FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1782 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11 provides that: 
The State shall adopt and 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 a priority for the needs of the 
underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. The 
State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
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Health is one of the primary concerns of our country. Both the public and private sectors 
have channeled tremendous efforts to assist our needy countrymen in this front. However, we 
need to be more proactive in our approach to health care. We should be able to explore ways in 
which we can be able to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent diseases instead of entirely 
focusing on treatment and cure. 
We should also be looking into making the most of government resources by looking into 
the ways by which all our resources, including subsidies and rewards, may be used most 
efficiently by the beneficiaries. 
This bill seeks to mandate the Secretary of Health to conduct, research and demonstration 
projects on the use of financial and in-kind subsidies and rewards to encourage individuals and 
communities to promote wellness, adopt healthy behaviors, and use evidence-based preventive 
health services. I 
I This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14'h Congress. 
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St,\- .:f'fC 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OfFiCE -+ "-t,lr 
5.;~>:J: ;,' H'¥ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN,;\TE 
S.N~. 1782 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
) 
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AN ACT 
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TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT OR SUPPORT 
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RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON THE USE OF FINANCIAL AND IN-
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KIND SUBSIDIES AND REWARDS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS, ADOPT HEALTHY 
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BEHAVIORS, AND USE EVIDENCE-BASED PREVENTIVE HEALTH SERVICES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Wellness Research Act." 
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SECTION 2. Research and Demonstration Project. - The Secretary of Health (Secretary) 
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shall conduct, or award grants to public or nonprofit private entities to conduct, research and 
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demonstration projects 011 the use of financial and in-kind subsidies and rewards to encourage 
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individuals and communities to promote wellness, adopt healthy behaviors, and use evidence-
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based preventive health services. 
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SECTION 3. Focus. - Research and demonstration projects under Section 2 shall focus 
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on-
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A. tobacco use, obesity, and other prevention and wellness priorities as maybe identified 
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by the Secretary; 
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B. the initiation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability of wellness promotion; 
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adoption of healthy behaviors; and use of evidence-based preventive health services; 
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and; 
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C. populations at high risk of preventable diseases and conditions. 
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SECTION 4. Report. - Not later than 18 months after the initiation of research and 
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demonstration projects under Section 2, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress on the 
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progress of such research and projects, including any preliminary findings. 
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SECTION 5. Term. - The research and demonstration projects undertaken under this Act 
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shall not exceed a term of five years from commencement. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and sUbsisting. 
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SECTION 7. 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 is inconsistent 
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with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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