EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
6R7
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'19 
nil 22 
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In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
R£t-Li
AN ACT
SEEKING TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF IN D IVID U ALS INVOLVED IN  
GARBAGE COLLECTION, W ORKING IN  DUMPSITES OR ASSIGNED IN  DISASTER 
AREAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Individuals involved in garbage collection, dumpsite management or people assigned 
to handle areas of disaster are vulnerable to an unimaginable array of health hazards 
brought about by the environmental condition of their places of work. The hazards they are 
exposed to are often foreign to them because majority of these people have little to no 
training or almost no prior work experience to actually deal with these types of situation. 
To make matters worse, these people lack the proper equipment for the type of job they 
are being asked to do hence exposing them to further dangers that may deleteriously 
prejudice their safety and health.
The State has neglected this problem for too long. It is high time for the government 
to come up with a concrete plan of action to address the needs of these noble workers and 
protect them from the hazards of their work. It is our duty to protect the people who do the 
jobs that are essential to keep the country clean, sanitary and livable.
This measure aims to appropriately take action and properly address the needs of 
these people. It seeks to protect the health and safety of these individuals by requiring 
equipment and gear essential to preserving their well-being while performing their duties. 
It also aims to implement mandatory medical check-ups if need be, and the adoption of 
concrete guidelines that shall be observed and implemented in areas of disaster or waste 
area management.


Considering that this proposal aims to protect a vital group of individuals who are 
undeniably instrumental to the well-being of our country, the passage of this bill into law is 
earnestly sought.
RAMO^KBONG REVILLA, 3R.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
s. No. 
6 G V
>x, r IK" I <
of llif
T9 
JUL 22 
P g : l3
In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RFri-.
AN ACT
SEEKING TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF IN D IVID U ALS 
INVOLVED IN  GARBAGE COLLECTION, WORKING IN  DUMPSITES OR 
ASSIGNED IN  DISASTER AREAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Individuals' Health and
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Safety Act".
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Sec. 2. Provisions o f Gloves, Masks and other Proper Protective Equipment -
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No individuals involved in garbage collection, working in dumpsites or assigned in
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disaster areas may be allowed to continue with any of their respective activities, unless
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they are properly equipped with protective gloves and masks and other health and
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safety gears and proper protective equipment, such as but not limited to respirators
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to protect against airborne toxins, which may be required depending on the nature
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and extent of risks involved in clean-up operations, where hazardous and infectious
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chemicals are present.
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For purposes of this Act, the term "hazardous material" includes:
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(a) a petroleum-based product;
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(b) metal
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(c) a volatile or semi-volatile organic compound;
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(d) a pesticide
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(e) a herbicide;
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(f) a poly-chlorinated biphenyl; and
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(g) any biological material in floodwater, surface water, sediment, or soil that 
may threaten human health or the environment.
The term "infectious material', meanwhile, means each of the following:
(a) Any organism that is capable of producing infection or infectious disease, 
such as a bacteria, fungus, parasite, protozoan or virus;
(b) Any strain of a potentially virulent virus or other disease that was the subject 
of study and experimentation at one of several level 3 bio-research labs located 
in the regions affected by recent hurricanes and flooding;
(c) Any carrier acting as a vector for spreading infectious organisms or virulent 
diseases, or both, such as a decaying corpse, or a living nonhuman agent such as an 
infected rodent or escaped laboratory test animal.
Sec. 3. Provision o f Closed Containers. - Any contractor, operator, or entity, duly 
contracted to carry out garbage collection in Metro Manila and other parts of the 
country, shall place all collected garbage inside closed containers. Use of open garbage 
trucks is strictly prohibited.
Sec. 4. Comprehensive Guidelines. -The Secretary of the Department of Health, 
in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and other 
appropriate and concerned agencies shall come up with comprehensive guidelines, 
which shall be strictly obsen/ed by any responder or clean-up crew deployed to attend 
to rescue or cleanup operations in disaster areas, where presence of hazardous and 
infectious materials shall place them at greater risks.
Specifically, the guidelines adopted shall ensure that-
(a) Worksites and areas where responders and clean-up crews are to be sent 
are subject to a full environmental assessment and identification of hazards 
through onsite evaluation and monitoring and identification of workers likely to 
be facing high risk of hazardous exposures;


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(b) Relief, reconstruction and clean-up workers of all contributing agencies, 
whether government or private-
(i) Are properly informed of the environmental hazards they may face in 
their work;
(ii) Are provided proper training in handling toxic materials;
(iii) Are provided with the proper protective equipment (such as 
respirators to protect against airborne toxins), and guidelines and 
training for using them; and
(iv) Receive proper immunizations, where necessary and appropriate;
(c) These efforts are coordinated in close collaboration with local employers, 
unions and safety and health professionals.
Sec. 5. Periodic Medical Check-up. -All individuals involved in garbage collection, 
working in dumpsites or assigned in disaster areas, shall be required to undergo period 
mandatory medical check-up to ensure that their health and safety are not prejudiced 
by their activities. The proper government agencies or private corporations or entities 
who employ said individuals shall provide for the necessary fund to finance the cost 
of medical attention or intervention that may be needed.
Sec. 6. Penalties. - Any person who violates any provisions of this Act shall be 
liable to payment of fines ranging from Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) 
to Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00), including revocation of necessary 
license to operate as regards private entities.
Sec. 7. 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.
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly.


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Sec. 9. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,