Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _24 32

Introduced by Rep. Godofredo V. Arquiza

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to enhance and implement the Organ and Tissue
Donation Act of 2009 and require the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to
indicate and include such information about Organ and Tissue Donors in
every Driver's License Card.

Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution states:

“The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all
the people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for the
needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women and
children. The State shall endeavour to provide free medical
care to paupers. “

The Organ and Tissue Donation Act of 2009 was passed to provide
life saving health care by securing organ and tissue donations and
transplantations to Donors who gave the Gift of Life by becoming organ
donors. The State must exert efforts to implement the Organ and Tissue
Donation Act of 2009 which is a fitting tribute to those who willingly gave
their organs and tissues through the Organ and Tissue Donation Center
which facilitates the matching of deceased donor organs with individuals
waiting for organ transplant.

It is in this regard that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) should
help, coordinate and supervise with the implementation of this Act by
indicating in the Driver's License Card, the name of the Donor and the
organ/tissue willingly donated, so that in the event of vehicular accidents,
the rescuer could immediately see in the Driver’s License Card whether the
deceased driver is covered as a possible Donor of an organ/tissue, in


which case, the necessary operation could be immediately conducted on
the deceased, to give effect to his wishes and desires.

In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is
earnestly sought.

DL oa
GODOFREDO V. ARQUIZA


Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._24 39

Introduced by Rep. Godofredo V. Arquiza

AN ACT REQUIRING THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO)
TO INCLUDE IN EVERY DRIVER'S LICENSE CARD
WHETHER THE DRIVER IS A DONOR OF AN ORGAN AND/OR TISSUE
AND IS COVERED WITH THE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION CENTER

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 “THE LAND
TRANSPORTATION'S IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT OF THE ORGAN
DONORS PROTECTION ACT OF 2009.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987

Constitution states: “The State shall adopt an integrated and health
development which shall endeavour to make essential goods, health, and
other social services available to all the people at affordable cost...”

Consonant with these constitutional principle, the following are
the Declared Policies of this Act:

(a) To take cognizance of the Organ and Tissue Donation Act of
2009;

b) To recognize the vital role of every DONOR of organ/s and
tissue/s;

c) To recognize the importance of the Land Transportation
Office (LTO) and to actively seek its partnership;


d) To likewise recognize the importance of the Organ and
Tissue Donation Center and the Department of Health (DOH)
to cooperate and give their full support to achieve this purpose;

In accordance with these policies, this Act aims to:

(1) adopt measures whereby the Land Transportation Office
(LTO) shall include vital information on the Driver's License
Card of every Filipino driver, on whether the latter is a possible
DONOR of organ/s or tissue/s, which shall be clearly recorded
and indicated in the said Driver's License Card;

(2) establish a policy or program towards the achievement of
this objective.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, these terms are
defined as follows:

(a) “Organ Donation” is the process of voluntary donation of
any organ or tissue of a living donor or a decedent to a donee;
and

(b) "Donor” shall mean one who has voluntarily submitted
himself to contribute and give an organ or tissue upon his
death with the Organ and Tissue Donation Center as defined in
the Organ and Tissue Donation Act of 2009;

Section 4. Duty of the LTO -The Land Transportation Office is required to
indicate in every Driver's License whether the driver is a DONOR of any
organ/s and/or tissue/s under the Organ and Tissue Donation Center.

Section 5. Government Assistance. - The Government shall provide the
following:

The Organ and Tissue Donation Center and the
Department of Health shall institute policies and programs in
pursuance of the objectives of this Act.

The Organ and Tissue Donation Center shall have the
following functions:

(a) To register and record the Names, Dates of Birth and other
pertinent information of those who have registered with the
Registry of Organ and Tissue Donors ;


(b) To inform, transmit and forward all the names of Donors to
the Land Transportation Office (LTO);

(c) To plan, implement and monitor yearly programs in
pursuance of the objectives of this Act; and

(d) To serve as a General Information and Liaison Center and
monitor compliance of the provisions of this Act ;

Section 6. LTO Responsibility. - It shall be the responsibility of the Land
Transportation Office (LTO) to prominently display posters, stickers, and
other notices that will generate public awareness of this Act and ensure
that the provisions of this Act are implemented to its fullest.

Section 7. Partnership of the National and Local Government Units. -
The national government and local government units shall undertake to
ensure the implementation of this Act in their respective territorial
jurisdictions.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Land
Transportation Office (LTO) within ninety (90) days from the approval of
this Act, shall promulgate the implementing, rules and regulations for the
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act in consultation and
coordination with the Organ and Tissue Donation Center.

Section 9. Appropriation. - The necessary appropriation for the operation
of this Act shall be appropriated and approved by the Land Transportation
Office. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act upon
its effectivity shall be charged out of the funds of the Office of the President.
Thereafter, any such sum as shall be needed for the regular
implementation of this Act shall be included in subsequent General
Appropriations Act following its enactment into law.

Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days
after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers
of general circulation.

Approved,

GoD DO V. ARQUIZA