FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
\ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sanitary inspectors or sanitarians play an important role in the prevention and control of diseases 
from spreading in the community. Sanitarians primarily initiate the proper implementation of 
environmental sanitation making their roles with regard to the health of the community 
indispensable. 
Since sanitarians work closely with the community they are in a very crucial position to effect 
change in the sanitary habits and practices of the community. They also are the authority when it 
comes to addressing the health hazards and dangers that may put the community at risk. 
Moreover, sanitarians are the ones to translate sanitary principles and theories as well as 
disseminate and explain health rules to the community. Sadly, there is no government agency 
tasked to regulate the practice of sanitation and hygiene which may put in jeopardy the health of 
the public. 
This bill seeks to establish a Board under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) 
professionalizing the practice of sanitation and hygiene. Also, this bill shall institute mechanisms 
to guarantee the fitness of individuals engaged with the sanitation profession. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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AN ON 
"SONN "F.T 
LANESIV 
I 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Sonnv” F. Trillanes N 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
FOR 
THE 
REGULATION, 
SUPERVISION 
AND 
PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE PRACTICE, LICENSING, AND REGISTRATION 
OF SANITARIANS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
ARTICLE I. 
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS. 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “The Sanitarians 
Professionalizcition Act.” 
SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of sanitarians in 
promoting the health and general welfare of the people. Towards this end, the State shall ensure 
and promote the professionalization of sanitary inspection; and (b) the supervision and licensing 
of sanitary inspectors/sanitarians. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - The Act has the following objectives: (a) the promotion, 
development and professionalization of sanitary inspection; and @) the supervision and licensing 
of sanitary inspectors/sanitarians. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Term. -For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(a) “Sanitation and Hygiene Profession or Practice of Sanitation and Hygiene” - refers to 
the profession concerned primarily with education, prevention, and control of 
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diseases and other public health concerns using scientific methods and paramedical 
measures related to sanitation and hygiene. 
(b) “Sanitarians” - any person engaged in the practice of Sanitation and Hygiene 
Profession, This can be used interchangeably with the term “Sanitary Inspector” 
currently used by the government in the classification of position title. 
(c) “Board” - refers to the Board for Sanitarians duly established and constituted under 
this Act. 
(d) “Commission” - refers to the Professional Regulation Commission. 
SEC. 5. Description and Scope of Work of Sanitary Inspectors. - The Sanitary 
Inspectors field of work shall involve the education and research, technical supervision, 
inspection of establishment and public places, monitoring, issuance of permits, control and 
prevention in the fields of: 
1. Waste management; 
2. Food and water supply sanitation; 
3. Vermin and vector control; 
4. Industrial hygiene; 
5. Epidemiology; 
6. Pollution control; 
7. Environmental health planning and program development and implementation; and 
8. Other community level activities that pertain to public hygiene. 
ARTICLE II. 
BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL SANITARY INSPECTORS 
SEC. 6. Creation and Composition of Board. - Within sixty (60) days after the approval 
of this Act, there shall be created a Board for Professional Sanitary Inspectors, a collegial body 
under the general supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission, herein referred to as 
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the Board, to be composed of a Chairman and three (3) members, who shall be appointed by the 
President among the recommendees chosen from the list of nominees selected by the accredited 
association of Sanitary Inspectors, Provided, That the members of the First Board appointed 
shall be automatically registered as Sanitarians and issued with certificate of registration and 
professional license upon payment of the fees for registration and other fees prescribed by the 
commission. 
The Chairman and the members of the Board shall hold office for a term of term of three 
(3) years or until their successors shall have been appointed and shall have duly qualified. The 
first members of the Board shall hold office for the following terms: one member for one (1 year; 
one member for two (2) years; one member for three (30 years. Each member of the Board shall 
qualify upon taking the proper oath of office before entering the performance of his duties. 
Vacancies in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired term. 
SEC. 7. Powers and Duties of the Board. - The Board shall have the following powers 
and duties: 
(a) Promulgate, administer, and enforce d e s  and regulations necessary for carrying out 
the provisions of this Act in accordance with the charter of the Professional 
Regulation Commission; 
(b) Prepare a curriculum for the sanitation and hygiene degree to be officially known as 
the “Baclielor of Science in Sanitation and Hygiene” (BSSH) and prescribe the 
syllabi of the subjects and their relative weight in the licensure examination; 
(c) Prepare examination questions, and determine and fix the frequency, dates and places 
of examination, appoint supervisors, proctors and other personnel as needed who 
shall be entitled a daily allowance as determined by the Board; 
(d) Issue, suspend, or revoke certification of registration for the practice of sanitation and 
hygiene; 
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(e) Promulgate rules and regulations including a Code of Ethics, administrative policies, 
orders and issuances to carry out the provision of this Act; 
(f) Administer oaths in connection with the administrative of this Act; 
(8) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of professional 
sanitation in the Philippines; 
(h) Adopt an official seal of the Board; 
(i) Investigate the violations of this Act; and 
6) Discharge such other powers, duties, and functions as the Board may deem necessary 
for the practice of the sanitation and hygiene profession and upgrading, enhancement, 
development, and growth of sanitarians. 
SEC. 8. Qualifications of Chairman and Board Members. - The Chairman and each 
member of the Board must at the time of his appointment: 
(a) Be a Filipino citizen and resident of the Philippines for at least five (5) consecutive 
years; 
(b) Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity and high moral turpitude; 
(c) Not have been convicted by final judgment of any offense involving moral turpitude; 
(d) Be a holder of degree of Bachelor of Science in Sanitation and Hygiene (BSSH) form 
a university, school, college, academy, or institutions duly constituted, recognized, 
and accredited by the Philippine government: Provided, That this provision shall not 
apply within the first fifteen (15) years after the approval of this Act; 
(e) Be a registered Sanitarian with a valid Certificate of Registration and a valid license 
to practice sanitation and hygiene; 
(f) Have practiced sanitation and hygiene for a period of not less than ten (10) years prior 
to his appointment; and 
(8) Not be an official member of the faculty, nor have a pecuniary interest in any 
university, college, school, or institution conferring a bachelor’s degree in sanitation 
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and hygiene or its equivalent for at least three (3) years prior to his appointment, nor 
connected with any review center or with any group where lectures in preparation for 
the licensure examination are offered or conducted. 
SEC. 9. Removal of the Members of the Board. - The Chairman and any member of the 
Board may be removed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the 
Commissioner for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or 
dishonorable conduct, commission or tolerance of anomalies in the examination, after having 
been given the opportunity to defend himself in a proper administrative investigation. 
SEC. 10. Compensation of the Chairman and the Board Members. - The Chairman 
and the members of the Board shall receive compensation comparable to the compensation 
received by existing regulatory boards under the Professional Regulation Commission, computed 
in the basis of the number of examinees or candidates. 
SEC. 11. Supervision of the Board and Custodian of its Records. - The Commissioner 
shall be the executive officer of the Board and shall conduct the examination given by the Board. 
He shall designate any subordinate officer of the Commission to act as secretary and custodian of 
all records including all examination papers and minutes of the deliberations of the Board. 
ARTICLE III. 
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION 
SEC. 12. Examination, Registration and Licensed Required. - Except as otherwise 
specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as 
professional sanitarian shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be at least 
once a year in such places and on dates as the Board may determine upon approval by the 
Commission. A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the 
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Commission shall be required before any person is allowed to practice sanitation and hygiene in 
the Philippines except as otherwise allowed under this Act. 
SEC. 13. Ekaminatlon Fees. - All applicants for written examination for registered 
sanitary inspectors shall be subject to payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. 
SEC. 14. Scope of Examination. - The examination to be given to the applicants for 
licensure shall include the Code of Sanitation and its implementing rules and regulations together 
with topics on Arithmetic, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Bio-Statistics 
and Epidemology, Food and Milk Sanitation, Household and Industrial Hygiene, Waste 
Management, Environmental Health Planning, Pollution Assessment and Control, Occupational 
Health, Practical Problems and Others determined by the Board. 
SEC. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicants. - No applicant shall be admitted to 
take the examination unless, on the date of filing of the application, he shall have the established 
to the satisfaction of the members of the Board that he possesses the following qualifications: 
(a) A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has reciprocity with the 
Philippines in the practice of sanitation and hygiene; 
(b) At least twenty (20) years of age; 
(c) In good health and good reputation with high moral values; 
(d) Not finally convicted by final judgment by the court of any offense involving moral 
turpitude; and 
(e) A holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Sanitation and Hygiene (BSSH) 
from a university, college, school, academy or institution duly constituted, recognized 
and accredited by the Philippine government. Towards this end, all government 
universities and state colleges are encouraged to offer this course. 
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SEC. 16. Report of Results of Ekamination. - The Board shall, within one hundred 
twenty (120) days after the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the 
Commission. 
SEC. 17. Re-examination. - An applicant, who for the third time fails to pass the 
examination, shall not be allowed to take another examination, except upon showing to the 
members of the Board a certificate of attendance of review classes and a certificate of attendance 
of review classes and a certificate duly signed by the proctors that he obtained at least seventy 
percent (70%) passing mark of all the review examinations. 
SEC. 18. Oath. - All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take a 
professional oath before the Board. 
SEC. 19. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional Licenses. - The 
registration as a sanitarian shall commence from the date his name is entered in the roll of 
registrants or licenses for his profession. 
A professional license signed by the Commission and bearing the registration number and 
date of issuance and date of expiry shall be issued to every registrant who has paid the annual 
registration fees for three (3) consecutive years. This license shall serve as evidence that the 
license can lawfully practice his profession until the date of expiry. 
SEC. 20. Integration of Sanitary Profession. - The sanitary profession shall be 
integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board as the sole 
integrated and accredited association of registered sanitarian, Memberships in the integrated 
organization shall not be a bar to membership in other associations. 
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A professional sanitarian shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their 
membership in the said integrated and accredited organization only upon payment of the required 
fees and dues. 
SEC. 21. Revocation of the Certificate of Registration, Suspension from the Praetiee of 
the Sanitary Profession and Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit.- The Board shall 
have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the certification of any 
registrant, to reprimand or to cancel the temporarylspecial permit to a holder thereof who is 
exempt from registration, for any of the following causes: 
(a) Conviction for any criminal offense involving moral turpitude by any court of 
competent authority; 
(b) Immoral, unprofessional and dishonorable conduct; 
(c) Violation of any of the provisions of this Act, rules and regulations and other policies 
of the Board and the Code of Professional Ethics; 
(d) Declaration by a court of competent authority for being mentally unsound or insane; 
(e) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of drugs; and 
(f) Malpractice of the profession. 
The decision of the Board to revoke or suspend a certificate shall be final and executor 
unless appealed by the respondent to the Commission within fifteen (15) days from the receipt of 
such decision. The Board’s or Commission’s decision I appealable by the respondent to the 
regional trial court of the place where the Board or Commission holds office within twenty (200 
days from receipt of said decision or of the denial of the motion for reconsideration filed in due 
time. 
SEC. 22. Re-issuance of Revoked Certificates and Replacement of Lost Certiycate. - 
The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission, may after one (1) year after revocation of 
the Certificate of Registration may re-issue such certificate on the same manner as application 
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for an original one. It, however, may exempt the applicant from the necessity of undergoing an 
examination. 
A new certificate of registration may be issued to replace any certificate that jas been lost 
destroyed, mutilated, subject to the rules issued by the Board. 
SEC. 23. Roster of Professional Sanitarians. - A roster of professional sanitarians 
containing the names and addresses of the professional sanitarian, date of registration or issuance 
of certificate and other date which in the opinion of the Board is pertinent shall be maintained. 
Copies of the roster shall be provided by the Commission to the Board, the Department of 
Education, and the integrated and accredited organization o f  professional sanitarians. 
ARTICLE IV. 
PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE SANITARY PROFESSION 
SEC. 24. Field of Practice.- The filed of practice for sanitarian shall include the sole 
authority to sign and seal sanitary plans, etc. and to practice sanitation and hygiene in its full 
scope as defined in Article I of this Act. 
SEC. 25. Prohibition Against the Practice of the Sanitarian and Hygiene Profession. - 
Except as otherwise allowed under this Act, no person shall practice or offer to practice the 
Sanitation and Hygiene Profession in the Philippines without having previously obtained a valid 
certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the Commission. 
SEC. 26. Personnel Required. - Except as otherwise provided in this Act, every 
industrial plant or factory, commercial establishment or any government institution which shall 
require the services of a sanitarian, a duly registered sanitarian shall be employed for the purpose 
to ensure safe operation and safeguard public welfare, health and hygiene. 
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SEC. 27. Enforcement of the Act by Officers of the Law. - It shall be the duty of all 
constituted officers of the law of the national government, or any provincial, city or municipal 
government to prosecute any person violating the provisions of this Act. The Secretary of Justice 
or his assistant shall act as legal adviser of the Board and render such legal assistance as may be 
necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 28. Penally Clause. - Any person who shall violate any provisions of this Act shall 
be guilty of misdemeanor and shall upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not more than One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) but not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) 
and/or imprisonment for a period of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (Pl0,OOO.OO) and/or 
imprisonment for a period of not less than thirty (30) days but not more than two (2) years at the 
discretion of the court. 
SEC. 29. Appropriations. - The sum of Ten Million Pesos (P10, 000,000.00) is hereby 
initially appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to be 
disbursed by the Chairman of the Board in accordance with provisions of this Act. Thereafter, it 
shall be in the General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 30. 
Implementing Guidelines. - The Board shall formulate and adopt the 
necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act within ninety 
(90) days of its approval. 
SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, and other regulations 
pertaining to the examination for sanitarians are deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 32. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
invalid, the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
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SEC. 33. Effectivity CZause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
full publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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