Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care is a 
government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the Department of 
Health (DOH) which was created on December 7, 1997 by Republic Act No. 
8423, otherwise known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act 
(TAMA) of 1997 authored by Senator Juan M. Flavier. 
 PITAHC is currently headed by Director-General Annabelle Pabiona-De 
Guzman, MD, FPAFP, MHA, MA Med (UK), CESE under the direction of a Board 
of Trustees composed of representatives from different government agencies 
namely: Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Department of Agriculture (DA); 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED); and representatives from the 
industries/sectors namely: a physician engaged in the practice of Traditional 
and Complementary Medicine (T&CM); a member from a duly recognized 
academe engaged in T&CM research; a T&CM practitioner who is not a 
physician; a western medical practitioner preferably from the Philippine Medical 
Association; one member from the natural food industry and one member from 
environmental sector. The board is chaired by the Secretary of Health. 
This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the Philippine 
Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), to lead in the 
research and development, promotion and advocacy of developmental standards 
on traditional and complementary medicine. 
October 26, 2022
10:16 am
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Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
MICHAEL L. ROMERO  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE 
PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE 
HEALTH CARE (PITAHC), INCREASING AND REORGANIZING ITS 
ADMINISTRATION, TO LEAD IN THE RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION, ADVOCACY OF DEVELOPMENTAL 
STANDARDS ON TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY 
MEDICINE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY – It shall hereby be a 
declared policy of the State to: 
1.
Encourage 
scientific 
research 
on 
and 
develop
traditional and alternative health care systems that have
direct 
impact 
on 
public 
health 
care;
2.
Promote 
and 
advocate 
the 
use 
of 
traditional,
alternative, preventive, and curative health care modalities
that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and
consistent with government standards on medical practice;
3.
Develop and coordinate skills training courses for
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various forms of traditional and alternative health care 
modalities; 
4. 
Formulate standards, guidelines and codes of ethical 
practice appropriate for the practice of traditional and 
alternative health care as well as in the manufacture, quality 
control and marketing of different traditional and alternative 
health care materials, natural and organic products, for 
approval’ and adoption by the appropriate government 
agencies; 
5. 
Formulate policies for the protection of indigenous and 
natural health resources and technology from unwarranted 
exploitation, for approval and adoption by the appropriate 
government 
agencies; 
6. 
 Formulate policies to strengthen the role of traditional 
and 
alternative 
health 
care 
delivery 
system; 
and 
7. 
Promote traditional and alternative health care in 
international and national conventions, seminars and 
meetings in coordination with the Department of Tourism, 
Duty Free Philippines, Incorporated, Philippine Convention 
and Visitors Corporation and other tourism-related agencies 
as 
well 
as 
non-government 
organizations 
and 
local 
government units. 
The state shall continually improve the effectiveness of our Quality 
Management System towards equitable development for improved quality of life 
for all. 
The state shall formulate policies for the efficient and effective administration 
and management of all manpower, skills and competencies to ensure 
compliance. 


SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Three 
Hundred Million Pesos (Php 300,000,000.00) for the operation and 
administration of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative 
Health Care (PITAHC) shall be chargeable against funds for the purpose and 
other sources recommended by the Department of Budget and Management 
(DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for the Philippine Institute of Traditional 
and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) shall be included in the budget 
proposals under the Department of Health (DOH). 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the existing 
organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Philippine Institute of 
Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act and relevant compensation and position classification laws, 
rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF TRADITIONAL AND 
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE (PITAHC) MODERNIZATION FUND – There is 
hereby created the (PITAHC) Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the 
(PITAHC) Modernization Program. 
The (FDA) Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DOH 
in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of DOH shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the (PITAHC) 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 


and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Health of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the Philippine Institute of Traditional and 
Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) shall continue to develop, modernize and 
constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global 
practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS 
AND 
FUNCTIONS. – 
The 
Philippine 
Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) shall continue 
to exercise and uphold the following powers and functions; but not limited to: 
PITAHC is currently headed by Director-General Annabelle Pabiona-De 
Guzman, MD, FPAFP, MHA, MA Med (UK), CESE under the direction of a Board 
of Trustees composed of representatives from different government agencies 
namely: Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Department of Agriculture (DA); 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED); and representatives from the 
industries/sectors namely: a physician engaged in the practice of Traditional 
and Complementary Medicine (T&CM); a member from a duly recognized 
academe engaged in T&CM research; a T&CM practitioner who is not a 
physician; a western medical practitioner preferably from the Philippine Medical 
Association; one member from the natural food industry and one member from 
environmental sector. The board is chaired by the Secretary of Health. 


a) To plan and carry out research and development activities in 
the areas of traditional and alternative health care and its 
ultimate integration into the national health care delivery 
system; 
b) To 
verify, 
package 
and 
transfer 
economically 
viable 
technologies in the field of traditional and alternative health 
care, giving emphasis on the social engineering aspects 
necessary for group endeavor; 
c) To provide the database for policy formulation that will 
stimulate 
and 
sustain 
production, 
marketing 
and 
consumption of traditional and alternative health care 
products; 
d) To organize and develop continuing training programs for 
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, and 
other professional health workers and students, as well as 
scientists, research managers and extension workers in the 
field of traditional and alternative health care; 
e) To formulate policies that would create public awareness 
through 
educational 
activities, 
conventions, 
seminars, 
conferences, and the like by focusing on the promotion of 
healthy living for preventing disease, thereby uplifting the 
health care industry; 
f) To acquire or obtain from any governmental authority whether 
national or local, foreign or domestic , or from any person, 
corporation, partnership, association or other entity, such 
charters, franchises, licenses, rights, privileges, assistance, 
financial or otherwise, and concessions as are conducive to 
and necessary or proper for the attainment of its purpose and 
objectives; 
g) To receive and acquire from any person and/or government 
and private entities, whether foreign or domestic, grants, 


donations and contributions consisting of such properties, 
real or personal, including funds and valuable effects or 
things, as may useful, necessary or proper to carry out its 
purposes and objectives and administer the same in 
accordance with the terms of such grants, donations and 
contributions, consistent with its purposes and objectives; 
h) To serve as the coordinating center of a national network of 
traditional and alternative health care stations located in the 
different regions of the country; 
i) To formulate a code of ethics and standards for the practice of 
traditional and alternative health care modalities for approval 
and adoption by the appropriate professional and government 
agencies; 
j) To formulate standards and guidelines for the manufacture, 
marketing and quality control of different traditional and 
alternative health care materials and products for approval 
and adoption by the Bureau of Food and Drugs; 
k) To coordinate with other institutions and agencies involved in 
the research on herbal medicine; 
l) To adopt and use a corporate seal; 
m) To sue and be sued in its corporate name; 
n) To succeed by its corporate name; 
o) To adopt its by-laws and promulgate such rules and 
regulations as may be necessary or proper to implement this 
ACT, and to amend or repel the same from time to time; 
p) To enter, into, make and execute contracts and agreements of 
any kind or nature; and 
q) To borrow, raise or obtain funds, or to enter into any financial 
or credit arrangement in order to support or carry out in 
research programs, finance its capital and operating 


expenses, subject to pertinent laws governing public debts 
and expenditures. 
 
SECTION 
7. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The PITAHC shall 
maintain the sufficient staffing pattern. Hence, it is authorized to increase its 
manpower to meet such required and may continue to increase personnel per 
percentage rate increase of committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
8. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 
9. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
10. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
11. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
12. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,