SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2236 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'14 
MAY 22 P 4 :23 
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AUTHORIZING AND SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF CARDIOMYOPATHY 
EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT MATERIALS AND 
RESOURCES BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND THE DISSEMINATION OF 
SUCH MATERIALS AND RESOURCES BY EDUCATION AGENCIES TO 
IDENTIFY MORE AT-RISK FAMILIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
SEC. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
This bill, a.k.a. the "I-IEARTS Act" would require the Secretary of Health and 
national patient advocacy and health professional organizations to develop educational 
materials 
and resources 
for 
public 
awareness, 
regarding 
the symptoms 
of 
cardiomyopathy, risk assessment, training in lifesaving procedures, and development and 
implementation of a cardiac emergency response plan, and disseminate them to schools 
and families as well as post them on the Department of Health's website .. 
The HEARTS Act will also encourage schools to be aware of and prepared for a 
cardiac emergency, and will encourage families to evaluate their family's cardiac history, 
check for cardiomyopathy symptoms and seek medical screening if necessary. , 
1 This bill was originally filed by Representative Frank Pallone in the U.S. House of 
Representatives (H.R. 565; 113'h Congress, First Session). 


" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2236 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
" 
l1}fh,. of IQ< ii'."rrlnf¥ 
'14 
MAY 22 P 4 :23 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING AND SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF CARDIOMYOPATHY 
EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND RISK ASSESSMENT MATERIALS AND 
RESOURCES BY THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND THE DISSEMINATION OF 
SUCH MATERIALS AND RESOURCES BY EDUCATION AGENCIES TO 
IDENTIFY MORE AT-RISK FAMILIES 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "'Cardiomyopathy Health 
Education, Awareness, Risk Assessment, and Training in the Schools (HEARTS) Act". 
SECTION 2. Definition o/Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
(1) "Cardiomyopathy" means a rare heart condition, which is a disease of the heart 
muscle (myocardium)-
(A) the symptoms of which may vary from case to case, including: 
(i) in some cases, the presentation of no symptoms (asymptomatic); 
and 
(ii) in many cases, the symptoms of a progressive condition that may 
result in an impaired ability of the heart to pump blood, fatigue, irregular 
heart-beats (arrhythmia), and, potentially, sudden cardiac death or heart 
failure; and 
(B) the recognized types of which include dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive, 
arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, and left ventricular noncompaction. 


(2) "National Non-Profit Advocacy Organizations Expert in All Forms of 
Cardiomyopathy" means organizations that provide support services to families or fund 
research, and work to increase public awareness and education regarding all types of 
cardiomyopathy. 
(3) "School Administrators" mean a principal, director, or other supervisor or 
leader within an elementary school or secondary school, early education program, or 
child or day care center. 
(4) "Schools" mean an early education program, child or day care center, or 
elementary school or secondary school. 
SECTION 3. Materials and Resources to Increase Education and Awareness of 
Cardiomyopathy among School Administrators, Educators, and Families. -
(a) Materials and Resources. -
Not later than 18 months after the date of 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health, in consultation with national patient 
advocacy and health professional organizations experts in all forms of cardiomyopathy, 
shall develop public education and awareness materials and resources to be disseminatecj 
to school administrators, educators, school health professionals, coaches, families, and 
other appropriate individuals. The materials and resources shall include: 
(1) background information to increase education and awareness of 
cardiomyopathy among school administrators, educators, and families; 
(2) a cardiomyopathy risk assessment worksheet for use by parents, 
guardians, or other caregivers; 
(3) guidelines regarding the placement of automated external defibrillators 
in schools and child care centers; 
(4) training information on automated external defibrillators and 
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and 
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., . 
" 
(5) recommendations for how schools and child care centers can develop 
and implement a cardiac emergency response plan. 
(b) Development 0/ Materials and Resources. - The Secretary of Health shall 
develop and update as necessary and appropriate the materials and resources under 
subsection (a) and, in support of such effort, the Secretary is encouraged to: 
(1) establish an advisory panel composed of: 
(A) representatives from multiple national patient advocacy 
organizations and medical professionals expert in all forms 
of 
cardiomyopathy; and 
(B) representatives from other relevant government agencies; and 
(2) engage in a memorandum of understanding or cooperative agreement 
with a national non-profit advocacy organization expert in all forms of 
cardiomyopathy. 
(c) Dissemination a/Materials and Resources. - Not later than 30 months after the 
date of effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall disseminate the materials and 
resources under subsection (a) in accordance with the following: 
(1) Distribution by Education Agencies. - The Secretary of Health shall 
make available such materials and resources to educational agencies to distribute -
(A) to school administrators, educators, school health professionals, 
coaches and parents, guardians, or other caregivers, the cardiomyopathy 
education and awareness materials and resources under subsection (a); 
(B) to parents, guardians, or other caregivers, the cardiomyopathy 
risk assessment worksheet described in subsection (a)(2); and 
(C) to school administrators and school health professionals, the~ 
(i) guidelines described in subsection (a)(3); 
(ii) training information described in subsection (a)(4); and 
3 


"'.. 
' ~ .. ' 
(iii) recommendations described in subsection (a)(5). 
(2) Dissemination to Health Departments and Professionals. -
The 
Secretary of Health shall make available such materials and resources to 
pediatricians, hospitals, and other health professionals, such as nurses and first 
responders. 
(3) Posting on Website. -
(A) Department of Health. -
(i) In General. - The Secretary of Health shall post the 
materials and resources developed under subsection (a) on the 
website of the Department of Health. 
(ii) Additional Information. -
The Secretary of Health is 
encouraged to maintain on such website such additional information 
regarding cardiomyopathy as deemed appropriate by the Secretary. , 
(B) Education Agencies. -
The Department of Education is 
encouraged to create webpages dedicated to cardiomyopathy and post the 
materials and resources developed under subsection (a) on such webpages. 
(d) Report to Congress. - Not later than one year after the date of effectivity of 
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Health shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report identifYing the steps 
taken to increase public. education and awareness of cardiomyopathy as outlined under 
this Act. 
SECTION 4. Authorization of Appropriations. -
There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for the implementation 
of this Act for the year 2015 to 2018. 
4 


SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/fldp 15may20 14 
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