SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

\<
—— So.
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and = *
Representative Maximo B. Rodriquez, Jr. S Z

a House Bill No. 88.19

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In this age of modem and complex communication technology, the detection and
prevention of various human communication disorders cannot be overly emphasized. Thus, the
practice of speech pathology, or any allied medical profession devoted to the evaluation,
diagnosis, management and cure of certain communication disorders, specifically in the
hearing, language and/or speech processes, must be properly developed and, at the same time,
regulated

This bill seeks to create a Professional Regulatory Board of Speech Pathology and
define its function and duties. It also aims to lay the standards for the examination, registration
and licensing of speech pathologists.

In a world which puts optimum importance in a person's ability to effectively
communicate his thoughts and mental processes, the early passage of this bill is an imperative.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

I}

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES :
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 83.19
AN ACT

REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

ARTICLE|
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Speech Pathology Act’

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the important role of speech
pathologists in nation building and promotes the sustained development of a reservoir of speech
pathologists whose competence have been determined by honest and credible licensure
examinations whose standards of professional practice and service are world-class and
internationally-recognized, globally-competitive through preventive regulatory measures,
programs, and activities that foster their continuing, professional growth

‘SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As usedin this Act:

a)

b)

c)

4)

e)

The term “speech pathology” shall mean an allied medical profession devoted to
the evaluation, diagnosis, management and prevention of human communication
disorder.

The term “speech pathologist’ shall mean a person who is registered and
licensed to practice speech pathology and who holds a valid certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card issued by the
Professional Regulation Commission under the provisions of this Act.

The term "communication disorder” shall mean impairment in the ability to (1)
receive and/or process symbol systems; (2) represent concepts in systems; (3)
transmit and use symbol systems. The impairment may be observed in the
disorders of hearing, language and/or speech processes.

“Evaluation” shall mean the global appraisal of the significance and implications
of a diagnostic assessment that shall include formal and informal assessment
“Diagnosis” shall mean the act of identifying an abnormality or disorder by
analyzing the symptoms presented. It may also include a study of the origin and
development of the symptoms.

“Language” is any accepted, structured, symbolic system of disorder for
interpersonal communication composed of sounds arranged in ordered


sequences or strings that express thoughts, intentions, experiences and feelings
comprised of phonological, syntactical, and semantic components.

9) “Speech” shall mean the medium of oral communication that employs a linguistic
code (language); through this medium, one can express thoughts and feelings
and understand those of others who employ the same code.

ARTICLE I
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY

SEC. 4. Creation and Composition of the Board. Within ninety days after the effectivity
of this Act, there shall be created the Professional Regulatory Board of Speech Pathology,
hereinafter referred to as the Board under the administrative control and supervision of the
Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, to be
composed of a Chairperson and two members who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines from the three recommendees for each vacant position chosen from the five
nominees of the integrated and accredited national organization of speech pathologist.

SEC. 5. Qualifications of the Members of the Board. - To be the Chairperson or a
member of the Board, one must at the time of his/her appointment be:

a) Anatural born citizen of the Philippines and an actual resident thereof for at least
five (5) years before his/her appointment;

b) _A duly registered and licensed speech pathologist holding a valid certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card, in active
clinical practice for the past five (5) years and a member in good standing of the
accredited integrated national organization of speech pathologists prior to his/her
appointment, except if appointed the first Chairperson/member;

c) Of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any

offense involving moral turpitude; and

d) Must not have pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any school, academy,
college, university or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for
administration to the practice of speech pathology or where review classes in
preparation for the licensure examination are being offered or conducted, nor
shall he/she be a member of the faculty or of the administration thereof at the
time of his/her appointment to the Board

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Board. - The Board shall have the authority to:

a) Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for carrying
Out the provisions of this Act:

b) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;

c) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of speech
pathology in the Philippines;

d) Adopt an official seal of the Board;

e) Maintain a roster of speech pathologists indicating therein the basic information
about the registered professionals;

f) Study the conditions affecting the practice of speech pathology in the Philippines
and adopt measures for the enhancement of the professional ethical and
technical standards therein;

9) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that
all educational institutions offering speech pathology education comply with the


policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in
the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities;

h) Prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for the
practice of speech pathology;

i) _ Issue, reinstate, suspend, revoke certificate of registration and/or professional
license or cancel special permits for the practice of speech pathology:

j) Prescribe guidelines and criteria in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
program for speech pathologist;

k) _ In consultation with the duly accredited organization of speech pathologists and
the duly recognized association of schools conferring a Bachelor's degree in
Speech Pathology, prescribe the area of competence to be included in the
computerized licensure examination and their relative weights, determined the
syllabi of the subjects, construct the test questions in licensure examination,
score and rate examination papers;

|) Hear or investigate any violations of this Act, its implementing rules and
regulations and the Code of Ethics for speech pathologists, and for this purpose,
to issue subpoena duces tecum to secure the appearance of the witnesses and
the production of documents in connection therewith: Provided, that the decision
of the Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and
executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of the judgment or decision;

m) Adopt a program for the full computerization of the licensure examination;

n) Grant registration without examination subject to the approval by the
‘Commission;

©) __ Issue special permits to persons admitted to the practice of speech pathology for
a specific duration of time, and certificates of recognition for advanced studies,
Tesearches and accomplishments that contribute to the enrichment of the
profession; and

p) Perform such other powers and functions as it may deem necessary to carry out
the objectives of this Act.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board shall
be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.

SEC. 7. Term of Office. - The Chairperson and members of the Board shall hold office
for three (3) years after appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed and
duly qualified; Provided, that members of the first Board to be appointed after the approval of
this Act shall hold office for the following terms: Chairperson for three (3) years, one member
for two (2) years, and the other member for one (1) year: Provided, further, that the
Chairperson or any member may be re-appointed for another term of three (3) years but in no
case shall he/she serve continuously for more than six (6) years. Vacancy in the Board shall be
filled for the unexpired term only. Each member of the Board shall automatically be registered
as speech pathologists and issued certificate of registration/professional license and
professional identification card and shall take the proper oath of office prior to assumption.

SEC. 8. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Board. - The
chairperson and members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable
to that being received by the Chairpersons and members of existing regulatory boards under the
Commission as provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Suspension and/or Removal of Board Members. - Any member of the Board
may be suspended or removed from office for gross neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice,


unprofessionalism, immorality, unethical or dishonorable conduct, final judgment of crimes
involving moral turpitude, and manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination results,
disclosure of secret and confidential information in the examination questions prior to the
conduct of the said examination or tampering of grades.

The administrative proceedings shall be heard by the Commission, whose
recommendation shall be submitted to the Office of the President. During the investigation, the
respondent shall be placed under preventive suspension by the Commission and another
designated to fill the temporary vacancy in the Board.

SEC. 10. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and Support
Services. - The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the Commission. All
records of the Board, including applications for examination, and administrative and other
investigative cases conducted by the Board shall be under the custody of the Commission

The Commission shall designate the secretary of the Board and shall provide the
secretariat and other support services to implement the provision of this Act.

SEC. 11. Annual Report. - The Board shall submit an annual report to the Commission
after the close of each calendar year, giving a detailed account of the proceedings of the Board
during the year and recommending measures to be adopted, with the end in view of upgrading
and improving the conditions affecting the practice of speech pathology in the Philippines.

ARTICLE Ill
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 12. Examination Required. - All applicants for registration for the practice of
speech pathology shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be given by the Board
in such places and dates as the Commission may designate subject to compliance with the
requirements prescribed by the Commission.

SEC. 13. Qualification for Examination. - \n order to be allowed to take part in the
licensure examination, an applicant must, at the time of fing of his/her application, establish to
‘the satisfaction of the Board that he/she has met the following qualifications:

a) A Filipino citizen or a foreign citizen whose state/country has reciprocity
agreement with the Philippines in the practice of speech pathology;

b) Of good moral character,

c) _ Hasnotbeen convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

d) A graduate of a Bachelor's degree in speech pathology from a duly recognized
school, college or university in the Philippines or abroad and
recognized/accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SEC. 14. Scope of Examination. - The subjects in the licensure examination for Speech
Pathologists shall cover the following:

a) Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism
b) _ Neurological bases of speech and hearing disorders

c) __ Articulation and phonological disorders

d) Hearing impairment and aural habilitation

e) Language disorders

f) Fluency disorders

9) Voice disorders


h) Dysphagia
i) Medical and neurological disorders

The Board may reciuster, rearrange, modify, add or exclude any subject as the need
arises so as to conform to technological changes.

SEC. 15. Registration without Examination as Speech Pathologist. - A person who
possesses the pertinent qualifications required for admission in the examination for registration
as a speech pathologist pursuant to the provisions of this Act may be registered without
examination provided the APPLICANT FILES WITH THE Board, within three (3) days after the
effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations, an application for registration and
issuance of a certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card by
submitting credentials showing that the applicant before the effectivity of this Act is a bachelor’s
degree holder of speech pathology from a college or university accredited by the CHED, with at
least five (5) years of full-time work experience in the practice of speech pathology.

SEC. 16. Ratings in the Examination. - To be qualified as having passed the licensure
examination for speech pathologists, a candidate must have obtained a weighted general
average of seventy-five (75%), with no grade lower than fifty (50%) in any given subject, must
take the examination in the subject or subjects where he/she obtained a grade below fifty percent
(50%) within two (2) years from the date of his/her last examination. The topic of subjects
Tetaken must have each a rating of no less than seventy-five percent (75%) in order to qualify as
having passed the examination.

SEC. 17. Report Ratings. - The Board shall submit to the Commission the ratings
obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the examination unless extended
for just cause

SEC. 18. Oath of Speech Pathologist. - All successful examinees qualified for
registration and all qualified applicants for registration without examination shall be required to
take an oath of profession before any member of the Board or any authorized officer of the
Commission to administer oaths, prior to entering into the practice of speech pathology in the
Philippines.

SEC. 19. issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional License and Professional
Identification Card. - A certificate of registration/professional license and professional
identification card shall be issued to all successful examinees and registrants either with or
without examination upon compliance with all the legal requirements including payment of fees
prescribed by the Commission. The certificate of registration/professional license shall bear the
signature of the chairperson of the Commission and the chairperson and members of the Board,
indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the
privileges appurtenant thereto. The said certificate shall remain in full force and effect until
withdrawn, suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act.

‘A professional identification card bearing the registration number, date of issuance,
expiry date, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be issued to every
registrant who has paid the prescribed fee.

SEC. 20. Indication of Certificate of Registration/Professional Tax Receipt. - The
speech pathologist shall be required to indicate his/her certificate of registration/professional
license number and date of issuance, including the professional tax receipt number on the
document he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of his/her profession


SEC. 21. Refusal to Register. - The Board shall not register and issue a certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card to any person convicted by a
court of competent jurisdiction of a criminal offense involving moral turpitude or guilty of immoral
or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound mind. In the event of refusal to issue the
certificate for any reason, the Board shall give the applicant a written statement setting forth the
reason for such action, which statement shall be incorporated in the record of the Board.

SEC. 22. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration/Professional
License and Professional Identification Card and Cancellation of Special Permit. - The Board
may, after giving proper notice of hearing to the party concemed, revoke the practitioners
certificate of registration/professional license or suspend him/her from the practice of hisier
profession or cancel his/her permit for any of the causes or grounds mentioned in Section 21 of
this Act or for any unprofessional or unethical conduct, malpractice, violation of any of the
provisions of this Act, its rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics and the Standards for speech
pathologists.

SEC. 23. Reinstatement, Re-issuance or Replacement of Certificate of
Registration/Professional License. - A person may apply to the Board for reinstatement of a
certificate of registrationiprofessional license at any time after two (2) years from the date of
revocation of said certificate. The application shall be in writing and shall conform with the
requirements as provided by the Board. No certificateficense shall be reinstated unless the
Board is satisfied that a good cause exists to warrant such reinstatement.

SEC. 24. Roster of Speech Pathologists. - The Board shall prepare, update and
maintain a roster of speech pathologists in coordination with the integrated and accredited
professional organization, which shall contain the names of registered speech pathologists and
issuance of certificates, and other data which the Board may deem pertinent. The roster shall be
open to the public, copies of which shall be mailed to each person listed therein.

SEC. 25. Issuance of Special/Temporary Permit. — Specialtemporary permit may be
issued by the Board subject to the approval by the Commission and payment of the fees the
latter has prescribed and charged thereof to the following persons:

a) _ a foreign speech pathologist called for consultation for a specific purpose which,
in the judgment of the Board, is essential for the growth of the profession:
Provided, however, that his/her activities shall be limited only to the particular
work, for which he/she is being engaged: Provided, further, that he/she is
qualified to practice his/her profession in his/her state or country. Provided,
finally, that there is no Filipino speech pathologist qualified for such consultation
or specific purpose;

b) a foreign speech pathologist who is an intemationally recognized expert or
specialist in any branch of speech pathology and his/her service is essential for
the advancement of speech pathology in the Philippines; and

c) _ a foreign speech pathologist to be engaged as professor, lecturer, or critic in
fields essential to speech pathology education in the Philippines and is confined
to teaching only.

The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and conditions: for a
period of not more than one (1) year subject to renewal, the branch or specialty of speech
pathology, and the specific place of practice such as cinic, hospital, center,


school/college/university offering the course of speech pathology. The Board, subject to the
approval by the Commission, shall prescribe rules and regulations on the implementation of this
Particular section.

ARTICLE IV
PRACTICE OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY

SEC. 26. Scope of the Practice of Speech Pathology. - The Scope of the Practice of
‘Speech Pathology shall embrace, but shall not be limited to the performance of any of the
following:

a) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, rehabilitate and prevent disorders of speech
such as, but not limited to articulation, fluency, voice and language:

b) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, rehabilitate and prevent disorders of ora-
pharyngeal functions such as, but not limited to dysphagia and related disorders
in collaboration with the rehabilitation team;

c) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose and rehabilitate cognitive communication
‘systems and provide training in their use;

d) Assess, select and develop augmentative and altemative communication
systems and provide training in their use:

) Screen hearing acuity for the purpose of speech language-language evaluation
and aural rehabilitation;

f) Plan appropriate home programs for patients;

9g) Plan, conduct and evaluate teaching-learning activities for students of speech
pathology and other related courses; for other health professionals, patients and
their families;

h) Plan, conduct and evaluate researches in pursuit of new knowledge for the
growth of speech pathology in the Philippines;

i) Provide consultancy to government and non-government organization regarding
the field of speech pathology; and

}) Perform administrative duties in speech pathology clinics/units in hospitals,
schools and other rehabilitation centers;

k) Teach, lecture, review subjects given in the licensure examination

SEC. 27. Prohibition on the Practice of Speech Pathology. — No person shall practice or
offer to practice speech pathology in the Philippines or offer himsetffherself as speech
pathologist, or use the title, word, letter figure, or a sign tending to convey the impression that
helshe is a speech pathologist, or advertise or indicate in any manner whatsoever that he/she is
qualified to perform the work of a speech pathologist unless he/she has satisfactorily passed the
licensure examination given by the Board, except as otherwise provided in this Act, and is a
holder of a valid certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification
card or a valid temporary/special permit duly issued to hinvher by the Board and the
Commission.

SEC. 28. Prohibited Acts. — No person shall:

a) Engage in the practice of speech pathology by representing himselferself as a
speech pathologist without a valid certificate of registration/professional license
oF a valid temporary/special permit granted by the Board pursuant to this Act;

b) Practice hismer profession during the period of his/her suspension from the
practice thereof;


c) Allow an unqualified person to advertise or to practice the profession by using
his/her certificate of registration/professional license or temporary/special permit:
and

d) Use as his/her own the certificate of registration/professional license or
temporary/special permit of another.

SEC. 29. Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Speech Pathologists. -
The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for
speech pathologists prescribed and issued by the integrated and accredited national
organization of speech pathologists.

SEC. 30. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Program.- The CPE guidelines
shall be prescribed by the Board and promulgated by the Commission upon consultation with
the Board, which shall consult the integrated and accredited organization of speech pathologist,
the affliated association of speech pathologists and other concemed sectors,

SEC. 31. Integration of Speech Pathologists. - All speech pathologists shall be
integrated into one (1) national organization, which shall be recognized by the Board and by the
Commission as the one and only integrated and accredited association of speech pathologists.
A speech pathologist duly registered with the Board shall automatically become a member of
the integrated and accredited association of speech pathologists, and shalll receive the benefits
and privileges appurtenant thereto, upon payment of the required fees and dues. Membership
in the integrated and accredited association shall not be a bar to membership in other
associations of speech pathologists.

SEC. 32. Foreign Reciprocity. - No foreign speech pathologist shall be admitted to the
examination or be given a certificate of registration/professional license and professional
identification card or be entitled to any of the privileges under this Act unless the country of
which he/she is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino speech pathologists to practice
within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or

country.

ARTICLE V
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 33. Funding Provision. - The Chairman of the Professional Regulation
Commission shall immediately include in the Commission's programs the implementation of this
Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and
thereafter.

SEC. 34. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this
‘Act or any of its implementing rules and regulations as promulgated by the Board subject to the
approval of the Commission shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) or by
imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court.

SEC. 35. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To implement the provisions of this
Act, the Board, shall, subject to the approval of the Commission, promulgate the rules and
regulations and the Code of Ethics for speech pathologists within sixty (60) days after the
constitution of the first Board


SEC. 36. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act shall be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or provision of this Act.

SEC. 37. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 38. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a major newspaper of national circulation whichever
comes earlier.

Approved,