FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Sessiou 
) 
SENATE 
S.No 
256 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. A 
long string of challenges, however, prevent the aforementioned policy from being fully 
carried out. Among the challenges for the country's health care system are: retention of 
medical staff, particularly in rural settings; provision of health care to isolated groups; 
and, prevention and control of non-commtmicable diseases.! It is in this light that this 
measure seeks to allow the Department of Health to enter into contracts for preventive 
health care training of rural health care practitioners. 
This bill seeks to respond to our rural communities' need for quality health care and 
disease prevention programs. This measure encourages interdisciplinary preventive 
training of rural health care providers. Through such training, rural health care providers 
can build a strong educational foundation from the behavioral, biological, and 
psychological sciences. The distress caused by poor health is immense and gets 
compounded. The huge financial burden redounds from individuals to the families to the 
government. 
The intent of this measure rests on the premise that implementing preventive health 
services will protect the community from huge potential psychological and financial 
quandary in the long run. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sou~ 1l ___ _ 
ANT 
"SO~~:;]RILLANES 
Senator 
IInformation retrieved from: l.!.t.tR:llwww.eolc-observatory.net/globalanalysis/phiIippines~heill!!Lcare.htm. 
Information retrieved on 30 April 2009. 
I 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S:No 256 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS IN RURAL AREAS WITH 
TRAINING IN PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING BOTH PHYSICAL AND 
MENTAL CARE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be known as the 'Rural Preventive Health 
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Care Training Act of 201 0'. 
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SEC. 2. Preventive Health Care Training. - The Secretary of the Department of Health 
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(hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) may enter into contracts with nniversities and private 
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organizations to provide preventive health care training to health care practitioners practicing in 
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rural areas such as in the Rural Health Units (RHUs) and Barangay Health Stations. Such 
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training shall, to the extent practicable, include training in health care to prevent both physical 
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and mental disorders before the initial occurrence of such disorders; and interdisciplinary 
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training project applications such as those that draw from the behavioral, biological, and 
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psychological sciences. 
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SEC. 3. Use of Assistance. - Amounts received nnder contract entered into nnder this 
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Act shall be used -
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a. to provide student stipends to individuals attending rural connnunity colleges or other 
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institutions that service predominantly rural connnunities, for the purpose of enabling the 
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individuals to receive preventive health care training; 
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b. to increase staff support at rural community colleges or other institutions that service 
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predominantly rural communities to facilitate the provision of preventive health care 
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training; 
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c. to provide training in appropriate research and program evaluation skills in rural 
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communities; 
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d. to create and implement innovative programs and curricula with a specific prevention 
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component; and 
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e. for other purposes as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
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SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Health (DOH) shall 
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promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective enforcement of the provisions of 
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this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
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shall be taken out from the appropriations of the Department of Health. Thereafter, such amount 
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necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
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letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with, the 
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provisions of this Act, is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
Approved, 
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