FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPP,INES 
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Third Regular Session 
) 
. SENATE 
S. B. No. 339 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.. ":~- 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Lead poisoning happens when lead accumulates in the body, often over a period 
of months or years. Even small amounts of lead can cause serious health problems. 
Children under the age of 6 are more vulnerable to lead poisoning, which can severely 
affect mental and physical development. At very high levels, lead poisoning can be fatal, 
Lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in older buildings are the most 
common sources of lead poisoning in children. Other sources of lead poisoning include 
contaminated air, water, soil, and some toys and cosmetics. 
Lead is a neurotoxin. It is much more dangerous for children than adults because 
it affects kids' developing brains and nervous systems. The younger the child, the more 
harm lead can cause. Very high levels may cause vomiting, stumbling, muscle weakness, 
seizures or coma. Abdominal pains and cramping is often the sign of a high and toxic 
dose of lead. Low levels are also known to cause subtle changes in brain functions. One 
common source of lead is the lining of water coolers that contaminate drinking water. 
This bill seeks to address that problem by regulating this industry, 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO STOP THE HAZARDOUS EFFECTS OF LEAD CONTAMINATION 
OF WATER SUPPLIES IN DRINKING WATER COOLERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1, Short Title. - This Act shaIl be known as the “Lead Contamination Control 
Act of 2009.” 
SECTION 2. Regulation of 
Water Coolers. - The following standards shall be 
implemented in the regulation of water coolers that may be found to contain lead: 
(a) The Department of Health (DOH) is required, after notice and opportunity for public 
comment and within one year from enactment, to publish, using the best information available to 
it, a list identifying each brand and model of drinking water cooler which is not lead free as well 
as each brand and model of drinking water cooler which has a lead-lined tank; 
(b) The sale or the manufacture for sale of any drinking water cooler which is listed under 
this section or any other cooler which is not lead free, including a lead-lined water cooler is 
prohibited; 
(c) Within one year after enactmknt, the DOH is required to publish and distribute to the 
local government units a guidance document and testing protocol to assist schools in determining 
the source and degree of lead contamination in school drinking water supplies and in remedying 
such contamination. The guidance document must contain: guidelines for sample preservation; 
guidance to assist LGUs, schools, and the public in ascertaining the levels of lead contamination 
in drinking water coolers and in taking appropriate action to reduce or eliminate such 
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contamination; and a testing protocol for the identification of drinking water coolers which 
contribute to lead contamination in drinking water. 
(d) The DOH is required to establish a program to assist local education agencies in 
testing for, and remedying, lead contamination in drinking water from coolers and from other 
sources of lead contamination at schools. The program would have to include measures for 
reduction or elimination of lead contamination from all listed water coolers containing lead-lined 
tanks located in schools by ensuring that they are repaired, permanently removed, or replaced 
within 15 months after enactment (except where the cooler is tested and found not to contribute 
any lead to drinking water). 
SECTION 3. Lead Poisoning Pievention Program. - The DOH shall (1) screen infants 
and children for elevated blood levels; (2) assure referral for treatment of infants and children 
with elevated blood lead levels, and (3) provide education about childhood lead poisoning. 
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SECTION 4. 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 is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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