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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. $80

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Every citizen is entitled to health care from the government. However, due
to the limited resources, the government might not be able to provide all medical
and health benefits that every single individual is supposed to receive despite
the government’s desire to provide all these benefits to them.

To minimize the impact of health problems, and as an alternative approach
to handling medical issues, the government should encourage a healthy lifestyle

and promote regular exercise to prevent possible sickness and diseases of its
citizens.

This House Bill seeks to encourage the citizens to regularly exercise to
keep themselves healthy and fit by requiring all local government units to provide
clear pathways or open spaces within their jurisdiction that will serve as
sprinting, jogging and running paths of the citizens every weekends in order to
promote the health and fitness consciousness of the whole country.

ly passage of the bill is earnestly requested.

‘L L. ROMERO Ph.D.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 980

Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO PROVIDE
CLEAR PATHWAYS OR OPEN SPACES WITHIN THEIR
JURISDICTION THAT WILL SERVE AS SPRINTING, JOGGING
AND RUNNING PATHS TO THE CITIZENS EVERY WEEKENDS IN
ORDER TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND FITNESS
CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY

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

Section 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as “Health Consciousness Act
of 2019”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to promote the health and fitness consciousness of the whole country by
encouraging regular exercise every weekend thereby creating a different
approach in the health care of the citizens by focusing more on prevention rather
than cure.


Section 3. Creation of Pathways or Open Spaces - All local government units,
within One (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, shall provide clear pathways
or open spaces within their jurisdiction that will serve as sprinting, jogging and
running paths of the citizens every weekends. The said pathways or open spaces
may also be utilized for other activities designed to promote the health and

fitness consciousness of the citizens.

For purposes of ensuring that the requirement above is complicd with, the
Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) shall monitor the compliance of
cities and municipalities within Metro Manila. The DPWH through its Regional
Office shall monitor co.npliance of provinces. The DPWH througi its Provincial
Offices shall monitor the co.pliance of cities and municipalities outside of Metro
Manila.

Section 4. Inf.-mation Dissemination - The local government units shall
ensure that the creation or establishment of the pathways or open spaces
mentioned in Section 3 hereof are communicated and disseminated to its citizens

in order to ensure optimal use thereof.

Section 5. Violation - The salary of officials of the local government units that
fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of Section 3 and Section 4 hereof
shall be withheld from them until such time that they comply with the provisions
of this Act. The same penalty shall be imposed on employees, officers or officials
of DPWH, including its Regional or Provincial Cfices, who conspire with the local
‘government units to avoid compliance with the provisions of this Act.

Section 6. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,