Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE DRUG PRICE REGULATORY BOARD TO REGULATE THE 
PRICES OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IN THE PHILIPPINES AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9502, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE CHEAPER AND QUALITY MEDICINES ACT OF 
2008" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
The Philippine Statistics Authority reports that the average Filipino spent P2,024 on 
medicines alone in 2018. This equates to P10,120 spent by a family of five and 
translates to gross sales amounting to P206.7 billion. 
The prohibitive price of health care in the Philippines results in self-treatment and 
self-prescription, and those pose their own problems. The affordability of medicines 
are especially difficult for those who suffer from debilitating illnesses requiring 
maintenance drugs. Restraints on costs lead to irregular treatment and complications. 
This bill aims to introduce amendments to Republic Act 9502 or the Universally 
Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 in order to simplify the 
procedure of lowering prices of essential medicines. It proposes to establish a Drug 
Price Regulatory Board, which will be tasked to, among others, regulate the prices of 
drugs and medicines in the country. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
July 26, 2021
5:59 pm
9855


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE DRUG PRICE REGULATORY BOARD TO REGULATE THE 
PRICES OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IN THE PHILIPPINES AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9502, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
"UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE CHEAPER AND QUALITY MEDICINES ACT OF 
2008" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of Republic Act No. 9502 will now be titled, "Drugs and 
Medicines Price Regulatory Board."  
SEC. 2. Section 17 to Section 22 of Republic Act No. 9502 will be amended to 
read as follows: 
SECTION 17. CREATION AND COMPOSITION OF THE DRUG PRICE 
REGULATORY BOARD. –  
(A) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE DRUG PRICE REGULATORY BOARD, 
WHICH SHALL BE ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
COMPOSED OF SEVEN (7) MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
(1) 
SECRETARY 
OF 
HEALTH 
OR 
HIS 
DULY 
DESIGNATED 
REPRESENTATIVE AS CHAIRPERSON;
(2)
SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OR HIS DULY DESIGNATED 
REPRESENTATIVE AS VICE CHAIRPERSON;
(3)
DIRECTOR, FOOD AND DRUGS ADMINISTRATION OR HIS DULY 
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE AS MEMBER;
(4)
CHAIRMAN, PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION AS 
MEMBER;
(5)
ONE (1) ECONOMIST FROM THE ACADEME AS MEMBER; AND
(6)
TWO (2) REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSUMER SECTOR AS 
MEMBERS.
9855


 
 
(B) THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD REPRESENTING THE ACADEME AND THE 
CONSUMER SECTOR SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF TWO (2) YEARS: PROVIDED, 
THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSUMER SECTOR SHALL NOT 
BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER TERM. 
 
SECTION 18. POWERS OF THE BOARD. – THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE 
FOLLOWING POWERS: 
 
(A) POWER TO DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF DRUGS OR 
MEDICINES SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION – 
 
(1) 
UPON APPLICATION OR MOTU PROPIO WHEN THE PUBLIC 
INTEREST SO REQUIRES, THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER 
TO REGULATE THE RETAIL PRICES OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES 
LISTED UNDER SECTION 19 HEREOF, INCLUDING THEIR DOSAGE 
FORM AND PACKING, AND, IN ORDER THAT THEY SHALL BE MADE 
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT AFFORDABLE RETAIL PRICE FROM 
THE 
DIFFERENT 
MANUFACTURERS, 
IMPORTERS, 
TRADERS, 
DISTRIBUTORS, WHOLESALERS OR RETAILERS AND AFTER A 
PROPER DETERMINATION AS THE BOARD MAY DEEM FIT, FIX 
FROM TIME TO TIME, BY PUBLICATION THE MAXIMUM RETAIL 
PRICE AT WHICH SUCH FORMULATIONS SHALL BE SOLD; 
 
(2) 
NO RETAILER SHALL SELL DRUGS AND MEDICINES AT A RETAIL 
PRICE EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE FIXED BY THE 
BOARD: PROVIDED, THAT UNTIL THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF 
DRUGS AND MEDICINES SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION IS FIXED 
BY THE BOARD, THE RETAIL PRICE THEREOF SHALL BE THE 
PRICE WHICH PREVAILED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE EFFECTIVITY 
OF THIS ACT AND NO MANUFACTURER, IMPORTER, TRADER, 
DISTRIBUTOR, WHOLESALER OR RETAILER OF SUCH DRUG OR 
MEDICINE SHALL SELL THE SAME AT A RETAIL PRICE EXCEEDING 
THE PRICE PREVAILING IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE EFFECTIVITY 
OF THIS ACT. 
 
FOR PURPOSES, HEREOF, DRUGS AND MEDICINES SHALL 
INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE- AND MULTI-INGREDIENT 
MEDICINES INCLUDED IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL DRUG 
FORMULARY (PNDF) ESSENTIAL DRUG LIST AND SOLD UNDER 
THEIR GENERIC AND BRAND NAMES. 
 
(B) POWER TO INCLUDE OTHER DRUGS OR MEDICINES IN THE LIST 
SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION – UPON APPLICATION OR MOTU PROPIO 
WHEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST SO REQUIRES AND AFTER PROPER 
DETERMINATION, THE BOARD MAY ORDER THE INCLUSION OF DRUGS AND 
MEDICINES TO THE LIST SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION UNDER SECTION 
19 THEREOF. 
 
(C) POWER TO IMPLEMENT COST-CONTAINMENT AND OTHER MEASURES – 


 
 
 
(1) 
THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE FAIR 
PRICE OF DRUGS OR MEDICINES FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC 
HEALTH INSURANCE AND GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT; AND 
 
(2) 
THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO IMPLEMENT ANY OTHER 
MEASURES 
THAT 
THE 
GOVERNMENT 
MAY 
AVAIL 
OF 
TO 
EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE COST OF DRUGS OR MEDICINES THAT 
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, COMPETITIVE BIDDING, 
PRICE-VOLUME 
NEGOTIATIONS, 
AND 
OTHER 
APPROPRIATE 
MECHANISMS 
THAT 
INFLUENCE 
SUPPLY, 
DEMAND, 
AND 
EXPENDITURES ON DRUGS AND MEDICINES. 
 
(D) POWER TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES AND PENALTIES – AFTER 
DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO 
SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE LICENSE TO OPERATE (LTO), PROFESSIONAL OR 
BUSINESS 
LICENSE, 
AS 
THE 
CASE 
MAY 
BE, 
OF 
ANY 
PERSON, 
MANUFACTURER, 
IMPORTER, 
TRADER, 
DISTRIBUTOR, 
WHOLESALER, 
RETAILER, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY, AND IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES IN 
SUCH AMOUNT AS IT MAY DEEM REASONABLE WHICH SHALL IN NO CASE 
BE LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P50,000.00) NOR MORE THAN FIVE 
MILLION PESOS (P5,000,000.00) FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE MAXIMUM RETAIL 
PRICE FIXED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. 
 
SEC. 3. Delete Section 19 to Section 22 and renumber the succeeding sections 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 4. The renumbered Section 22 will be amended to read as follows: 
 
SECTION 22. DISPLAY OF PRICE FIXED BY THE BOARD FOR DRUGS OR 
MEDICINES SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION. – 
 
(a) Within a reasonable period as may be determined by the [Secretary of the 
Department of Health] BOARD, and Provided, That it conforms to existing drug 
product labeling requirements, every manufacturer, importer, distributor, wholesaler, 
trader, or retailer of a drug and medicine intended for sale shall display the retail price 
which shall not exceed the maximum retail price [approved by order of the President 
of the Philippines] FIXED BY THE BOARD. The maximum retail price shall be printed 
on the label of the immediate container of the drug and medicine and the minimum 
pack thereof offered for retail sale with the words "RETAIL PRICE NOT TO EXCEED" 
preceding it, and "UNDER DRUG PRICE REGULATION" on a red strip: PROVIDED, 
THAT IN CASE OF A CONTAINER CONSISTING OF SMALLER SALEABLE 
PACKS, THE RETAIL PRICE OF SUCH SMALLER PACK SHALL ALSO BE 
DISPLAYED ON THE LABEL OF EACH SMALLER PACK AND SUCH PRICE 
SHALL NOT BE MORE THAN THE PRO-RATA RETAIL PRICE OF THE MAIN 
PACK ROUNDED OFF TO THE NEAREST CENTAVO. 
 
(b) Within a period as may be determined by the [Secretary of the Department of 
Health] BOARD from time to time, every manufacturer, importer, or trader shall issue 
a price list to wholesalers, distributors, retailers and to the [Secretary of the 


Department of Health] BOARD, indicating the retail price, the maximum retail price, 
and such other information as may be required by the [Secretary of the Department of 
Health] BOARD. 
SEC. 5. Insert a new Section 23 and renumber the succeeding sections 
accordingly. The new Section 23 shall read as follows: 
SECTION 23. DISPLAY OF PRICE LIST OF DRUGS OR MEDICINES 
EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION. – EVERY 
MANUFACTURER, IMPORTER, TRADER, DISTRIBUTOR, WHOLESALER, OR 
RETAILER OF A DRUG OR MEDICINE EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST SUBJECT 
TO PRICE REGULATION UNDER SECTION 19 HEREOF SHALL DISPLAY IN 
INDELIBLE PRINT MARK ON THE LABEL OF THE IMMEDIATE CONTAINER OF 
THE DRUG OR MEDICINE AND THE MINIMUM PACK THEREOF OFFERED FOR 
RETAIL SALE, THE WORDS "NOT UNDER PRICE REGULATION" ON A GREEN 
STRIP. 
SEC. 6. Chapter 8 on Miscellaneous Provisions will be amended to read as 
follows: 
CHAPTER 8: AMENDMENTS TO REPUBLIC ACT 9994 OR THE EXPANDED 
SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010. 
SECTION 42. EXEMPTION OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES UNDER PRICE 
REGULATION FROM THE "EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010." – 
DRUGS AND MEDICINES UNDER PRICE REGULATION AS FIXED BY THE 
BOARD WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE GRANT OF TWENTY PERCENT (20% ) 
DISCOUNT AND EXEMPTION FROM THE VALUE-ADDED TAX (VAT) TO SENIOR 
CITIZENS AVAILING THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 9994 OR THE 
"EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZENS ACT OF 2010." 
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. – Any portion or provision of this Act that may be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid shall not have the effect of nullifying other portions 
and provisions hereof as long as such remaining portions or provisions can still 
subsist and be given effect in its entirety. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations and administrative regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,