Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7791

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2% District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT MANDATING ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE
CABINET-LEVEL OFFICIALS TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT A MEDICAL
CERTIFICATE SHOWING FITNESS TO WORK AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Government plays a key role when it comes to health. Health, however,
has a much greater role in government. A healthy workforce has a significant
impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of public service. In a similar vein,
the health of public officials holding elective and appointive positions are
important for the proper performance of their functions.

This proposed measure seeks to require elective and appointive
cabinet-level officials to annually submit a medical certificate showing their
physical fitness to perform the duties and responsibilities attendant to their
position.

By reason of their office, elective and appointive cabinet-level officials are
held at a much higher standard than any other official or employee in
government. They are expected to perform and discharge their duties with
utmost responsibility, integrity, and competence. However, elective and
appointive cabinet-level officials rarely go through health or medical screening
process for purposes of employment that other appointive officials and
government employees normally do.

Itis therefore imperative that elective and appointive cabinet-level officials
become transparent as to their health condition. This administrative
requirement ensures that elective and appointive cabinet-level, whose
mandate came directly from the people, are physically fit to perform and
discharge their functions as provided by Philippine laws and government rules
and regulations.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. Uh

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2” District, Tocos Norte

AN ACT MANDATING ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE
CABINET-LEVEL OFFICIALS TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT A MEDICAL
CERTIFICATE SHOWING FITNESS TO WORK AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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 “Fit-to-Work
Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to promote good state of health and raise the level of health
consciousness among public officials for the proper performance of their
duties and responsibilities and warrant transparency as to the health
condition or status of public officials.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

a. Fit to work — means being able to perform their functions based on the
duties and responsibilities provided by law and government rules and
regulations;

b. Government — refers to the national government, local governments,
and all other departments, instrumentalities, or agencies of the
Republic of the Philippines, including government-owned corporations
and their subsidiaries;

©. Public officials - refers to elective and appointive cabinet-level
officials;

d. Medical Certificate - refers to a written statement, issued by a
government physician, attesting to the result of a medical examination
undergone by the patient-public official;

SECTION 4. Mandatory Submission of Medical Certificate. - On or
before April 30 of every year, all public officials, as defined in this Act, shall


submit a medical certificate, including their laboratory test results, showing
their physical fitness to perform the duties and responsibilities attendant to
their position.

SECTION 5. Sponsorship/Conduct of Annual Physical Examination of
Public Officials. — Annual physical examinations sponsored by the
government agency or conducted in partnership with its health maintenance
organization shall be allowed in this Act. The performance of physical
examination and laboratory tests may be in a private or government hospital,
or a DOH-accredited diagnostics clinic.

SECTION 6. Evaluation of Medical Examination Results. — Results of
physical examination and laboratory tests performed shall be evaluated by a
government physician who shall issue a medical certificate containing a
summary of his or her findings and a declaration that the patient is fit to work
or needs further examination.

SECTION 7. Access to Medical Certificates. - The medical certificate
submitted under this Act, excluding laboratory test results attached to it, shall
be made available for inspection at reasonable hours.

It shall be made available for copy or reproduction after ten (10) working
days from the time of submission as required under this Act; Provided, That
any person requesting a copy of the said document shall be required to state
the purpose; Provided further, That the purpose stated must be legal;
Provided finally, That the person requesting shall pay a reasonable fee to
cover its reproduction and mailing costs.

Access to the medical certificate shall be available to the public for a period
of ten (10) years from receipt thereof. The document shall be destroyed after
such period, unless needed in an ongoing investigation.

SECTION 8. Implementing Agency. — The Civil Service Commission shall
have the primary responsibility for the administration and enforcement of this
Act.

SECTION 9. Non-compliance with the requirement. — Failure to comply
with the requirement of this Act shall constitute an administrative offense and
subject the public official to administrative discipline.

SECTION 10. Liability under the Revised Penal Code. — Issuance of false
medical certificate for purposes of this Act shall be governed by Articles 174
and 175 of the Revised Penal Code.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act, the Civil Service Commission shall
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.


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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions shall not be affected
and shall remain valid.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations inconsistent with or contrary to this Act are hereby
repealed or modified.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen

(a5) days following its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,