Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BnL/No, 4524

Introduced by: Hon, Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
INSTITUTING UNIVERSAL ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL FILIPINOS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

"There is no health without oral health,
and there is no UHC without oral health care.”

The 2022 WHO Philippine Country Oral Health Profile reports that dental caries
affected 29.4% of individuals aged 5 and older, while 7.5% of those aged 20 and
above experienced edentulism (complete tooth loss). Total productivity losses due to
five (5) oral diseases in million (US$) amounted to USD 825 million.

Although oral diseases can be prevented through health education, fluoride
varnish application, and sealant placement, many Filipinos do not have access or
cannot afford oral health services.

The 2018 National Oral Health Survey revealed that only 57.6% sought dental
care, with 48.7% doing so due to toothache. Barriers to consultation included financial
constraints (54.8%), fear (22.8%), and busy schedules (14.3%).

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Circular No. 2024-0034 underscores
that based on a cost-effectiveness study “subsidizing oral health services, though
initially expensive, Is a worthwhile investment, with phased implementation being
financially feasible” (Emphasis supplied).

WHO's Global Strategy on Oral Health recognizes that “achieving the highest
attainable standard of oral health is a fundamental right of every human being”.?

It implies that oral health is a public good, and that achieving good oral health is
a public responsibility—particularly towards vulnerable and disadvantaged populations

1 https://cdn.who. int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/oral-health/oral-health-phi-
2022-country-profile.pdf?sfvrsn=23e65e54_9&download=true Accessed on 17 August 2025

2? WHO Draft global strategy on oral health (WHO WHA 75.10, Add 1, Annex 3). April 27, 2022.
https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA75/A75_10Add1-en.pdf Accessed on 17 August
2025


who face the highest risks and disease burdens and the lowest access to health
services.3

As part of the country’s commitment to Universal Health Care Act, which
includes the provision of oral health, this bill seeks to improve access to essential oral
health care for all Filipinos, without financial hardship.

It aims to strengthen the delivery of oral health services in the country pursuant
to the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health 2023-2030, which translates the
vision, goal and strategic objectives of the global strategy into a series of 100 actions
for stronger and more coordinated action on oral health.

The Global strategy and action plan on oral health 2023-2030 contains the
complete set of policy documents that define WHO's global oral health agenda and six
strategic objectives that were incorporated in the bill. These include oral health
governance; oral health promotion and oral disease prevention; health workforce; oral
health care; oral health information systems; and oral health research agendas.

Indeed, there is no health without oral health, and there is no UHC without oral
health care.

Hence, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

“ahr
us War NONTES

Kababalhan Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan
‘at Kaunlaran ng Bayan (4K) Party-list

3 Winkelmann J, List! S, van Ginneken E, Vassallo P, Benzian H. Universal health coverage
cannot be universal without oral health. Lancet Public Health. 2023 Jan;8(1):e8-e10. doi:
10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00315-2. Epub 2022 Dec 11. PMID: 36516876; PMCID: PMC9810536.
Accessed on 17 August 2025


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ £524

Introduced by: Hon. Iris Marie D. Montes

AN ACT
INSTITUTING UNIVERSAL ORAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL FILIPINOS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. - The Act shall be known as the “Universal Oral Health
Care Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution
underscores that "The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people
and instill health consciousness among th Moreover, pursuant to various
international declarations, agreements, and initiatives, the State affirms its strong
commitment to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, which
include oral health as one of the most common non-communicable disease in the
country that is recognized as a major public health problem and share common risk
factors with other noncommunicable diseases.

‘As such, the State prioritizes oral health by ensuring the provision of people-
centered oral health care that is integrated into primary health care. Furthermore, the
State commits to strengthen and scale up efforts to address oral health as part of
universal health care.

Towards this end, the State shall ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed
equitable access to quality and affordable interventions that promote oral health and
prevent and treat the most prevalent and/or severe oral diseases and conditions,
including appropriate rehabilitative services and referral.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Basic oral health care refers to the essential promotive, preventive, and
curative services that include oral examination, toothbrushing drills, scaling or oral
prophylaxis, filling of restorable cavities and extraction of unsavable teeth, including
referral and check-up of dental clinical cases;


(b) Oral health refers to a fundamental component of health and physical and
mental well-being that includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew,
swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence
and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex; and

(c) Risk to oral health refers to poor oral hygiene practices.

CHAPTER II
ORAL HEALTH GOVERNANCE

SEC. 4. Oral Health Bureau (OHB). - An Oral Health Bureau, hereinafter referred
to as the OHB, shall be established under the Department of Health (DOH). It shall
ensure the promotion and delivery of quality, affordable, accessible and available oral
health care. The OHB shall take overall responsibility for policy development, standard
setting, coordination, and integration of all oral health activities.

The OHB shall be headed by a Director who shall be designated to provide
operational leadership, undertake coordination with stakeholders and ensure effective
and sustainable implementation of the Program. The Director must be a dentist of good
moral character and must have practiced clinical dentistry for a period of not less than
ten (10) years with relevant background in the area of disease prevention and control
or public health for not less than five (5) years.

The OHB shall have the following units: Standards, Policy and Planning Unit;
Research, Surveillance, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit; Logistics Management and
Supply Unit; Administrative Unit; and such other units as may be deemed necessary
for efficient and effective delivery of oral health services.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. - The OHB shall exercise the following powers and
functions:

(a) Formulate and recommend policies, standards, guidelines and techniques on
oral health services;

(b) Develop and oversee the implementation of the Program that aims to define
and address the oral health burden of the country. The role and obligations of
government agencies and stakeholders shall be clearly defined and shall endeavor to
specify national and regional oral health indicators that is responsive, evidenced-based
and culturally sensitive.

(c) Coordinate and oversee the provision of oral health services in all hospitals of
the national government and local government units;

(d) Provide consultative and training services to non-government agencies on
development of oral health care programs and research;

(e) Initiate the formulation and conduct of basic, applied and operational
researches for the prevention of oral health disease and feasibility studies for the
improvement of oral health care delivery system;

(f) Coordinate and oversee capacity building in the development of human
resources for oral health in partnership with Professional Regulations Commission


(PRC), academe, including state colleges and universities (SUCs), Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), oral health professional organizations, students of dentistry, dental hygiene
and dental technicians;

(g) Supervise and coordinate all oral health activities of DOH-Centers for Health
Development; and

(h) Provide technical assistance on oral health to DOH-Centers for Health
Development and the Ministry of Health-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (MOH-BARMM), and local government units.

SEC. 6. Strengthening of the Regional Centers for Health Development in the
Provision of Oral Health Services. - The Secretary of Health shall strengthen the
Regional Centers for Health Development in the provision of oral health services by
undertaking the following activities:

(a) Provide basic package of essential oral health services for every life cycle
group such as infants, pregnant women, children, adolescent and youth, and senior
citizens;

(b) Provide outreach programs and activities in unserved and underserved areas
of the country;

(c) Undertake public information and education programs to train the public on
oral hygiene;

(d) Train and enhance the capability of oral health providers in both public and
private hospitals; and

(e) Ensure that monitoring services are extended as far as practicable, at the
lowest local level health unit

SEC. 7. National Oral Health Program. - There is hereby established a National
Oral Health Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, which shall have the
following objectives:

(a) Improve the determinants of oral health;

(b) Integrate oral health promotion and preventive services with primary health
care, particularly in the implementation of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as
the Universal Health Care Act and Republic Act No. 11148, otherwise known as the
“Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” as well as programs on nutrition, maternal
and child health, women’s health and safe motherhood, adolescent, youth and elderly,
tobacco and drug abuse, water and sanitation, among others;

(c) Provide timely access to quality basic oral health care and treatment;

(d) Control risks to oral health, especially of the younger population;

(e) Reduce the prevalence rate of dental caries and periodontal diseases;


(f) Improve the oral health conditions of pregnant women and older persons;
(g) Increase the proportion of orally fit children;
(h) Make oral health treatment and care more affordable and accessible;

(i) Integrate the prevention of dental decay and basic oral care in health
Promotion programs and feeding strategies;

(J) Incorporate prevention and basic oral care activities into the primary health
care package of services;

(k) Reorient oral health policy and planning away from a conventional model of
restorative dentistry towards a preventive model of care that promotes oral health;
and

(I) Ensure the provision of oral health assessment, nutrition services and
interventions at the different life stages, topical fluoride therapy, pits and fissure
sealant application, oral prophylaxis, and permanent fillings, among other services;

SEC. 8. Oral Health Program in Local Government Units. - All provinces, cities,
municipalities, and barangays shall implement their respective oral health programs in
accordance with the National Oral Health Program. Local government units shall ensure
the delivery of quality, affordable, accessible, and available oral health services in their
respective health facilities.

SEC. 9. Oral Health Unit in Rural Health Unit. - In pursuit of the primary health
care approach in the delivery of health services, there is hereby created an oral health
unit in every rural health unit. The Oral Health Unit shall be composed of a public
health dentist and a trained Barangay Health Worker as a dental aide who shall act to
promote preventive oral healthcare in the rural areas.

SEC. 10. Incorporation of Oral Health in the Standards, Licensing, Regulation,
Quality Assurance, Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Facilities. - The Health Facilities
and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) of the Department of Health shall incorporate
oral health in the standards, licensing, regulation, quality assurance, monitoring and
evaluation of health facilities. Likewise, the HFSRB shall employ Dentist IV and Dentist
III positions to complement their human resource requirements.

SEC. 11. Prevention of Illegal Practices in Oral Health. - The Professional
Regulatory Commission (PRC) shall adopt an effective regulatory framework, in
consultation with the Philippine Dental Association (PDA), to prevent illegal practices in
the oral health profession.

CHAPTER III
ORAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION

SEC. 12. Oral Health Awareness Campaign. - The DOH shall intensify its oral
health awareness campaign and provide the latest and evidence-based information for
the prevention and treatment of oral diseases. The DOH, in collaboration with the
Department of Information and Communications Technology, shall make full use of the
latest technology to disseminate information to reach every Filipino. The awareness


campaign must increase oral health literacy and understanding of risk factors
associated with oral disease.

SEC. 13. National Oral Health Month. - The month of February of every year
shall be known as the “National Oral Health Month” throughout the Philippines. The
DOH, in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency, local government units,
dental societies, and academic institutions shall lead the observance of the National
Oral Health Month.

SEC. 14. Oral Health Promotion and Advocacy. - The Health Promotion Bureau
of the DOH shall develop a comprehensive oral health communication plan that will
encompass promotion, communication and advocacy of oral health across the life
stages applicable for all settings. Additional positions shall be created to complement
the oral health services, patient’s education and public health promotions. The DOH as
the overall steward for health care, shall strengthen national efforts in providing a
comprehensive and coordinated approach to health development with emphasis on
scaling up health promotion and preventive care.

CHAPTER IV
ORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

SEC. 15. Personnel Complement. - To ensure the effective implementation of
this Act, the personnel complement currently assigned for the existing oral health
program of the DOH under the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau shall be
transferred to the OHB. The Secretary of Health shall, in coordination with the
Secretary of Budget and Management (DBM), address human resource needs by
creating the additional plantilla positions for oral health professionals and necessary
personnel required in the Program: Provided, That deployment to Geographically
Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) shall be prioritized. It shall ensure that
salaries of oral health professionals in the public sector are competitive.

Human resource development for oral health shall be geared towards the
development of adequate, appropriate, competent and highly motivated health
professionals and trained auxiliaries to manage and provide quality oral health services.

SEC. 16. Capacity Development. - The DOH, in collaboration with oral health
professional societies, LGUs leagues, and LGU-based associations, academic
stitutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector, shall formulate,
plement and update capacity development program for all health care workers
providing oral health services/care and support at all levels of the health care system.
The capability of public health systems and facilities in the provision of oral health
services shall also be strengthened through the following activities:

(a) Allocation of adequate resources to ensure the provision of essential oral
health services;

(b) Provision of relevant, timely, and accurate information management system
for oral health; and

(©) Build up highly motivated health professionals and trained auxiliaries to
manage and provide quality oral health care.


CHAPTER V
ORAL HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS

SEC. 17. Strengthening Oral Health Information Systems. - Oral health
indicators shall be integrated into the national health information system consistent
with Section 31 of Republic Act No. 11223, otherwise known as the “Universal Health
Care Act”.

Health and health-related data on oral health shall include risk factors and the
social and commercial determinants of oral health inequalities, evaluation of oral health
program and information on the oral health workforce, population-based oral health
surveys, and other appropriate surveillance specific to oral diseases, including self-
reported data collection.

SEC. 18. Monitoring and Evaluation. - Pursuant to Section 32 of the UHC Act,
relevant modules of household surveys on oral health shall be conducted by the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The DOH shall publish annual provincial burden of oral disease estimates using
internationally validated estimation methods and biennially using actual public and
private sector data from electronic records and disease registries, to support local
government units in tracking progress of oral health outcomes.

CHAPTER VI
ORAL HEALTH RESEARCH AGENDAS

SEC. 19. Research Agenda for Oral Health. - The OHB, in consultation with oral
health stakeholders, shall create and periodically update context- and needs-specific
research that is focused on the public health aspects of oral health and implement new
oral health research agendas that are oriented towards public health programs and
population-based interventions. It shall lead in the assessment, evaluation, and
innovation of population-based oral health policies and the application of evidence
generated by public health interventions.

CHAPTER VII
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 20. PhilHealth Benefits. - The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth) shall expand its benefit packages for oral health services in both adults
and children. The development and expansion of PhilHealth benefits shall go through
proper, transparent and standardized prioritization process in accordance with the
appropriate provisions of the UHC Act.

SEC. 21. Annual Report. - The Secretary of Health shall submit to the
Committees on Health of the Senate and the House of Representatives an annual
report on the progress of the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 22. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged to the current appropriations of the DOH. The amount for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.


SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in consultation and
coordination with appropriate national government agencies, non-government
organizations, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders, shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act no later
than one hundred eighty (180) days upon the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SEC. 25. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 26. Fffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,