 9258, SUCs shall be
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authorized to recruit individuals with undergraduate degrees in psychology or other
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related disciplines but lack other requisites to qualify as mental health professionals:
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Provided, That the services rendered such individuals shall be performed under the
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supervision of qualified mental health professionals: Provided, further. That CHED and
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the sue concerned shall provide for the appropriate training, instruction and
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assistance to enable them to develop the necessary skills to render counselling and
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other mental health services to students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff, and
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other personnel employed in SUC campuses: Provided, finally. That individuals
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recruited without the required licenses or certification under this Act shall, within three
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(3) years from the date of recruitment, secure such licenses and certification required
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in the performance of the responsibilities as mental health professionals.
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Sec. 6. Professional and Career Development Program for In-Campus Mental
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Health Professionals. - In accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10912,
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otherwise known as the "Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016," CHED
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shall formulate continuing professional development and training programs for SUC
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mental health personnel and shall ensure the adoption of the appropriate mental
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health interventions for students, faculty, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other
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personnel employed in SUC campuses.
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The CHED shall, in coordination with DBM, CSC, DOH, and PRC, perform the
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following:
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(a) Prepare a uniform career and personnel development plan that includes
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provisions on personal wellness, merit promotion, performance evaluation, in-service
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training, graduate scholarships, research grants, and incentive award systems;


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(b) Ensure that compensation of mental health professionals employed by
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SUCs are commensurate with other related plantilla items under the provisions of
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Republic Act No. 6758, otherwise known as the "Compensation and Position
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Classification Act of 1989," as amended;
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(c) Align the qualifications and standards for the qualification outcomes of
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Mental Health Professionals to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10968, otherwise
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known as the "Philippine Qualifications Framework Act;"
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(d) Review the organizational structure of all SUCs to ensure the availability of
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competent and professional personnel that can supervise and provide technical
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assistance to the guidance counselors;
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(e) Review, revise and develop the duties and responsibilities of mental health
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professionals in accordance with the laws governing their professions;
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(f) Prepare a performance evaluation plan geared towards the improvement
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of the efficiency and effectiveness of each mental health professional: Provided, That
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the employees shall be adequately informed by their immediate supervisor of the
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evaluation of their performance; and
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(g) Provide periodic training, aimed at retooling and upgrading the skills of
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mental health professionals.
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Sec. 7. Salary Scale. - The career and salary scales of mental health
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professionals in SUCs shall provide for a progression from a minimum to a maximum
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salary by means of salary adjustments and/or regular increments, to be given based
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on necessity, merit and competencies: Provided, That the entry level for qualified
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mental health professionals employed by SUCs shall not be lower than Salary
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Grade 16.
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Sec. 8. Recruitment of Mental Health Personnel Under a Contract-of-Service
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and Other Similar Work Arrangements. - In cases where SUCs are unable to engage
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the services of qualified personnel for regular appointment, the SUC concerned shall
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be authorized to engage the services of mental health professionals under a contract-
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of-service and other similar work arrangements, whether full-time or part-time basis,
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subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.


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Sec. 9. Benefits. - All mental health professionals employed in SUC 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 or sourced from 
the internally-generated income of SUCs.
Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, CHED shall, in coordination with DBM, PRC, DOH, Philippine 
Association of State Universities and Colleges, and other stakeholders concerned, 
promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this 
Act.
Sec. 12. Suppletory Application. - The applicable provisions of Republic Act 
No. 11036 insofar as such provisions are not inconsistent with the provisions and 
objectives of this Act, shall suppletorily apply.
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, 
issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,