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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Capen

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The bill seeks to modemize the practice of medical technology in the
Philippines by overhauling Republic Act No. 5527 or the "Medical Technology Act of
1969" which has not been updated since its passage 50 years ago.

Medical technology is currently defined as an auxiliary branch of laboratory
medicine which deals with the examination by various chemical, microscopic,
bacteriologic and other medical laboratory procedures or technique which will aid the
physician in the diagnosis, study and treatment of disease, and in the promotion of
health in general’. Under the proposed “Philippine Medical Technology Act of 2018”,
the term is expanded to likewise refer to the profession that provides laboratory
investigations on biological and non-biological specimen which have impact on
health, the results of which provide information to physicians or other health
professionals in relation to healthcare, research and forensics. The practice shall
now specifically include molecular and cytogenetic technologies, drug testing,
phlebotomy, research, academic work, and other similar activities.

Through the passage of this bill, the State shall establish a Professional
Regulatory Board for Medical Technology, and introduce a Code of Professional
Ethics for the practice of medical technology. This year alone, almost 3,000 new
medical technologists shall join the work force after successfully hurdling the March,
2018 medical technology licensure exam?. While they may not be doctors, medical
technologists perform critical and sensitive functions in our health facilities. They also
directly interact with patients, and handle delicate specimens. Hence, the compelling
need to ensure that they shall always ethically perform their duties to the best of their
abilities — or face penal sanctions.

Finally, pursuant to the Constitutional mandate to promote the rights of our
workers, as well as the commitment to support science and technology education,

' Republic Act No. 5527
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training, and services, the bill seeks to institutionalize a continuing education
program for medical technologists so that their knowledge and techniques remain at
par with international standards, and proficient enough to provide topnotch services
to our people.

National healthcare is one of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s priority
concerns. The President has repeatedly stressed the need to improve professional
competence in health facilities, especially public ones. We believe that medical
technology is only one of the key branches of medical practice in our jurisdiction that
requires serious examination, and modernization.

In light of the foregoing, the swift passage of this bill s urgently sought.

LUIS IND “ Y” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL ratte

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
REGULATING AND MODERNIZING THE PRACTICE OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES

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 “Philippine Medical
Technology Act of 2018."

SECTION. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the importance of the
Medical Technology profession in nation building and development through the
portals of healthcare, education and research. Hence, it shall develop and nurture
competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded medical technologists whose
standard of practice and service shall be world class. Furthermore, the State shall
promote, regulate and protect the professional practice of Medical Technology in the
Philippines and shall ensure its continued growth and development and the
maintenance of high international standards of practice.

SECTION. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as:

a) Accredited Medical Technology Training Laboratory refers to a clinical
laboratory duly licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) and accredited
as a training laboratory by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) upon
recommendation by the Technical Panel in Medical Technology Education or
its equivalent;

b) Accredited Professional Organization (APO) refers to a national organization,

recognized and accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC);


¢) Board refers to the Professional Regulatory Board of Medical Technology of
the Professional Regulation Commission;

d) Commission refers to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC),

) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the inculcation of
advanced knowledge, skills and ethical values in post-licensure specialized or
in inter-or multidisciplinary field of study for assimilation into professional
practice, self-directed research and/or lifelong learning;

f) Code of Professional Ethics refers to a set of standards relating to the
conduct, integrity and moral duties of medical technologists as prescribed and
promulgated by the Board, in consultation with the duly accredited
professional organization, with the approval of the Commission;

g) Medical Technology refers to the healthcare profession that provides
professional services for the purpose of helping the physician in the diagnosis,
treatment, and management of diseases and in the promotion of health in
general. The profession provides laboratory investigations on biological and
Non-biological specimen which have impact on health, the results of which
provide information to physicians or other health professionals in relation to
healthcare, research and forensics. Medical Technology may also provide
laboratory investigations on animals in relation to veterinary medicine;

h

Medical Laboratory Science refers to the other name for Medical Technology;
i) Medical Technologists refers to a holder of a Bachelor of Science on Medical
Technology or Public Health who is duly registered with the Commission and
is qualified to practice Medical Technology;

j) Medical Laboratory Scientists refers to the other name for medical
technologists;

k)

Phlebotomy refers to the collection of blood;

1) Phlebotomist refers to the holder of a Bachelor of Science in Medical
Technology and who has passed an examination for phlebotomy given by the
Board. Provided, that a registered medical technologist automatically qualifies
as a phlebotomist. Provided further, that other health professionals registered
by the Commission may be allowed by the Board to take the Phlebotomy
examination;


m) Recognized School of Medical Technology refers to a school, college or
university which offers a Bachelor's degree program in Medical
Technology/Medical Laboratory Science approved by the Commission on
Higher Education; and

n) Technical Committee for Medical Technology Education refers to the
Technical Committee for Medical Technology Education recognized under the
Office of Programs and Standards of the Commission on Higher Education.

SECTION. 4. The Scope of the Practice of Medical Technology. — The practice of
Medical Technology shall include the following:

a) Examination of tissues, secretions and excretions of the human body and
other body fluids through electronic, chemical, microscopic, microbiologic,
hematologic, serologic, immunologic, nuclear, molecular, cytogenic or other
laboratory procedures and techniques, either manual or automated;

b)

Blood banking procedures and techniques;

°)

Parasitologic, Bacteriologic, Mycologic, Virologic, or other microbiologic
techniques;

d)

Histopathologic and cytologic techniques;

Drug Testing in clinical laboratories;

f) Research involving human beings or animals requiring the use of and/or
application of Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science) knowledge

and procedures;

Preparations and standardization of reagents, standards, stains or others.
Provided, that such reagents, standards, stains or others are exclusively for
the use of their laboratory;

h) Clinical laboratory quality control;
i) Phlebotomy, collection, handling, processing or preservation of specimen;
}) Consultancy in test upgrading, method selection, laboratory equipment

planning and troubleshooting, and laboratory operations where the application
of knowledge in medical technology is required;

k)

Teaching, training and supervising students in Medical Technology education
programs;


1) Introduction, demonstration, evaluation, or improvement of clinical laboratory
procedure or techniques and/or laboratory procedures or techniques and/or
laboratory operations; and

m) Other similar activities where the training, skill and experience of a medical
technologist are needed.

The performance of any of the foregoing activities by a registered and licensed
medical technologist shall be without prejudice to all other applicable laws, rules,
and regulations.

SECTION. 5. Professional Regulatory Board of Medical Technology. - There |
hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board of Medical Technology under the
Commission. The Board shall be composed of a Chairperson and two (2) Members,
all of whom are registered medical technologists who have completed the Bachelor
of Science in Medical Technology/ Medical Laboratory Science. The Chairperson
and Members of the Boards shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines
(‘President’) upon recommendation of the Commission and shall serve for a term of
three (3) years. The Chairperson and the Members of the Board shall hold such
office until their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified. For its
recommendation, the Commission shall submit to the President a list containing
three (3) names from among a list of five (5) nominees for each position
recommended by the duly accredited professional organization of medical
technologists for appointment of the term of the Chairperson or any Member of the
Board prior to the expiration of the term of the Chairperson or any Member of the
Board prior to the expiration of the term of the Chairperson or any Member of the
Board, his successor shall only serve the balance of this term.

SECTION. 6. Qualifications of the Chairperson and Members of the Board. - No
person shall be appointed as Chairperson or as a Member of the Board unless he is
Filipino citizen, of good moral character and is a duly registered medical
technologist. Provided, that the Chairperson and Members of the Board must be
members in good standing of the APO. Provided, further, that the Chairperson and
the Members of the Board must not be an officer of director of the accredited
professional organization at the time of their nomination. The Chairperson must also
have at least fifteen (15) years of experience at the time of their nomination. The
Chairperson must also have at least fifteen (15) years of experience as a medical
technologist. He must be actively practicing his profession as a medical technologist
within five (5) years prior to his nomination. The Chairperson must have at least a
Master's Degree in medical technology or other medical technology related
programs to include biological sciences, education and administration or equivalent
level using the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF). Provided, that for the first


three (8) years prior to the effectivity of this Act, the requirement of a Master's
Degree may be waived for as long as the nominated candidate has obtained at least
70% of the required units for a Master's Degree.

A Member of the Board must have at least ten (10) years of experience as a
medical technologist. He must be actively practicing his profession as a medical
technologist three (3) yeas prior to his nomination. The Chairperson and the
Members of the Board shall not in any way be professionally connected with the
faculty of any Medical Technology school at the time of the appointment of any
review center for at least two (2) years prior to nomination

SECTION. 7. Compensation and Allowances of the Board. — The Chairperson
and each Member of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances
comparable to that being received by the chairperson and members of the other
professional regulatory boards under the Commission as provided for in the General
Appropriation Act.

SECTION. 8. Functions and Duties of the Board. — The following are duties and
functions of the Board:

a) Administer and implement the provisions of this Act;

b) Regulate the practice of the profession in the accordance with professional
regulatory law;

ic}

Determine and prepare the questions for the licensure examination for
medical technologists;

dq)

Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;

e) Issue, suspend or revoke Certificates of Registration and Special Temporary
Permits of medical technologists, phlebotomists, and medical laboratory
technicians;

f) Look into conditions affecting the practice of medical technology in the
Philippines and, whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be

deemed proper for the maintenance of good ethics and standards in the
practice of medical technology;

9)

Investigate violations of this Act or the rules and regulations issued
hereunder. For this purpose, the Board may issue subpoenas duces tecum;

h) Draft such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act;


i) Prescribe the qualifications and training of medical technologists with regard
to special fields of the profession and to supervise their special examination to
be conducted by the Commission;

j) Formulate and recommend the approval refresher courses for applicants who
failed to pass the Board Examinations for the third time;

k) Determine and prepare the questions for the certification examination of
phlebotomists;

|) Prescribe and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of Professional
Standards for the Practice of Medical Technology, in consultation with the
APO;

m) Issue guidelines on the CPD, through the CPD Council, with the approval of
the Commission; and

n) Perform such other functions as may be prescribed by the Commission, in
accordance with existing laws.

SECTION. 9. Removal of the Board of Members. - The Chairperson or any
Member of the Board may be removed by the President for neglect of duty,
incompetence, malpractice or unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable
conduct after having been given an opportunity to defend himself in proper
administrative proceeding. Provided, that pending the resolution of the administrative
proceeding, the President shall have the power to indefinitely suspend the
Chairperson or any Member of the Board under investigation and appoint a
temporary member in his place.

SECTION. 10. Licensure Examination. - Except as otherwise specifically allowed
under the provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as medical
technologists shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be given
by the Board semi-annually during the months of March and September in such
places as the Board may deem proper, subject to the approval of the Commission
The examination for Phlebotomy Certification as referred to in this Act shall be given
by the Board semi-annually in such places as may be approved by the Commission.

SECTION. 11. Qualifications for Admission to the Licensure Examination. —
Every applicant for examination under this Act shall, at least thirty (30) days, prior to
the date of the Examination, furnish the Board satisfactory proof that he:


a) Must possess Philippine citizenship or in the case of a foreigner, citizenship of
@ country or State that has a reciprocity agreement with the Philippines on the
practice of medical technology;

b) Must be of good moral character;
©) Must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory
Science) or Public Health conferred by a school, college or university

recognized and duly accredited by the CHED; and

d) Must not have been convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude by a
court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION. 12. Scope of Examination. - The examination shall cover the following
courses:

Chemical Chemistry 20%
Microbiology and Parasitology 20%
Hematology 20%
Immunohematology (Blood Banking)

Immunology & Serology 20%
Clinical Microscopy (Urinalysis

and Other Body Fluids) — 10%
Histopathologic and Cytologic

Techniques, Laboratory Management,

Medical Technology Law, Related Laws and

Their implementing Rules and

the Code of Ethics eee 10%

The general average of each examinee shall be computed by the Board according to
the above-mentioned relative weights of each course. The Board may change, add
to or remove from the list of above courses or weights as progress in the science of
medical technology may require, after consultation with the accredited professional
organization and association of schools of medical technology upon approval of the
Commission The schedule of courses for examination shall be prepared and
submitted by the Board in a manner prescribed by the Commission.

SECTION. 13. Report of Rating. - The Board shall, after the date of completion of
the examination, report the result thereof for the approval of the Commission within
‘such time limit and guidelines that the Board and the Commission may set.

SECTION. 14. Ratings in the Examination. - \n order to pass the examination, a
candidate must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five (75%) in the written


test, with no rating below fifty percent (50%) in the any of the major courses.
Provided, that the candidate has not failed in at least sixty percent (60%) of the
courses computed according to their weights. After three (3) unsuccessful board
examinations, completion of a refresher program prescribed by the Board shall be
required before another examination can be taken

SECTION. 15. Oath. - All successful examinees shall be required to take a
professional oath before the Board or before any person authorized by law prior to
entering the practice of medical technology in the Philippines.

SECTION. 16. Issuance of Certificate of Registration. - Every applicant who has
satisfactorily passed the required examination for medical technologists shall be
issued a Certificate of Registration. All certificates shall be signed by the Chairman
and the Members of the Board and by the Chairperson and the Commissioners of
the Commission. A Professional Identification Card bearing the registration number,
date of issuance and expiry date, duly signed by the Chairperson of the Commission,
shall likewise, be issued to every registrant, upon payment of the required fees. The
Professional Identification Card shall be renewed in accordance with the guidelines
set by the Professional Regulation Commission and upon satisfying the
requirements of the Board such as, but not limited to, attendance in the CPD
program.

The Board shall refuse to issue a Certificate of Registration to any person convicted
by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude,
‘or who has committed immoral, dishonorable or dishonest conduct, or is of unsound
mind, or is suffering from an incurable communicable disease. In the event of the
Board's refusal to issue a Certificate of Registration, it shall issue a written statement
to the applicant setting forth the reason for its action. The statement issued by the
Board shall be incorporated in its records.

SECTION. 17. Fees. - The fees to be paid by each applicant for the issuance of a
new Certificate of Registration, replacement of a lost, destroyed or mutilated
Certificate of Registration, or issuance or replacement of the Professional
Identification Card shall be in accordance with the fees established by the
Commission

SECTION. 18. Revocation or Suspension of Certificates of Registration. - The
revocation or suspension of a Certificate of Registration may only be made after the
completion of an administrative proceeding conducted by the hearing committee
composed of at least one (1) Member of the Board and one (1) legal officer.
Provided, that the existing rules of evidence shall be observed during the
administrative proceeding. Provided, that the existing rules of evidence shall be
observed during the administrative proceeding. Provided further, that the person
whose Certificate of Registration is sought to be revoked or suspended shall be


entitled to be represented by counsel, to have a speedy, impartial and public
proceeding, to confront the witness against him and all other rights guaranteed by
the Constitution. The Board, may, after giving proper notice and hearing to the party
concerned, reprimand an erring medical technologist, revoke or suspend his
Certificate of Registration for violating any provision of this Act, any rules or
regulations issued pursuant to this Act or for unprofessional conduct, malpractice,
incompetency, gross ignorance or gross negligence in the practice of medical
technology. No penalty of revocation shall be imposed unless there is a unanimous
vote of all the three members of the Board. The Board may, by majority vote, impose
the penalty of reprimand or suspension, Provided, that the suspension of the
Certificate of Revocation shall not exceed two (2) years. When the penalty of
suspension or revocation is imposed by the Board, the medical technologist shall be
required to surrender his Certificate of Registration within thirty (30) days after the
decision becomes final. Should the medical technologist fail to surrender his
certificate of registration within said period, the Board may disqualify him perpetually
from the practice of medical technology. The suspension shall run from the date of
such surrender.

SECTION. 19. Appeal. - The revocation or suspension of a Certificate of
Registration made by the hearing committee may be appealed primarily and
exclusively to the Commission. The decision of the Commission may be elevated to
the Court of Appeals in accordance with the Rules of Court.

SECTION. 20. Reissuance of Reinstatement of a revoked or suspended
Certificate of Registration. - The Board may reissue a revoked Certificate of
Registration upon the application of the medical technologist whose Certificate of
Registration was revoked. Provided, that the reissuance of a revoked Certificate of
Registration may only be made for proper and sufficient reasons, Provided, further,
that no revoked Certificate of Registration shall be reissued within two (2) years from
the date of its surrender. A suspended Certificate of Registration shall be without
prejudice to further actions by the Board for a violation of any provision of this Act, its
implementing rules or regulations or any condition imposed by the Board upon the
medical technologist during the period of revocation or suspension

SECTION. 21. Roster of Medical Technologists. - A roster of Medical
Technologists shall be prepared annually by the Registration Division of the
Commission. This roster shall contain the name, address, and citizenship of each
registered medical technologist; the date of registration or issuance of the Certificate
of Registration and any other pertinent data. The roster shall be open to public
inspection, and copies thereof shall be placed on file in the Commission, and
furnished to other offices, private or governmental, and to the public, upon request.

SECTION. 22. Technical Committee for Medical Technology Education
(TCMTE) or its equivalent. - The Technical Committee for Medical Technology


Education (TCMTE) under the Commission on Higher Education - Office of
Programs and Standards (CHED-OPS) shall be composed of the following
members:

a) A representative from the Board;

b) The President or representative of the national accredited professional
organization of medical technologists;

©) The President of representative of the association of schools of medical
technology;

d) A representative whose specialty is Laboratory Medicine and who is also a
medical technologist.

The TCMTE or its equivalent shall be supported by a secretariat and staff.

SECTION. 23. Responsibilities of the TCMTE or its equivalent. - The TCMTE
shall assist the Commission on Higher Education ((CHED) in setting Policies,
Standards, and Guidelines for the Medical Technology Program. It may also
assist in its implementation, including mentoring and evaluation.

The responsibilities of the TCMTE are as follows:

a) To recommend the minimum curriculum required for the program of
medical technology;

b)

To determine and prescribe the number of students that will be allowed to
take the medical technology program in each school, taking into account
the student-instructor ratio and the availability of facilities for instruction;

ic)

To recommend the closure of medical technology schools which are found
to be substandard;

d) To inspect, whenever necessary, the different medical technology schools
in the country in order to determine whether a high standard of education
is maintained in said institutions; and

e)

To promulgate, prescribe and enforce such rules and regulations as may
be necessary for the proper implementation of the foregoing functions.

SECTION. 24. Medical Technology Education. - The Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science) program shall be at least four (4)


years, as suggested in the Commission on Higher Education's Policies, Standards,
and Guidelines. Said program shall be composed of general education, core and

professional courses, and a satisfactory internship program in accredited training
laboratories.

SECTION. 25. Accreditation of Schools of Medical Technology Education and
of Training Laboratories. - The Commission on Higher Education, through
TCMTE, shall approve schools of Medical Technology and accredit licensed clinical
laboratories for training of students in accordance with the provisions of this Act. The
laboratories shall show satisfactory evidence that they possess qualified personnel
and are properly equipped to carry our laboratory procedures commonly required in
the following fields: Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Parasitology,
Immunohematology (Blood Banking), Immunology and Serology, Clinical Microscopy
(Urinalysis & other body fluids), and Histopathologic and Cytologic Techniques, and
that the scope of activities of said laboratories offer sufficient training in said
laboratory procedures.

SECTION. 26. Studies for Medical Technology Human Resource Management.
— The Board, in coordination with the accredited professional organization and
appropriate government and private agencies shall initiate. Undertake and conduct
studies on health, human resources production, utilization or deployment and
development.

SECTION. 27. Membership to Accredited Professional Organization. - All
registered medical technologists whose names appear in the roster of the
Professional Regulation Commission shall automatically become members of the
accredited professional organization of registered and licensed medical
technologists. Members of said accredited professional organization shall receive
benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto upon compliance with the membership
requirements and payment of the required fees and dues.

SECTION. 28. Continuing Professional Development Program. - There shall be
a program of Continuing Professional Development for Medical Technology (CPD-
MT) conducted by the national accredited professional organization and other CPD-
MT providers duly accredited by the CPD Council for Medical Technology (CPDC-
MT) under the Commission, to provide, promote and facilitate lifelong learning in the
enhancement of competencies towards delivery of quality, updated and ethical
services, both locally and globally

The CPDC-MT herein created shall ensure adequate and appropriate provision of
CPD programs and shall issue such operational guidelines as may be approved by
the Commission. All registered medical technologists shall abide by the requirement,
rules and regulations promulgated by the CPDC-MT approved by the Commission.


SECTION. 29. Lifelong Learning for Medical Technologists. - Upon the effectivity
of this Act, a medical technologist shall be required to show compliance with the
required CPD units as basis for renewal of the Professional Identification Card in
accordance with the guidelines of the Commission.

SECTION. 30. Salary. - In order to enhance the general welfare, commitment to
service and professionalism of medical technologists, the minimum base pay upon
entry of a registered medical technologist in governmental and non-governmental
institutions should not be lower than the amount equivalent to Salary Grade 15.

SECTION. 31. Foreign Reciprocity. — No foreigner shall be admitted to an
examination, be given a Certificate of Registration or be entitled to any of the rights
or privileges under this Act unless the country or state of which he is a subject or a
citizen permits Filipino medical technologists to practice within its territorial limits on
the same basis as the subjects or citizens of said country or state.

SECTION. 32. Inhibition Against the Practice of Medical Technology/Special
temporary Permit. — No person shall practice or offer to practice medical technology
as defined in this Act without having previously obtained a valid Certificate of
Registration from the Board. Provided, that a Certificate of Registration shall not be
required from the following

a) Duly registered physicians;

b) Medical technologists in the service of the Armed Forces of the United
States of America who are stationed in the Philippines and are rendering
services as such for the members of said armed forces only.

SECTION. 33. Penal Provisions. - Without prejudice to the provisions of the
Medical Act of 1959, as amended, relating to the illegal practice of medicine, the
following shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (50,000)
nor more than one hundred thousand pesos (100,000) or imprisonment for not less
than six (6) months nor more than (2) years, or both, at the discretion of the court

a) Any person who shall practice Medical Technology in the Philippines
without being registered or exempted from registration in accordance with
the provisions of this Act;

b) Any medical technologist who shall knowingly make a fraudulent
laboratory report;

c) Any person presenting or attempting to use as his own, the Certificate of
Registration of another;


d) Any person who shall give any false or fraudulent evidence of any kind to
the Board or any member thereof in obtaining a Certificate of Registration
as a medical technologist;

e) Any person who shall impersonate any registrant;

f) Any person who shall attempt to use a revoked or suspended Certificate of
Registration;

9) Any person who shalll attempt to use a revoked or suspended Certificate of
Registration;

h) Any person or corporate body who shall allow non-registered medical
technologist/medical laboratory technician under his employ to engage in
the practice of medical technology or recommend the appointment of
anyone to the position of a medical technologist/medical laboratory
technicians while knowing that he is not registered as such; and

i) Any person or corporate body who shall violate any provision of this Act or
any rules or regulations issued pursuant to this Act.

SECTION. 34. Enforcement of this Act. - It shall be the primary duty of the
Commission and Board to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. Any law
enforcement agency and officers, employees and agents of national, provincial, city
or municipal governments shall, upon the call or request of the Commission on
Board, render assistance in enforcing the provisions of this Act and, to prosecute any
person violating the same.

SECTION. 35. Funding Provision. - The Chairperson of the Commission shall
include in the Commission's program the funding requirements for the
implementation of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION. 36. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within ninety (90) days
after the effectivity of this Act, the Board and the Commission, in coordination with
the national accredited professional organization, the Department of Health (DOH),
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other concemed agencies,
shall formulate such rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act.

SECTION. 37. Transitory Provisions. — Upon the effectivity of this Act:

1) The Board shall discontinue the registration of medical laboratory technicians
as provided for in Section 21 of Republic Act No. 5527. Provided, that medical


laboratory technicians registered under Republic Act No. 5527 shall maintain
their status as registered medical laboratory technicians after this Act has
taken effect. Provided, that a registered medical technologist occupying the
Position of medical laboratory technician shall be rendered an appropriate
position and be reclassified as a medical technologist.

2)

The incumbent Chairperson and members of the Board shall continue to
serve until the first Board constituted under the provisions of this Act shall
have been appointed and duly qualified.

SECTION. 38. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other
provisions of this Act.

SECTION. 39. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 5527 otherwise known as the
“Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969", Republic Act No.6138 or otherwise
known as “An Act to Amend Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Five
Thousand Five Hundred Twenty-Seven, Known as “The Philippine Medical
Technology Act of 1968", Presidential Decree No. 498 or otherwise known as
“Amending Sections Two, Three, Four, Seven. Eight, Eleven, Thirteen, Sixteen,
Seventeen Twenty-One and Twenty-Nine of Republic Act No. 5527 also known as
The Philippine Medical Technology Act of 1969” and Presidential Decree No. 1534
or otherwise known as “Further Amending Republic Act No. 5527 as Amended by
Presidential Decree No. 498” are hereby repealed. All other laws, decrees,
ordinances, rules, regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION. 40. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,