FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2745 
) 
) 
'11 
MAR 15 P 6 :51 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Unilateral Hearing Loss or UHL is a type of hearing impairment where there is 
normal hearing in one ear and impaired hearing in the other and hearing loss may range 
from mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can be present at birth where genetics is 
the most likely reason or it might be due to problems during pregnancy or complications 
arising from childbirth. Those who get UHL later in life may attribute the impairment to 
an illness like meningitis or mumps or even a bad case of ear infection. It may also be 
caused by blaring sound such as loud music or exposure sudden explosions. 
Although there are no statistics available in the Philippines that would determine 
the number of Filipinos suffering from UHL, it is beginning to increase awareness 
among parents whose children are suffering from the same. Students suffering from 
UHL tend to have a limited attention span and may also have difficulty comprehending 
instructions which in turn take toll on the child's academic performance. 
Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them. As such, there is a need to provide an information, education and communication 
(IEC) campaign to educate the general public on the unilateral hearing loss. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. N~. 2745 
) 
) 
) 
'11 
MAR 15 P 6 :51 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
HOLISTIC 
RESEARCH 
AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM ON UNILATERAL HEARING LOSS TO EASE AND IMPROVE 
REHABILITATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS SUFFERING 
FROM SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSE 
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 "Comprehensive 
Unilateral Hearing Loss Research and Development and Rehabilitation Act of 
2011. " 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to protect and promote the right to health of the people to full, healthy and holistic 
development and the right to self-determination. As such, the State shall promote an 
environment conducive to the development of a/l its citizens to become, to the best of 
their potentials, independent, self-reliant and productive members of society. 
Towards this end, the State commits itself to the establishment of institutional 
mechanisms to provide quantitative and qualitative research and rehabilitation activities 
on Unilateral Hearing Loss that is responsive to the country's health needs. 
SEC. 3. 
Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall be defined as follows: 
(a) 
"Committee" refers to the Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss and 
Rehabilitation. 
(b) 
"Unilateral Hearing Loss" is a type of hearing impairment where there is 
normal hearing in one ear and impaired hearing in the other ear. 
(c) 
"Secretary" sha/l refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 


SEC. 4. 
Comprehensive Research on Unilateral Hearing Loss • The 
Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby mandated to conduct a 
comprehensive research and information drive on incidence of unilateral hearing loss in 
the country. The Department is also mandated to support medical and epidemiological 
research activities to expand the knowledge and understanding of unilateral hearing 
loss in the country. 
I 
The DOH is mandated to strengthen its research focus concerning unilateral 
hearing loss, including a renewed investment into basic and clinical research, expanded 
research into the link between environmental factors and the said condition, and 
continued investigations into causation, diagnosis, early detection and treatment for the 
same. Such factors that will be studied shall also include, among others, hormones and 
reproductive factors, genetic factors, socio-demographic factors, and others. 
SEC. 5. 
Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss Research -
To assist 
the Secretary in receiving accurate and complete information about unilateral hearing 
loss, its symptoms, origin, classification, prevention and treatment, there is hereby 
established a Committee, to be known as the Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss, to 
ensure the strategic management, communication, and oversight of the policy 
formation, research, and activities of the government regarding the condition 
The objectives of the Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss shall endeavor to: 
a) 
to promote public awareness, education and information on issues 
concerning the condition; 
b) 
to establish sustainable networks of support group for families of afflicted 
persons; 
c) 
to provide referral services to individuals with the impairment and identify 
the appropriate educational and medical expertise and facilities suited to the needs of 
the patient; 
d) 
to combat the spectrum of medical problems related to the condition 
through screening, education, early intervention, prompt referrals for treatment and 
services; 
e) 
to undertake research andlor collaborate with other entities on research 
activities regarding the prevalence of the condition in the Philippines; 
f) 
to receive donations and grants from international donor institutions, 
foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved in research, 
prevention, cure and rehabilitation of persons with the condition; 
g) 
to provide the avenue for exchange of information, exchange programs 
and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the early detection, prevention, and 
treatment of afflicted patients; and 


h) 
to ensure that materials concerning the condition are available, up to 
date, and responsive to reports of problems with Unilateral Hearing Loss, and that 
timely aggregate data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public 
upon request and consistent with existing confidentiality standards. 
SEC. 6. 
Composition. -
The Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss 
Research shall be composed of the following members: 
(a) 
One (1) representative from the Department of Health (DOH); 
(b) 
One (1) representative from the National Institute of Health (NIH); 
(c) 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited drug and vaccine 
manufacturers and distributors; 
(d) 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of hospitals in 
the Philippines; 
(e) 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited association of medical 
doctors in the Philippines; and 
(f) 
One (1) representative from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 
involved in the advocacy for the prevention, cure and rehabilitation of 
persons with Unilateral Hearing Loss. 
The Secretary of the Department of Health shall seat as the Chairperson for the 
Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss Research. 
SEC. 7. 
Meetings. - The Committee on Unilateral Hearing Loss Research 
shall meet at least once a month upon a three-day notice signed by the two (2) 
Chairpersons or as often as necessary upon the written request signed by two-thirds 
(2/3) of its members. 
The presence of a majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a 
quorum in order for it to conduct its business. 
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 to the full Committee at each meeting 
concerning the activities conducted by such member. 
SEC. 8. 
Early Identification and Intervention for Persons with Unilateral 
Hearing Loss. -
The DOH is hereby mandated to establish a program for early 
identification, screening and detection of persons with Unilateral Hearing Loss. 


SEC. 9. 
Prevention of Conflict of Interest in the Research Process. • 
Within six (6) month from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall issue the 
necessary standards, guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that there is no 
conflict of interest between the research agenda of the researchers and the drug 
manufacturers or government agencies promoting the widespread usage of a particular 
vaccine or medicine for the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with Unilateral 
Hearing Loss. 
The DOH shall ensure the timely publication and dissemination of information of 
these guidelines and regulations in order to ensure that the various health providers and 
stakeholders al\ over the country are adequately informed. 
SEC. 10. 
Appropriations . • To carry out the provisions of this Act, the funds 
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall be incorporated in the annual 
general appropriations of the Department of Health (DOH). 
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 
Repealling Clause . Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with the provision of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 13. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,