FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
At its forly-ninth session in September 1998, the Regional Committee of the World 
Health Organization reported that there is a high incidence and prevalence of sexually 
transmitted infections (ST1s) in the Western Pacific Region, thus, there is the potential for 
increased H1V transmission in many countries. 
A sexually transmitted disease (STD) or venereal disease (VD), is an illness that has a 
significant probability of transmission between humans or animals by means of sexual contact, 
including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. Increasingly, the term sexually transmitted 
infection (STI) is used, as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may 
potentially infect others, without showing signs of disease. Some STIs can also be transmitted 
via use of an IV drug needle after its use by an infected person, as well as through childbirth or 
breastfeeding. Some common STDs include H1V (human immunodeficiency virus), Gonorrhea 
and Syphilis. HIV attacks the body's T -cells, and which damages the body's ability to fight off 
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invading germs and disease. People with HIV become more susceptible to other infections and 
they may get certain types of cancer that a healthy body would normally be able to fight off. This 
weakened immunity (or immune deficiency) is known as AIDS and can result in severe life-
threatening infections, some forms of cancer. Gonorrhea may cause sterility, arthritis, or heart 
problems if untreated. Women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the 
reproductive organs that can cause infertility) and men may develop epididymis (inflammation of 
testicular tubes). Syphilis, if untreated, damage caused during later stages cannot be undone. 
Untreated syphilis may damage the nervous system, heart, brain, or other organs, and in some 
cases cause death. 
The 1987 Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
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Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instil! health consciousness among them. 
Further, we are a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and 
Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Under Article 12 of this treaty, our obligations include the following: 
Article 12. 
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the 
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. 
2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full 
realization ofthis right shall include thQse necessary for: 
(c) The prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other 
diseases; 
This bill requires the Department of Health and local health departments to provide 
information to the public and health care professionals about 
the health consequences of 
untreated sexually transmitted diseases; medical options for treatment of sexually transmitted 
diseases; and 
services and medica!' benefits that are available for treatment of sexually 
transmitted diseases. In addition to this a government-sponsored website will be provided to 
help minimize the risks of STDs and to make medical support accessible and available to anyone 
needing help. 
This bill is meant to complement R.A. 8504 which concentrates on the prevention and 
control of HI VIA IDS, as well as existing programs of the DOH on the prevention and control of 
HIV/AIDS and STIs. I 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENj\~ 
S.No. l 
3 
. 
,~,-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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, L L 
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INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSNE NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM TO PREVENT 
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AND ADDRESS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS IMPLEMENTING A 
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NATIONWIDE AWARENESS PROGRAM, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "STD Prevention Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. -
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(a) The State shall promote public awareness about the causes. modes of transmission, 
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consequences, means of prevention and control of HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive 
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nationwide educational and information campaign organized and conducted by the State. Such 
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campaigns shall promote value formation and employ scientifically proven approaches, focus on 
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the family as a basic social unit, and be carried out in all schools and training centers, 
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workplaces, and communities. This program shall involve affected individuals and groups, 
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including people living with HIV / AIDS. 
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(b) The state shall extend to every person suspected or known to be infected with 
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HIV / AIDS full protection of his/her human rights and civil liberties. Towards this end, 
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compulsory HIV testing shall be considered unlawful unless otherwise provided in this Act; 
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(c) The State shall promote utmost safely and universal precautions in practices and 
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procedures that can'y the risk of HI V transmission. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms: 
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(1) "DOH" - shaH refer to the Department of Health. 
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(2) "PIA" - Philippine Information Agency 
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(3) "STD" - shall refer to sexually transmitted diseases, or infectious diseases acquired 
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through sexual contact. The tenn shall include but is not limited to the following: 
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1. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) 
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2. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus which causes AIDS) 
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3. Herpes 
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4. Gonorrhea 
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5. Syphillis 
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6. Chlamydia 
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7. Genital warts 
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8. Trichomoniasis 
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SECTION 4. National Program for STD and STI Prevention. - The DOH shall distribute 
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to the public and to health care professionals: 
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A. medically accurate information about sexually transmitted including: 
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1. the probable side effects resulting from an untreated sexually transmitted 
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disease, including infertility and sterility; 
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2. medically accepted treatment for sexually transmitted diseases; and 
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3. the medical risks commonly associated with the medical treatment of 
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sexually transmitted diseases. 
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B. public and private services and agencies available to assist individuals with obtaining 
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treatment for the sexually transmitted disease; 
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C. medical assistance benefits that may be available to the individual with the sexually 
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transmitted disease; and 
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D. The infonnation referred to above shall be distributed 
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1. free of charge; 
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2. provided in English, Pilipino as well as other dialects that may be appropriate 
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for the geographic area. 
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SECTION 5. Establishment of a website - The DOH, in cooperation with the PIA, shall 
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establish an information site on the Internet, which shall serve as a public resource for Sexual 
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Health infonnation. It shall include facts on STD symptoms, prevention, treatment, testing and 
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all other topics. 
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SECTION 6. Testing and Rehabilitation Services. -
The DOH is hereby mandated to 
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establish testing centers for early detection of STDs. The centers must also provide referral 
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services to patients, identifying medical expertise and facilities that are most appropriate to the 
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needs of the patients. 
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SECTION 7. 
Medical Confidentiality - All health professional, medical instructions, 
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workers, employers, recmitment agencies, insurance companies, data encoders, and other 
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custodians of any medical record, file, data, or test results as directed to strictly observe 
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confidentiality in the handling of all medical infonnation, particularly the identify and status of 
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persons with STD. 
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SECTION 8. Implementing Agency. -
The Department of Health (DOH), in cooperation 
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with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is hereby authorized and directed to adopt a 
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system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The DOH shall, within sixty (60) 
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days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate mles and regulations to carry out and enforce 
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the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 9. Penalties for Misleading Information - Misinfonnation on HIV/AIDS 
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prevention and control through false and misleading advertising and claims in any of the tri-
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media or the promotional marketing of dmgs, devices, agents or procedures without prior 
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approval from the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Dmgs and the requisite 
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medical and scientific basis, including markings and indications in dmgs and devices or agents, 
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purporting to be a cure or a fail-safe prophylactic for HIV infection is punishable with a penalty 
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of imprisonment for two (2) months to 2 (2) years, without prejudice to the imposition of 
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administrative sanctions such as fines and suspension or revocation of professional or business 
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license. 
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SECTION 10. Penalties for Violations of Confidentiality - Any violation of medical 
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confidentiality as provided in Section 6 of this Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for 
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six (6) months to four (4) years, without prejudice to administrative sanctions such as fines and 
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suspension or revocation of the violator's license to practice his/her profession, as well as the 
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cancellation or withdrawal of the license to operate any business entity and the accreditation of 
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hospitals, laboratories or clinics. 
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SECTION II. Appropriations. - A special fund amounting to fifty million pesos (Php 
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50,000,000.00) which shall be sourced from the funds of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
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Corporation (P AGCOR) is hereby created. Other amounts as may be necessary to carry out the 
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provisions of this Act, are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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lacs 
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