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Republic of the Philippines <p.
House of Representatives

Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.___6213__

Introduced by ALFELITO “ALFEL” M. BASCUG, Representative,
187 Legislative District of Agusan del Sur.

“AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF HAND
SANITIZER DISPENSERS IN ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS,
AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND
GOVERNMENT OFFICES NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”

Explanatory Note

Health consciousness is the key.

The nationwide panic relating to the 2019 Novel Corona Virus had fueled
the interest of this legislation to promote consciousness among the citizenry to
at least fight this pandemic disease in the modest but effective way. This
problem is serious—in fact, the World Health Organization declares this 2019
n-CoV as a public health emergency of international concern.

Towards this end, the mandatory installation of hand sanitizer dispensers
is a key factor in promoting health consciousness among the public. It is
indubitable that sanitation keeps away the possibility of contacting bacteria and
viruses. According to the Department of Health, we must still stick to the basic—
practicing a good hand hygiene helps prevents the contamination of bacteria
and viruses. While indeed hand washing is still the best and more effective than
any single vaccine when it comes to preventing diseases, we all know that hand
washing isn't always convenient.


Aresearch' from Spain found that children who cleaned their hands with
sanitizer instead of soap and water reduced their missed days of school,
respiratory infections, and antibiotic prescriptions. Researchers studied a total
of 911 children up to age 3 who attended daycare for eight months. The kids,
their families, and their daycare staff were split into three groups: one group
used hand sanitizer to clean hands and one used soap and water. Both of these
groups were given strict rules about hygiene. The third group followed its usual
hand-washing routines. After the study period, they found that the hand sanitizer
group missed 3.25% of days of daycare while the soap and water group missed
3.9% of the days. The third group had the greatest number of missed school
days at 4.2%. While the numbers are close to each other, researchers also
found that those who used soap and water had a 21% higher risk of contracting
a respiratory infection like runny noses, coughing, and sore throat. They also
had a 31% higher risk of being prescribed antibiotics to treat these infections.
On the other hand, the hand sanitizer group reduced contracting respiratory
infections by 23%, compared with the third group who were permitted to do their
usual hand washing routines.? Hence, this supports the notion that you can
reduce the spread of respiratory tract infections in really young kids if you use
alcohol hand sanitizer.

In sum, this initiative is not only formulated to pose the harmful effects of
the present dilemma of 2019 n-CoV controversy but somehow this envisioned
a preventive measure to bar diseases alike. It has always been a mediocre
solution but we could not just sleep and binge-watch this on-going international
concern- Prevention is always better than cure.

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

ALFELITO M. cashes

' American Academy of Pediatrics (2018). Effectiveness of a Hand Hygiene Program at Child Care Centers: A
Cluster Randomized Trial. Retrieved on January 27, «= 2020-—from
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/5/e20181245

2 Smart Parenting Philippines. (2018).

2


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Batasan Complex, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. ae

Introduced by ALFELITO “ALFEL” M. BASCUG, Representative,
1ST Legislative District of Agusan del Sur.

“AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY INSTALLATION OF HAND
SANITIZER DISPENSERS IN ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS,
AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS AND.
GOVERNMENT OFFICES NATIONWIDE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR”

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 “Hand Sanitation Act
of 2020”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. \t is hereby declared a policy of the State
under Art.2, Sec. 15 of the 1987 Constitution to protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Hence, it is
incumbent upon the State to at least combat harmful possibilities of bacterial
and viral complications by promoting proper hand hygiene in public-dominated
areas.

SECTION 3. Installation of Hand Sanitizers. \nstallation of hand sanitizers
shall be mandatory in all public transport terminals, airports, seaports,
commercial establishments and all government offices. These hand sanitizer
dispensers shall be made available to the public for free and shall be filled up
with alcohol or any anti-bacterial solution as may be necessary and needed. It

3


shall also be installed in conspicuous places or designated areas of the subject
institution's building premises.

SECTION 4. Coverage. Public transport terminals, airports, seaports,
commercial establishments and all government offices nationwide are subject
institutions covered by this Act.

SECTION 5. Compliance. All public transport terminals, airports, seaports,
commercial establishments and all government offices nationwide shall comply
with the mandatory installation of hand sanitizer dispensers in their respective
premises. Non-compliance of the provisions herewith set forth shall be dealt
with the proper measures as sanctioned by the implementing agency.

SECTION 6. Implementing Agency. The Department of Health in coordination
with the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of
Transportation shall be the lead implementing agency to carry out the provisions
of this Act. Furthermore, the Department of Health shall strictly monitor the
compliance of subject institutions covered for the proper implementation of this
Act.

SECTION 6. Appropriation. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to
other person or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, letters of instructions,
executive orders and rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof
in consistent or in conflict with any provision of this Act.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,