FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S:No. 1601 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to ARTICLE XIII Section 12 of the 1987 Constitution: 
"The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory 
system and undertake appropriate health, manpower development, and research, 
responsive to the country's health needs and problems." 
Flu is caused by the Influenza virus that invades and multiplies in the respiratory tract. 
Influenza viruses are divided into three types: A, B, and C. This classification is based on the 
capability of their components to cause disease. Influenza infects over 30 million people in the 
U.S. each year, which is roughly 10% to 20% of the U.S. population. Flu and its complications is 
the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing 20,000 - 40,000 people a year. As of 1997, it 
is the fourth leading causes of morbidity or illness in the Philippines. Children are down with flu 
have a risk of developing complications such as sinus, ear infections or worse, develop more 
serious ailments like pneumonia, meningitis and encephalitis (both are serious infections of the 
nervous system) or even Reye's syndrome (an extremely rare but serious illness that affects the 
brain and liver). 
This bill's goal is to raise the immunization level against influenza in the most 
susceptible sector of our society, our children. * 
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• 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 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1601 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING PARENTS OF CHILDREN IN CERTAIN CHILD CARE SETTINGS TO 
3 
RECENE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS ON INFLUENZA DISEASE AND INFLUENZA 
4 
IMMUNIZATIONS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
8 
assembled: 
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SECTION I. Program of Influenza Education. The Secretary of Health shall administer 
lOa program of influenza education and outreach to parents and guardians of children ages 6 
II 
months to 6 years who attend a child caring center, day nursery, child day care center, nursery 
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school, kindergarten or school age child care program. Such program shall include educational 
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materials on influenza and the benefits of influenza immunizations. 
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SECTION 2. Collaboration. The Secretary of Health, in collaboration with the 
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Secretary of Education, shall consult with child care providers to distribute the influenza 
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educational materials annually. 
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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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