Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
'   HOUSEBILLNo.   8620
Introduced bv Ret]. Ray T. Reves
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act  11223,  otherwise  known  as  the  Universal  Health  Care  aims  to
provide affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care to Filipinos, including oral
health services. Apart from this, the government has also made strides in raising oral
health  awareness,   such   as  the  distribution  of  dental  care   kits  to  children.   The
imposition of sugar taxes to discourage  Filipinos from consuming sugary drinks and
to fund more oral care programs and infrastructure has also been put in place.
Despite  this,  oral  and  dental  health  for Filipinos  is  limited  to  simple  brushing
routines with  regular toothpaste,  with  some  lower-income  households opting  to  use
alternative methods such as saltwater gargles and brushing with baking soda.  Data
provided  by the  National  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  for  Dental  Survey  (NMEDS)  in
2022 indicates that 87.4% of Filipinos suffer from tooth decay or dental cavities. The
absence  of proper dental  and  oral  health  care,  coupled  with  a  diet of sugary  and
processed  foods,  and  the  emotional  stress  that  the  pandemic  has  brought  has
caused  incidences of tooth decay to rise,  leaving  millions  of Filipinos susceptible to
the development of gum or periodontal disease.
The  presence of periodontal  disease can  give  an  overview of one's  general
health. There exists literature that supports the connection between periodontitis and
exacerbated   insulin  resistance.   Relevant  surveys  have  found  significantly  higher
prevalence   of   periodontitis   among   patients   with   chronic   obstructive   pulmonary
disease.  There  are  also  scientific  papers  that  show  the  bidirectional  relationship
between  periodontal  disease  and  higher  mortality  in  patients  with  chronic  kidney
disease.
Numerous  studies  have   also  found  links   between   periodontal   disease  in
populations   and   its  association  with   systemic  diseases   such   as   cardiovascular
disease,  stroke,  and  certain  cancers.  Research  published  in  as  early as  2012  has
found strong evidence that dental plaque bacteria that escapes into the bloodstream


can cause blood clots,  leading to growth in heart valves or the inflammation of blood
vessels that can block blood supply to the brain or heart, which can trigger strokes or
heart attacks.
This   bill   seeks   to   bring   oral   health   care   closer   to   our   countrymen   by
guaranteeing that dentists and oral health practitioners are available even in far-flung
and  geographically  isolated  areas.   Early  detection,  management,  treatment,  and
good oral health care are key in ensuring the general health of an individual.  Not only
does this prevent the development of more debilitating diseases associated with oral
disease,  this can also minimize the financial  burden on the individual,  and on  public
healthcare systems.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
Represe


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUSE BILL No.   862 0
Introduced bv ReD. Ray T. Reves
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE DEPLOYMENT OF DENTISTS TO THE BARRIOS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION  1.  Short  TJ-I/e. -This  measure shall  be  known as the  "Denfi.sfs fo  the
Barrios Act."
SECTloN  2.  Dec/arafi-on  of Po//-cy.  -  lt  is  the  policy  of the  State  to  protect  and
promote  the  right  to  health  of the  people  and  instill  health  consciousness  among
Filipinos.
Towards  this  end,  the State shall give  high  priority to the allocation  of material  and
institutional  resources  to  protect  public  health  by ensuring  that dental  services  are
available   to  depressed,   marginalized,   underserved,   and   geographically   isolated
areas through the deployment of competent and community-oriented dentists.
SECTION 3. Den fr-sfs fo the Barn-os Program. - The Department of Health (DOH)
is hereby mandated to create a  program wherein select dentists,  hereon referred to
as  Denfi.sis  fo  the  Ban.os  shall  be  deployed  to  remote,  far-flung,  geographically
isolated and/or generally hard to reach areas to  provide dental services to the local
residents
SECTION  4.  Denzisfs  fo  the  Barn-os  Poo/.  -  The  DOH  shall  maintain  a  pool  of
dentists  to  be  deployed  at  any  time  to  remote,  far-flung,  geographically  isolated,
and/or generally hard to reach areas. The minimum requirements for a Dent/.sf fo the
Barrt.os shall be the following:
a)  A Doctor of Medical Dentistry graduate;
b)  A holder of a Professional Identification Card (Plc) issued by the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC);
c)   Physically and mentally fit;


d)   Certified to be of good moral character; and
e)   Willing  to work  in  remote,  far-flung,  geographically  isolated,  and/or generally
hard to reach areas for a period of one fiscal year.
SECTION  5.  Compensation  and  Benofits  of  a  Dentist to  the  Barrios.  - The
Denfi.sis fo the Ba„t.os shall receive a basic salary as determined by the DOH, which
shall be no lower than that of an entry level dentist, or Salary Grade 13, whichever is
higher.  In addition to the basic salary,  the Denfisfs fo the Ban.os shall  be entitled  to
the following benefits:
a)   Representation allowance;
b)   Transportation allowance;
c)   Hazard pay;
d)   Social benefits, including but not limited to PhilHealth, GSIS,  Pag-Ibig; and
e)   Option to avail of scholarship benefits for postgraduate studies,  provided that
the Denfi.sis fo the Ban.os have rendered a minimum of four years of service.
SECTloN  6.  Defetmi.nafi-on  of Areas  for Dep/oymenf.  -  The  Provincial  Health
Office   (PHO),   in   coordination   with   the   Local   Government   Unit   (LGU),   and   the
Municipal   Health   Office   (MHO),   shall   determine   the   local   communities   where
Der}f/.sis fo the Ban.os shall be deployed.
SECTION 7. Loca/ Govemmenf u»i.I Parfi.ci.pa fr.on. - The  LGUs  may request for
the deployment of Dent/.sis fo the Barr/.os in the local community or barangay within
their  jurisdiction.  A  written  letter  of  request  shall  be  submitted  to  the  PHO  by  a
resolution  passed  by  the  Sanggunj.ang  Bayan  and  approved  by  the  Local  Chief
Executive.  Upon  receipt of the  request,  a deployment plan  must be developed and
approved by the PHO and the Provincial Governor.
The  LGU  may provide appropriate space for dental clinics such  as  Regional  Health
Unit  (RHU)  buildings  and  barangay  halls,  or  other facilities  which  may  be  deemed
appropriate.
SECTION  8.  AppropH.afi.ons.  -  The  amount  necessary  to  carry  out  the  initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
of the DOH.
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of the Denf7.sis fo
the Ban.os shall be included and subsumed into the appropriate program as created
by the DOH.
SECTION 9. Implementing  Rules and Regulations. -W-Tth-in stxrty (60) days alrfer
the  effectivity  of this  Act,  the  DOH,  in  coordination  with  representatives  from  the
League  of  Provinces  of  the  Philippines,  and  the  League  of  Municipalities  of  the
Philippines, shall promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations for its
proper execution.


SECTION  10.  Separabi./i.fy C/ause.  -  lf any  part or  provision  of this  Act  shall  be
deemed unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION  11.  Rapea/i.ng C/ause. -All  laws,  decrees,  executive  orders,  rules  and
regulations  and  other  issuances  or parts thereof inconsistent with  the  provisions  of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SECTION  12.  Effecfivfty.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in the Offlci-a/ Gazeffe or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,