Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
Second Regular Session

House Bill No._ 7233

Introduced by Representative Bayani F. Fernando

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Throughout history, handshaking has been practiced to demonstrate camaraderie, trust,
and respect. It is believed to have begun in the 5* century BC in Greece and remains a
significant part of communication up to the present.

However, the medical profession has established that the traditional, well-meaning and
innocent gesture of handshake transmits communicable diseases and is a risk to one’s
health,

Public health experts say handshakes are an effective way to spread germs and bacteria.
Dr. Mark Sklansky, a professor and chief of Pediatric Cardiology Division at the
University of California, Los Angeles and an advocate of ditching the handshake, said
that “the handshake is such a terrible idea, from an infectious disease standpoint.”

This bill seeks to institutionalize a new Filipino gesture of goodwill, praise and respect
to be called “Bating Filipino” --the simple act of gracefully laying the palm of the right
hand over the center of the chest with simultaneous slight head nod, closed eyes or
looking down and a happy Filipino smile.

Placing the hand over the chest is a universal gesture of good faith coming from the
heart, the nod conveys respect and humility, while closing the eyes or looking down
signifies trust on the person.

The author filed a House bill on the same subject in July 2019 but it was converted into
a resolution by the Committee on Rules. The resolution was adopted by the House of
Representatives on February 5, 2020 as Resolution No. 42 which urges the Philippine
government to promote said gesture.

The relevance of this legislative measure becomes more pronounced as we are now
suffering from a global health crisis due to the novel corona virus pandemic. Data shows
that over 17 million people across the globe have already been infected with COVID-19,
including the 103,185 cases in the Philippines (as of August 2, 2020) and the numbers
are still rising.

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Bating Filipino should be institutionalized as we take a preventive approach in the
spread of communicable diseases, not just COVID-19.

The intention of this bill is in accord with Article I, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution which mandates the State to “protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.”

is Carnestly sough

In view of the foregoing, immediate approvaYof this bi

VANI F. FERNANDO
* Distrift! Marikina City

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. oes)

Introduced by Representative Bayani F. Fernando

AN ACT TO INSTITUTIONALIZE A NEW FILIPINO GESTURE OF
GOODWILL, PRAISE AND RESPECT

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Bating
Filipino”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the
State to protect and promote the health of every Filipino and to set
standards for their protection and prevention of transmission of
communicable diseases by changing the ways of Filipino greetings into
a more hygienic and cleaner way. This Act will instill into the hearts and
minds of every Filipino as a collective gesture of goodwill, praise and
respect.

SEC. 3. Coverage - This Act shall cover all persons who is
residing and can be found in the Philippines.

SEC. 4. Way of Greetings. — The new Filipino gesture of goodwill,
praise and respect is done via the simple act of gracefully laying the
palm of the right hand over the center of the chest with simultaneous
slight head nod, closed eyes or looking down, and a happy Filipino
smile.

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Placing the hand over the chest is a universal gesture of good faith
coming from the heart, the nod conveys respect and humility, while
closing the eyes or looking down signifies trust on the person.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Guidelines.— The Department
of Health, Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency,
Philippine, Presidential Communications Operations Office shall be the
lead agency for the implementation of this Act and shall, within sixty (60)
days after the approval of this Act, prepare and issue the necessary
guidelines to implement the same.

All Government Agencies and instrumentalities shall allot a
considerable amount of their funds for the immediate implementation,
information and dissemination of this Law.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is
subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining
provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two
(2)newspapers of national circulation.

Approved.

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