FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 4 6 6 
.f ,{ t 
, 
<Wfn.,;¥-..;' 
t,:, 
... 
." 
! p" 
',0 
I 'I"~ 31 
rl ~-: 'A J 
-
-', '"' _, 
r.' "("~ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 12, Article 13 of the Constitution 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 
without really understanding the benefits and the risks accompanying the 
procedure. 
Women need complete 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. 
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


, ' 
(n~~ICL .. '.; " i 
-:~~: i' 
_.' t\ 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 4 66 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 the "Breast Implant 
Research and Information Acf'. 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - 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, 
clinical, case-controlled study of women with breast implants; 
(b) 
involve women who have had such implants in place for at least eight 
(8) years, focus on a typical disease presentation, neurological 
dysfunction and immune system irregularities; and, 
1 


(c) 
evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman who 
has or has not had breal:jt 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 agency 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 less 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 at such meetings. Each member shall make a presentation before 
the 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 causes in accordance with 
procedures established by the Committee. 
SEC 9. Functions of the Committee. - 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; 
2 


(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 are 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, 
3