FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1824 
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JUL L, 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution provides: 
Article II, Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right 
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Article XlII, Section II. The State shall adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development -xxx- There shall 
be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, 
disabled, women, and children. 
Annually, at least 1 billion people worldwide contract one of eight sexually transmitted 
diseases (STDs) - chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, herpes, human 
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human papilloma virus. Of these, hepatitis B, herpes, HIV, 
and human papilloma virus are incurable and represent two-thirds of the new infections. 
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STDs impose high human costs in pain, diminished quality of life, disability, and 
mortality. In women, STDs other than HIV can produce infertility, cancers, and numerous 
pregnancy-related complications including ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and 
stillbirth. Passed to a fetus or infant, these infections can cause low birth weight, pneumonia, 
neurologic damage, and congenital abnonnalities. These infections also substantially enhance 
susceptibility to HIV infection. 
Biologically and socially, women are more vulnerable to STDs than men. Many STDs 
are transmitted more easily from a man to a woman and are more likely to remain undetected in 
women, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment, and more severe complications. 
Since the early 1990s, topical microbicides have attracted scientific attention as a 
possible new technology for preventing STDs, including HIV. Like today's spennicides, 
microbicides would be used vaginally by women to help protect themselves, their partners, and 
their infants from the sexual transmission of HIV and other STD pathogens. These compounds 


could be formulated in a number of ways - as a gel, film, sponge or time-released capsule - and 
could be used in addition to condoms or as an alternative when condom use is not possible. 
The social, health, and economic burdens of STDs are especially severe for developing 
countries such as the Philippines. Among women ages 15-49 in developing countries, STDs 
represent the, second largest cause of mortality and disability. Only two maternal causes, that is, 
immediate complications of pregnancy and childbirth, rank higher. This bill seeks to facilitate 
the devel6pment of microbicides to prevent the transmission of STDs.l 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.N~. 1824 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBICIDES 
TO PREVENT SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES 
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 "Microbicides Development 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definition ofTerms. -As used in this Act, the term: 
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(A) ','Microbicides" mean agents that destroy microbes, such as antiseptic. 
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(B) "STD" means any sexually transmitted disease, and includes chlamydia, gonorrhea, 
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syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, herpes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 
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(which includes acquired immuno deficiency syndrome or AIDS), and human 
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papilloma virus. 
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(C) "DOH" means the Department of Health. 
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(D) "Secretary" means the DOH Secretary. 
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SECTION 3. Microbicides for Preventing Transmission of Sexually Transmitted 
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Diseases. -
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(A) Expansion of Activities. - The Secretary shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the 
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activities of the DOH with respect to research on the development of microbic ides to 
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prevent the transmission of STDs, including HIV. 
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(B) Coordination. - The Secretary shall coordinate the activities under subsection (A) as 
outlined in subparagraph (C)(l) among all appropriate government agencies and 
components of the DOH to the extent such government agencies and components 
have responsibilities that are related to the development of microbicides. 
(C) Program for Microbicide Development. - In carrying out subsection (I), the DOH 
shall establish a program to support research to develop microbicides that can 
substantially reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Activities under 
such subsection shall provide for an expansion and intensification of the conduct and 
support of-
(1) Basic research on the initial mechanisms of infection by sexually transmitted 
pathogens; 
(2) Development of appropriate animal models for evaluating safety and efficacy of 
microbicides; 
(3) Development of mucosal delivery systems; 
(4) Research on approaches to the design of contraceptive and non-contraceptive 
microbicides; 
(5) Clinical trials; and 
(6) Behavioral research on use, acceptability and compliance' with microbicides. 
(D) Implementation Plan. - The Secretary, in coordination with the Philippine Council for 
Health Research and Development as described in subsection (B), shall develop and 
implement a plan to ensure that the research programs described in paragraph (C) (I) 
a~e implemented in accordance with a plan for such programs. Such plan shall include 
the comments of the Secretary and shall include, but not be limited to, the following 
information: 
(I) Description of plan and objectives with respect to microbic ides research. 
(2) Description of the agencies involved and their role in microbicides research. 
(3) Capacity of such agencies to conduct miCrobicides research as described in (CN). 
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(4) Description of grant and contract mechanisms available to facilitate microbicides 
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research, including grant and contract mechanisms, support for preclinical 
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product development and clinical trial capacity. 
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(5) Description of the plan for increasing number of investigators in this area of 
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research. 
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(E) Public Comment. - The Secretary shall develop a mechanism to provide the public, 
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including non-profit private entities concerned with microbicides research, opportunities 
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to submit comments on the plan, including provisions relating to the selection of products 
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for clinical evaluations. 
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SECTION 4. Reports to Congress. -The Secretary shall submit, not later than one year 
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after the date on enactment, and annually thereafter, a report that describes the activities of the 
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DOH, under the research programs referred to in Section (3)(C), that shall include-
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(A) A description of the research plan with respect to microbicides research prepared 
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under Section (3)(D); 
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(B) An assessment of the development, revision, and implementation of such plan; 
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(C) Description and evaluation of the progress made, during the period for which such 
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report is prepared, in the research on microbicides; 
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(D) A summary and analysis of expenditures made, during the period for which the report 
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is made, for activities with respect to microbicides conducted and supported by the DOH; 
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and 
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(E) Such comments and recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate. 
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SECTION 5. Coordination. - The Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall consult with 
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the Director for the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Director for the 
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Philippine Health Research and Development in developing the plan under Section 4 for research 
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on microbicides that takes into consideration research on STDs and microbicides carried out at 
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the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Philippine Health Research and 
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Development. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. - The Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to 
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adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The DOH shall, within 
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sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those 
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of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Coordinating Agency. - The Philippine Council for Health Research and 
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Development is hereby authorized to assist the DOH in conducting the research for microbic ides. 
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SECTION 8. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out this program 
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are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 9. 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 shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. 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 inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION II. 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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