SENA 
%No. 1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 12, provides: 
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. 
In the United States and other countries, a number of privately funded voluntary health 
agencies continue to research on possible treatment of dystonia. However, research on dystonia 
in our country remains minimal, or even negligible. 
Not a single treatment has been found to be universally effective, and doctors would 
normally resort to therapies to reduce or eliminate muscle spasms and pain that patients suffer. 
This bill seeks to aid and promote research on the causes of dystonia so that they can be 
prevented and that effective treatment can be found.' 
* This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING RESEARCH ON DYSTONIA 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Dystonia Research and 
Information Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution provides that the State shall 
undertake appropriate health manpower development and research responsive to the country’s 
health needs and problems. Pursuant to this policy, it shall promote research for the prevention 
and treatment on dystonia. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A) “Secretary” shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health; 
(B) “Dystonia” shall refer to the movement disorder in which sustained muscle 
contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The 
movements, which are involuntary and sometimes painful, may affect a single 
muscle, a group of muscles, such as those in the arms, legs, or neck, or the entire 
body; and 
(C) “Committee” refers to the Committee on Dystonia Research. 
SECTION 4. Dystonia Research. - The Secretary shall conduct or support research to 
expand the understanding of dystonia. Such research shall: 
(A) If determined to be scientifically appropriate, include a multidisciplinary, clinical, 
and case-controlled study of dystonia patients; 
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(B) Involve families of persons who suffer from dystonia, focus on atypical disease 
presentation, neurological dysfunction, diminished intelligence, and emotional 
imbalance; and 
(C) Evaluate to what extent, if any, their health differs from other patients with 
neurological disorders. 
SECTION 5. Committee on Dystonia Research. - To assist the Secretary in receiving 
accurate and complete information about dystonia, its symptoms, origin, classification, 
prevention, and treatment, there shall be established a committee, to be known as the Committee 
on Dystonia Research, to ensure the strategic management, communication, and oversight of the 
policy formation, research, and activities of the government regarding dystonia 
SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members: 
(A) Two (2) representatives from the Department;\ 
(B) One (1) representative of any other agencies necessary to accomplish the purpose of 
the Committee; 
(C) Four (4) physicians or practitioners with established credentials in the area of 
neurological disorders; and 
(D) Two (2) immediate relatives of dystonia patients to be appointed by the Secretary. 
The Secretary shall act as chair of the Committee. He shall convene meetings of the 
Committee, not less than twice a year, and compile information for the consideration of the full 
Committee at such meetings. 
SECTION 7. Meetings. - The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and 
public witnesses shall be given opportunity to speak and make presentations at such meetings. 
Each member shall make a presentation to the full Committee at each meeting concerning the 
activities conducted by such member. 
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SECTION 8. Term. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of three (3) 
years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three (3) years, three (3) 
members, for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year. 
Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
the original appointment. 
Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with procedures 
established by the Committee. 
SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions: 
(A) Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the 
Committee with respect to research on dystonia, its prevention, and treatment; 
(B) Report to the Secretary on such research; 
(C) Provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding the activities of the 
Committee; 
(D) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee; 
(E) Ensure that materials concerning dystonia provided by the Department are 
available, up to date, and responsive to reports of problems of dystonia, and that 
timely aggregate data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public 
upon request and consistent with existing confidentiality standards. 
SECTION 10. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the research shall be included 
in the annual appropriation of the Department of Health. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - IC 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. 
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SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, or rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days aAer its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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