Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7719, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES ACT OF 1994, PROMOTING VOLUNTARY 
BLOOD DONATION, PROVIDING FOR AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SAFE 
BLOOD, REGULATING BLOOD BANKS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES    
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Blood Services Act of 1994, sought to promote voluntary 
blood donation and provide sufficient supply of safe blood and regulate blood 
banks. Blood transfusions in the Philippines reach more than 2,000 blood 
units in a day, with an estimated of 1 million blood units needed every year 
to address victims of accidents, natural disasters, or other grave illnesses.  
Although the Philippines is at par with international standards in terms 
of blood services, there is a need to strengthen more important practices in 
ensuring the provision of adequate, safe, and equitable blood for the Filipinos. 
Blood services should not be used to make profits in exchange for 
saving a life. Charging minimal fees is acceptable as they help maintain and 
sustain blood bank facilities, but to use blood donation to take advantage and 
gain profit is highly unacceptable. This bill seeks to safeguard the significance 
of voluntary blood donation.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 
August 8, 2022
5:34 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7719, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES ACT OF 1994, PROMOTING VOLUNTARY 
BLOOD DONATION, PROVIDING FOR AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SAFE 
BLOOD, REGULATING BLOOD BANKS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES 
FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. – SECTION 3 of Republic Act No. 7719, otherwise known as the 
National Blood Services Act of 1994, is hereby amended by adding the 
following definitions after Subsection (j) to read as follows: 
        “SECTION 3. Definitions. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
“a) x x x; 
“x x x ; 
“j) x x x . 
“K) AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY – A UNIT, AGENCY OR 
INSTITUTION PROVIDING BLOOD PRODUCTS, EITHER AS BLOOD 
STATION, BLOOD COLLECTION UNIT, HOSPITAL BLOOD BANK AND 
BLOOD CENTER (NATIONAL, SUB-NATIONAL AND REGIONAL); THE 
FOLLOWING ARE THE AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES IN 
THE PHILIPPINES: THE PHILIPPINE BLOOD CENTER, SUB-NATIONAL 
BLOOD CENTERS, REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER (INCLUDING LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT UNITS), AND THE PHILIPPINE RED CROSS UNDER 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES NETWORK. THE 
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FOREGOING ENUMERATION SHALL NOT BE EXCLUSIVE AND MAY 
BE UPDATED AS NECESSARY BY THE DEPARTMENT. 
“L) 
EMERGENCY 
SITUATIONS 
– 
EMERGENCY 
BLOOD 
TRANSFUSIONS AS DEFINED BY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
STANDARDS. 
 
SECTION 2. A new SECTION 12 is hereby inserted in Republic Act No. 7719, 
otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, and shall read 
as follows: 
 
“SECTION. 12. PROHIBITED ACTS. – FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, 
THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE PROHIBITED: 
 
(1) 
RETESTING FOR BLOOD TRANSFUSION TRANSMISSIBLE 
DISEASES FOR A FEE, BY THE END-USER HOSPITAL OR 
OTHER HEALTH FACILITY OF ALL BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS 
ISSUED BY AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES UNDER 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES NETWORK. 
REASONABLE CROSS-MATCHING FEES ARE ALLOWED. 
 
(2) 
REFUSING TO ACCEPT ANY BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS 
ISSUED BY AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES UNDER 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES NETWORK DUE 
TO PREFERENCE OF BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS SOURCED 
FROM THEIR OWN BLOOD BANKS OR A DIFFERENT BLOOD 
BANK AS DESIGNATED BY THE END-USER HOSPITAL OR 
OTHER HEALTH FACILITY. THIS SHALL INCLUDE THE 
PRACTICE 
OF 
REPLACEMENT 
DONATIONS 
WHEREIN 
PATIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING ACTUAL BLOOD DONORS 
TO SOURCE THEIR BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCT NEEDS; 
 
(3) 
CHARGING OF ADDITIONAL OR HIGHER FEES FOR BLOOD 
UNITS 
DISPENSED 
WHICH 
EXCEED 
THE 
MAXIMUM 
ALLOWABLE BLOOD SERVICE FEES, AS DETERMINED BY THE 
DEPARTMENT; 
 
(4) 
RESELLING OF ANY UNUSED BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS 
ISSUED BY AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES UNDER 
THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICES NETWORK; 
 
(5) 
RECEIVING PAYMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR DONATING BLOOD; 
 


(6) 
REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BLOOD DONATIONS BY ANY 
BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY TO AVOID COMPROMISING BLOOD 
SAFETY. 
 
(7) 
NO OTHER FEES RELATED TO BLOOD SERVICES SHALL BE 
COLLECTED FROM THE PATIENT OR THE RELATIVES OF THE 
PATIENT 
(E.G. 
DEPOSITS, 
BLOOD 
BOND 
OR 
NON-
REPLACEMENT 
FEE 
– 
PAYMENT 
OR 
BOND 
FOR 
BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS WHEN THE PATIENT CANNOT 
BRING VOLUNTARY NON-REMUNERATED BLOOD DONORS). 
 
 
SECTION 3. A new SECTION 13 is hereby inserted in Republic Act No. 7719, 
otherwise known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, and shall read 
as follows; 
 
“SECTION 13. SAFEGUARDS AND PROPER HANDLING.  -  IT IS THE 
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUING BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY TO 
ENSURE THAT ALL BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS ISSUED HAVE BEEN 
TESTED AND FOUND TO BE NEGATIVE OF BLOOD CONTAMINATION. 
 
THE BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY SHALL LIKEWISE MAKE SURE THAT 
EVERY 
BLOOD/BLOOD 
PRODUCT 
SHALL 
BE 
LABELED 
ACCORDINGLY, INDICATING AMONG OTHERS, THE UNIQUE BLOOD 
DONATION NUMBER; DATE AND TIME OF COLLECTION; NAME OR 
INITIAL OF PHLEBOTOMIST; AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION 
WHICH MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 
 
TO ENSURE THAT THE BLOOD OR BLOOD PRODUCTS TO BE 
TRANSFUSED ARE SAFE, THE BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY FROM 
WHICH THE PRODUCTS ORIGINATED MUST ESTABLISH A CHAIN OF 
CUSTODY TO GUARANTEE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCTS AND 
TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTAMINATED PRODUCTS 
TO END-USER HOSPITALS, HEALTH FACILITIES AND UNTIMATELY, 
TO THE PATIENTS. FOR THIS PURPOSE BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES 
SHALL DOCUMENT EVERY STAGE OF THE TRANSFER OF THE 
BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO 
THOSE WHO ACTUALLY HANDLED OR HAD CUSTODY OF THE SAME, 
HOW HE RECEIVED THE BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS, HOW HE 
HANDLED 
IT 
TO 
PREVENT 
SUBSTITUTION, 
AND 
HOW 
HE 
TRANSFERRED THE BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS TO THE END-USER. 
 


FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE ISSUANCE, DELIVERY, AND TRANSFER OF 
THE BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS SHALL BE HANDLED BY TRAINED 
BLOOD BANK PERSONNEL. 
 
SECTION 4. SECTION 12 of Republic Act No. 7719, otherwise known as the 
National Blood Services Act of 1994, is hereby renumbered as SECTION 14 
and amended to read as follows: 
 
“SECTION 14. Penalties. – (A) Upon complaint of any person and after 
due notice and hearing, ANY GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE HOSPITAL, 
blood bank/center (which shall collect charges and fees greater than 
the maximum prescribed by the Department) FOUND IN VIOLATION OF 
THE PROHIBITED ACTS, AS DEFINED IN SEC. 12, shall have its license 
suspended or revoked by the Secretary. 
 
Any INDIVIDUAL, OR THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, 
REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION OR 
ORGANIZATION FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMMISSION OF 
THE PROHIBITED ACTS AS DEFINED IN SEC. 12 shall suffer the 
penalty of imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than 
six (6) months, or a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,000) 
nor more ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (100,000), or both at the 
discretion of the competent court. 
 
(B) ANY INDIVIDUAL, OR THE RESPONSIBLE OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, 
REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY CORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR 
ORGANIZATION FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE SAFEGUARDS AS 
DEFINED IN SEC. 13 HEREOF SHALL SUFFER THE PENALTY OF 
IMPRISONMENT OF ONE DAY TO 30 DAYS OR A FINE OF NOT LESS 
THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE 
DISCRETION OF THE COMPETENT COURT. 
 
(C) ANY BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY WHICH DISPENSES OR PERMITS 
THE TRANSFUSION OF UNSCREENED, INCOMPLETELY TESTED, 
AND/OR CONTAMINATED BLOOD SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE 
REVOCATION OF ITS LICENSE AND PERPETUAL DISQUALIFICATION 
FROM BEING GRANTED A LICENSE OR AUTHORITY TO OPERATE A 
BLOOD SERVICE FACILITY. MOREOVER, the head of the blood bank 
and the necessary trained personnel under the head’s direct 
supervision found responsible for dispensing, transfusing, and failing 
to dispose, within forty-eight (48) hours, blood which have been proven 
to be contaminated with blood transfusion transmissible diseases shall 
be imprisoned for ten (10) TWELVE (12) years. This is without prejudice 


to the filing of APPLICABLE CIVIL AND/OR criminal charges (under the 
Revised Penal Code) AS MAY BE PROVIDED BY LAW. 
 
SECTION 5. A new SECTION 15 of Republic Act. 7719, otherwise known as 
the National Blood Services Act of 1994, is hereby added and shall read as 
follows: 
 
“SECTION 15. ACCESSIBILITY. – AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE 
FACILITIES MAY DELIVER BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS TO THOSE 
WHO MAY OPT TO HAVE THEM DELIVERED AND TO THOSE WHO 
MAY NEED IT. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, THE DELIVERY 
OF BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS SHOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE. 
 
THE SAFEGUARDS AND PROPER HANDLING AS PROVIDED IN THIS 
ACT SHALL LIKEWISE BE OBSERVED IN THE DELIVERY OF THE 
BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS. 
 
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO BLOOD/BLOOD PRODUCTS, 
AUTHORIZED BLOOD SERVICE FACILITIES SHOULD BE ALLOWED 
TO OPERATE NEAR AND INSIDE HOSPITALS SUBJECT TO 
APPROPRIATE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CONCERNED HOSPITALS. 
 
SECTION 6. – All subsequent Sections of Republic Act No. 7719, otherwise 
known as the National Blood Services Act of 1994, shall hereafter be 
renumbered accordingly. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any portion or provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following the completion of its publication either in the official Gazette or in a 
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,