FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
.JUL 2"1 
P 4 :02 
SEN1757 
S. No. __ -'--
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IU,CEM,!) BY . (~-. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Recent studies in the United States show that health disparities are a function of 
not only access to health care, but also the social determinants of health, including the 
environment, the physical structure of communities, nutrition and food options, 
educational attainment, employment, race, ethnicity, geography, and language preference 
that directly and indirectly affect the health, health care, and wellness of individuals and 
communities. 
This bill l authorizes the Secretary of Health, at the request of a broad-based 
community partnership, to designate a community that experiences disproportionate 
disparities in health status and health care as a health empowerment zone. It also requires 
officials to give priority in awarding competitive grants to grants used in or benefiting a 
health empowerment zone. Further, the bill directs the Health Secretary to provide: 
(1) Technical assistance (or grants) to entities seeking to form a community 
partnership or obtain a health empowerment zone designation for a 
community; and 
(2) Grants to community partnerships for implementation of the strategic plan for 
a health empowerment zone. 
~'-
4¥.~,~ ~r;t'~ 
MIRIAM DEF~SOR SANTI¥'U 
W 
1 This bill was originally filed in the third regular session of the 14th Congress" 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 .lUl21 P4:02 
\ Iv 
IU:'CEIVED BY' .~._ •.• 
. j 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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TO AUTHORIZE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO DESIGNATE 
HEALTH EMPOWERMENT ZONES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Health Empowerment 
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Zone Act." 
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SEC. 2. Designation of Health Empowerment Zones. -
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(A) In General. - At the request of an eligible community partnership, the 
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Secretary of the Department of Health (here called the "Secretary") may 
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designate an eligible area as a health empowerment zone. 
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(B) Eligibility Criteria. -
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(1) Eligible Community Partnership. -
A community partnership IS 
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eligible to submit a request ifthe partnership: 
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(a) demonstrates widespread public support from key individuals 
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and entities in the eligible area, including State and local 
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governments, nonprofit organizations, and community and 
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industry leaders, for designation of the eligible area as a health 
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empowerment zone; and 
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(b) includes representatives of: 
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(i) a broad cross section of stakeholders and residents from 
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communities 
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the 
eligible 
area 
experiencing 
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disproportionate disparities in health status and health 
care; and 
(ii) organizations, facilities, and institutions that have a 
history 
of working 
within 
and 
servmg 
such 
communities. 
(2) Eligible Area. - An area is eligible to be designated as a health 
empowerment zone if one or more communities in the area experience 
disproportionate disparities in health status and health care. In 
determining whether a community experiences such disparities, the 
Secretary shall consider the data collected on the following areas: 
(a) Access to high-quality health services. 
(b) Arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic back conditions. 
(c) Cancer. 
(d) Chronic kidney disease. 
(e) Diabetes. 
(f) Injury and violence prevention. 
(g) Maternal, infant, and child health. 
(h) Medical product safety. 
(i) Mental health and mental disorders. 
(j) Nutrition and overweight. 
(k) Disability and secondary conditions. 
(I) Educational and community-based health programs. 
(m) Environmental health. 
(n) Family planning. 
(0) Food safety. 
(p) Health communication. 
(q) Health disease and stroke. 
(r) HIV/AIDS. 
(s) Immunization and infectious diseases. 
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(t) Occupational safety and health. 
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(u) Oral health. 
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(v) Physical activity and fitness. 
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(w) Public health infrastructure. 
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(x) Respiratory diseases. 
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(y) Sexually transmitted diseases. 
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(z) Substance abuse. 
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(aa)Tobacco use. 
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(bb) Vision and hearing. 
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(C) Procedure. -
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(I) Request. - A request under subsection (A) shall: 
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(a) describe the bounds of the area to be designated as a health 
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empowerment zone and the process used to select those 
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bounds; 
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(b) demonstrate that the partnership sUbmitting the request is an 
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eligible community partnership described in subsection (B)(l); 
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(c) demonstrate that the area is an eligible area described in 
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subsection (B)(2); 
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(d) include a comprehensive assessment of disparities in health 
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status and health care experience by one or more communities 
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in the area; 
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( e) set forth: 
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(i) a vision and a set of values for the area; and 
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(ii) a comprehensive and holistic set of goals to be achieved 
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in 
the 
area 
through 
designation 
as 
a 
health 
empowerment zone; and 
(t) include a strategic plan for achieving the goals described in 
subparagraph (e )(ii). 
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(2) Approval. - Not later than 60 days after the receipt of a reqnest for 
designation of an area as a health empowennent zone, the Secretary 
shall approve or disapprove the request. 
(D) Minimum Number. - The Secretary shall: 
(1) Designate not more than 110 health empowennent zones; and 
(2) Designate at least one health empowennent zone in each of the 
provinces in the country. 
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SEC. 3. Assistance to Those Seeking Designation. -
At the request of any 
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organization or entity seeking to submit a request, the Secretary shall provide technical 
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assistance, and may award a grant, to assist such organization or entity to: 
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(A) Form an eligible community partnership; 
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(B) Complete a health assessment, including an assessment of health disparities; 
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or 
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(C) Prepare and submit a request, including a strategic plan. 
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SEC. 4. Benefits of Designation. -
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(A) Priority. - In awarding any competitive grant, priority shall be given to any 
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applicant that: 
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(I) Meets the eligibility criteria for the grant; 
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(2) Proposes to use the grant for activities in a health empowennent zone; 
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and 
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(3) Demonstrates that such activities will directly and significantly further 
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the goals ofthe strategic plan approved for such zone. 
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(B) Grants for Initial Implementation of Strategic Plan. -
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(1) In General. -
Upon designating an eligible area as a health 
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empowerment zone at the request of an eligible community 
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partnership, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of 
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appropriations, make a grant· to the community partnership for 
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implementation ofthe strategic plan for such zone. 
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(2) Grant Period. -
A grant under paragraph (1) for a health 
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empowerment zone shall be for a period of two years and may be 
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renewed, except that the total period of grants under paragraph (1) for 
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such zone may not exceed ten years. 
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(3) Limitation. - In awarding grants, the Secretary shall not gIve less 
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priority to an applicant or reduce the amount of a grant because the 
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Secretary rendered technical assistance or made a grant to the same 
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applicant. 
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(4) Reporting. - The Secretary shall require each recipient of a grant to 
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report to the Secretary not less than every six months on the progress 
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in implementing the strategic plan for the health empowerment zone. 
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SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The funds needed for the initial implementation of this 
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Act shaH b~ charged against the appropriations of the Department of Health. Thereafter, 
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such amount as may be necessary for its full implementation shall be included in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and separate item. 
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SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and SUbsisting. 
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SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation coutrary to, or 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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