Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. ALFRED VARGAS 
AN ACT 
IMPROVING THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN 
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
The passage of Republic Act No. 11036, also known as the Mental 
Health Act, has paved the way for the Philippines to establish a mental health 
framework in terms of understanding the mental health struggles of Filipinos 
and delivering better mental health care to those in need. 
However, access to mental health services for the greater population 
remain limited due to existing economic constraints. Students who encounter 
heavy academic and personal challenges remain vulnerable to mental health 
problems with the absence of accessible mental and behavioral health 
services in colleges and universities. Thus, the government must increase its 
efforts to enable service users to equitably access appropriate care when 
needed. 
This bill seeks to authorize the Chairperson of the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED) to award competitive grants to eligible entities to 
improve mental and behavioral health services and outreach in college and 
university campuses. 
September 7, 2021
1:01 pm
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This proposed legislation further aims to increase access to, and reduce 
the stigma associated with, mental health services so as to ensure that college 
students have the support necessary to successfully complete their studies. 
This bill also directs the Secretary of Health to establish a College Campus 
Task Force, under the National Center for Mental Health, to discuss mental 
and behavioral health concerns in college and university campuses. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought.  
ALFRED VARGAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY  
REP. ALFRED VARGAS 
AN ACT 
IMPROVING THE MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN 
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Campus Mental 
Health Improvement Act”. 
SECTION 2. Objectives. – The objectives of this Act, with respect to college 
and university settings, are to: 
(a)
Increase access to mental and behavioral health services;
(b)
Foster and improve the prevention of mental and behavioral health
disorders, and the promotion of mental health;
(c)
Improve the identification and treatment for students at risk;
(d)
Improve collaboration and the development of appropriate levels of
mental and behavioral health care;
(e)
Reduce the stigma for students with mental health disorders and
enhance their access to mental health services; and
(f)
Improve the efficacy of outreach efforts.
SECTION 3. Grants to Improve Mental and Behavioral Health in College 
Campuses. – The Chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall 
award competitive grants to eligible entities to improve mental and behavioral 
health services and outreach in college and university campuses. 
SECTION 4. Eligibility. – To be eligible to receive a grant, an entity shall: 
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(a) Be an institution of higher education; and 
(b) Submit to the Chair an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Chair may require, including the 
information required under Section 5 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Application. – An application for a grant under this Act shall 
include: 
 
(a) 
A description of the population to be targeted by the program carried 
out under the grant, the particular mental and behavioral health 
needs of the students involved, and the private and public 
institutional resources available for meeting the needs of such 
students at the time the application is submitted; 
(b) 
An outline of the objectives of the program carried out under the 
grant; 
(c) 
A description of activities, services, and training to be provided 
under the program, including planned outreach strategies to reach 
students not currently seeking services; 
(d) 
A plan to seek input from community mental health providers, when 
available, community groups, and other public and private entities 
in carrying out the program; 
(e) 
A plan, when applicable, to meet the specific mental and behavioral 
health needs of veterans attending institutions of higher education; 
(f) 
A description of the methods to be used to evaluate the outcomes 
and effectiveness of the program; and 
(g) 
An assurance that grant funds will be used to supplement, and not 
supplant, any other government funds available to carry out 
activities of the type carried out under the grant. 
 
SECTION 6. Special Considerations. – In awarding grants under this Act, 
the Chair shall give special consideration to applications that describe 
programs to be carried out under the grant that: 
 
(a) 
Demonstrate the greatest need for new or additional mental and 
behavioral health services, in part by providing information on 
current ratios of students to mental and behavioral health 
professionals; 
(b) 
Propose effective approaches for initiating or expanding campus 
services and supports using evidence-based practices; 
(c) 
Target traditionally underserved populations and populations most 
at risk; 
(d) 
Where possible, demonstrate an awareness of, and a willingness 
to, coordinate with a community mental health center or other 


mental health resource in the community, to support screening 
and referral of students requiring intensive services; 
(e) 
Identify how the college or university will address psychiatric 
emergencies, including how information will be communicated 
with families or other appropriate parties; and 
(f) 
Demonstrate the greatest potential for replication and 
dissemination. 
 
SECTION 7. Use of Funds. – Amounts received under a grant may be used 
to: 
 
(a) 
Provide mental and behavioral health services to students, 
including prevention, promotion of mental health, screening, early 
intervention, assessment, treatment, management, and education 
services relating to the mental and behavioral health of students; 
(b) 
Provide outreach services to notify students about the existence of 
mental and behavioral health services; 
(c) 
Educate families, peers, faculty, staff, and communities to increase 
awareness of mental health issues; 
(d) 
Support student groups on campus that engage in activities to 
educate students, reduce stigma surrounding mental and 
behavioral disorders, and promote mental health wellness; 
(e) 
Employ appropriately trained staff; 
(f) 
Expand mental health training through internship, post-doctorate, 
and residency programs; 
(g) 
Develop and support evidence-based and emerging best practices, 
including a focus on culturally- and linguistically-appropriate best 
practices; and 
(h) 
Evaluate and disseminate best practices to other colleges and 
universities. 
 
SECTION 8. Duration of Grants. – A grant shall be awarded for a period not 
to exceed three years. 
 
SECTION 9. Evaluation and Reporting. – 
 
(a) 
Evaluation. – Not later than 18 months after the date on which a 
grant is received, the eligible entity involved shall submit to the 
Chair the results of the evaluation conducted by the entity 
concerning the effectiveness of the activities carried out under the 
grant and plans for the sustainability of such efforts. 
(b) 
Report. – Not later than two years after the date of the effectivity of 
this Act, the Chair shall submit to the appropriate committees of 


Congress a report concerning the results of: the evaluations 
conducted under Section 9, Paragraph (a) of this Act; and an 
evaluation conducted by the Chair to analyze the effectiveness and 
efficacy of the activities conducted with grants under this Act. 
(c) Technical Assistance. – The Chair may provide technical assistance to 
grantees in carrying out this Section. 
 
SECTION 10. Mental and Behavioral Health Outreach and Education in 
College Campuses. – 
 
(a) 
Purpose. – It is the purpose of this Section to increase access to, and 
reduce the stigma associated with, mental health services so as to 
ensure that college students have the support necessary to 
successfully complete their studies. 
 
(b) 
National Public Education Campaign. – The Chair shall convene an 
interagency, public-private sector working group to plan, establish, 
and begin coordinating and evaluating a targeted public education 
campaign that is designed to focus on mental and behavioral health 
in college campuses. Such campaign shall be designed to: 
i. 
Improve the general understanding of mental health and 
mental health disorders; 
ii. 
Encourage help-seeking behaviors relating to the promotion 
of mental health, prevention of mental health disorders, and 
treatment of such disorders; 
iii. 
Make the connection between mental and behavioral health 
and academic success; and 
iv. 
Assist the general public in identifying the early warning 
signs and reducing the stigma of mental illness. 
 
(c) 
Composition. – The working group under paragraph (B) shall 
include: 
i. 
Mental health consumers, including students and family 
members; 
ii. 
Representatives of colleges and universities; 
iii. 
Representatives of national mental and behavioral health 
and college associations; 
iv. 
Representatives of college health promotion and prevention 
organizations; 
v. 
Representatives of mental health providers, including 
community mental health centers; and 
vi. 
Representatives of private- and public-sector groups with 
experience in the development of effective public health 


education campaigns. 
 
(d) 
National Public Education Plan. – The working group under 
paragraph (B) shall develop a plan that shall: 
i. 
Target promotional and educational efforts to the college age 
population and individuals who are employed in college and 
university settings, including the use of roundtables; 
ii. 
Develop and propose the implementation of research-based 
public health messages and activities; 
iii. 
Provide support for local efforts to reduce stigma by using 
the National Center for Mental Health as a primary point of 
contact for information, publications, and service program 
referrals; and 
iv. 
Develop and propose the implementation of a social 
marketing campaign that is targeted at the college 
population and individuals who are employed in college and 
university settings. 
 
SECTION 11. Interagency Working Group on Campus Mental Health. – 
 
(a) Establishment. – The Secretary of Health shall establish a College 
Campus Task Force, under the National Center for Mental Health, to 
discuss mental and behavioral health concerns in college and university 
campuses. 
 
(b) Membership. – The Task Force shall be composed of a representative 
from each department that has jurisdiction over, or is affected by, 
mental health and education policies and projects, including the 
Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health. 
 
(c) Duties. – The Task Force shall: 
 
(1) Serve as a centralized mechanism to coordinate a national effort 
to: 
i. Discuss and evaluate evidence and knowledge on mental 
and behavioral health services available to, and the 
prevalence of mental health illness among, the college age 
population of the Philippines; 
ii. Determine 
the 
range 
of 
effective, 
feasible, 
and 
comprehensive actions to improve mental and behavioral 
health in college and university campuses; 
iii. Examine and better address the needs of the college age 
population dealing with mental illness; 


iv. Survey government agencies to determine which policies 
are effective in encouraging, and how best to facilitate 
outreach without duplicating, efforts relating to mental and 
behavioral health promotion; 
v. Establish specific goals within and across Federal agencies 
for mental health promotion, including determinations of 
accountability for reaching those goals; 
vi. Develop a strategy for allocating responsibilities and 
ensuring participation in mental and behavioral health 
promotions, particularly in the case of competing agency 
priorities; 
vii. Coordinate plans to communicate research results relating 
to mental and behavioral health amongst the college age 
population to enable reporting and outreach activities to 
produce more useful and timely information; 
viii. Provide a description of evidence-based best practices, 
model programs, effective guidelines, and other strategies 
for promoting mental and behavioral health in college and 
university campuses; 
ix. Make recommendations to improve government efforts 
relating to mental and behavioral health promotion in 
college campuses and to ensure government efforts are 
consistent with available standards and evidence and other 
programs in existence as of the date of effectivity of this 
Act; and 
x. Monitor progress in meeting specific mental and behavioral 
health promotion goals as they relate to college and 
university settings; 
(2) Consult with national organizations with expertise in mental and 
behavioral health, especially those organizations working with 
the college age population; and 
(3) Consult with and seek input from mental health professionals 
working in college and university campuses as appropriate. 
 
(d) Meetings. – The Task Force shall meet at least three times each year. 
The Chair shall sponsor an annual conference on mental and 
behavioral health in college and university settings to enhance 
coordination, build partnerships, and share best practices in mental 
and behavioral health promotion, data collection, analysis, and 
services. 
 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. – The funds needed for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the 


Commission on Higher Education. Thereafter, such amount as may be 
necessary for its full implementation shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item. 
SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission on 
Higher Education and the Secretary of the Department of Health shall, 
in coordination with other stakeholders, issue the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.  
SECTION 14. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions of this Act 
which are not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 15. 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 16. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, Implementing Rules and Regulations inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 17. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,