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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL -8 PS:21 
SENATE 
S:No. i654 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the World Health Organization, diseases were detennined as major causes of 
morbidity. Few years ago, it has been reported that sixty percent (60%) of all deaths in the 
Philippines are due to chronic diseases. 
However, studies show that the burden of diseases as major causes of death has diminished due 
to improved health technology and health care delivery systems. But then again, much still needs 
to be done to better reduce the occurrence of illnesses through the application of health measures . 
which could prevent widespread diseases. J In this light, an effective and feasible intervention 
from the govennnent that aims to address health problems in the country is auspiciously 
significant. 
This bill proposes for the establishment of the National Registry of Diseases which will provide 
a compilation of infonnation on the incidence of certain diseases. This compilation will serve as 
a basis for the direction of programs for disease prevention and control. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ILLANESIV 
Senator 
1 Elio-Villa, Luuingning. 2006. Exploring Fresh Collaborative Initiatives for Combating Infectious Disease in the 
Philippines. Tropical Medicine and Health. The Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine. Vol. 34, No.4. Data 
retrieved at http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/articieltmhJ34/41153/ pdf on July 7,2008 
1 


. 
\ 
\ 
,Sl!'mdi' 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUL -8 P5 :21 
c 
SENATE 
S.No. 654 
RECEI\ ) BV:-f- ' 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillamrs' IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF DISEASES AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
ARTICLE I 
2 
TITLE 
3 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Registry of Diseases 
4 
Act". 
5 
6 
SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following tenns shall have the 
I 
7 
following definitions: ' 
. 8 
a. 
"agent of the Registry" means any public officer or employee of any statutory body 
9 
who is appointed by the Secretary under Section 3 (3) to be an agent of the 
10 
Registry; 
11 
b. 
"anonymized", when used to describe infonnation pertaining to an individual, 
12 
means that the identity of that individual has been concealed or protected, whether 
13 
by presenting such infonnation ina statistical fonn or otherwise, such that it cannot 
14 
be readily discovered or ascertained from that infonnation; 
1 
.& 
A 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
c. 
d. 
e. 
f. 
g. 
h. 
i. 
"authorized Registry officer" means any Registry officer who is duly authorized by 
Ithe Registrar in writing to carry out any particular function or to exercise any 
!particular power under this Act; 
"disclose", in relation to any information held by the Registry, includes to grant to 
any person access to such information; 
"disease" means any physical or mental ailment, disorder, defect or morbid 
condition (whether of sudden onset or gradual development), or the recurrence of 
any such ailment, disorder, defect or morbid condition; 
"healthcare institution" means -
1. any licensed private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or 
healthcare establishment; or 
ii. any facility, premises or conveyance which is declared to be a 
healthcare institution for the purposes ofthis Act; 
"individually-identifiable", when used to describe information pertaining to an 
individual, means that the identity of that individual can be readily discovered or 
ascertained from that information; 
"investigation officer" means any public officer who is appointed under Section 13 
to be an investigation officer for the purposes of this Act; 
"manager", in relation to a healthcare institution, means the person having the 
management or control ofthe healthcare institution; 
j. 
"medical practitioner" means a registered medical practitioner and who holds a 
! I valid practising certificate; 
k. 
"register" means a register kept and maintained by the Registrar under Section 5; 
1. 
"Registrar" means the person appointed by the Secretary under Section 3 to be the 
Registrar of the Registry and includes a Deputy Registrar and an Assistant 
Registrar; 
m. 
"Registry" means the National Registry of Diseases established under Section 4; 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
n. 
"Registry 'Officer" means any persQn whQ IS aPPQinted by the Secretary under 
SectiQn 3 tQ be an Qtlicer 'Of the Registry; 
Q. 
"regulatiQns" means regulatiQns made under SectiQn 19; 
p. 
"repQrtable disease" means a repQrt 'On the incidence 'Of certain disease; 
q. 
"requisite cQnsent", fQr the purpQses ofSectiQn 11 'Or 12, means-
i. 
the cQnsent, given in the prescribed fQrm and manner, 'Of the 
persQn whQse individually-identifiable infQrmatiQn is tQ be disclQsed under that 
sectiQn; 'Or 
ii. 
where the person referred tQ in paragraph (i) is unable to give his 
'Own CQnsent because 'Of his age, infirmity of mind or bQdy 'Or any 'Other cause, the 
cQnsent, given in the prescribed fQrm and manner, 'Of such 'Other perSQn whQ is 
authQrized by the regulatiQns tQ give such CQnsent for and on his behalf. 
r. 
I "Secretary" means the Secretary ofthe Department of Health; 
s. I fQrpurposes 'Of SectiQn 16, -
i. "bQdy cQrpQrate" includes a limited liability partnership; 
ii. "Qtlicer" -
(a) in relation to a body corpQrate, means any director, partner, 
member of the committee of management, chief executive, manager, 
secretary or other similar officer of the body cQrporate and includes any 
person purporting to 'act in any such capacity; 'Or 
(b) in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a 
partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the 
committee of the unincorporated association, or any person hQlding a 
position analogQns tQ that 'Of president, secretary 'Or member 'Of a 
committee and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; 
iii. "partner" includes a perSQn purporting to act as a partner. 
3 


1 
ARTICLE II 
2 
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF DISEASES 
3 
SEC. 3. Appointment of Registrar. -
4 
(1) 
The Secretary shall appoint a Registrar who shall be responsible for the 
5 
administrati6n ofthe Registry. 
! 
6 
(2) The Secretary may appoint -
7 
(a) a Deputy Registrar; 
8 
(b) one or more Assistant Registrars; and 
9 
(c) such other Registry officers as he may consider necessary, to assist the 
10 
Registrar in the administration of the Registry. 
11 
(3) The Secretary may appoint any public officer or employee of any statutory body to 
12 
be an agent of the Registry to assist in the collection and collation of any information under this 
13 
Act, subject to such conditions and limitations as the Secretary may specify. 
14 
(4) The Registrar, Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrars, Registry officers and agents of 
15 
the Registry shall be deemed to be public servants. 
16 
17 
SEC. 4. National Registry of Diseases. - There shall be a National Registry of Diseases, 
18 
the functions of which are -
19 
(a) to collect information on reportable diseases that have been diagnosed and treated in 
20 
the country; 
21 
(b) to establish, keep and maintain for each reportable disease a register containing 
22 
individually-identifiable information obtained under this Act; 
23 
(c) to compile and publish statistics on the epidemiology, management and outcomes of 
24 
reportable diseases; 
I 
25 
(d) ~o provide information for the purpose of supporting -
26 
(i) health services that are being provided by healthcare institutions to the patients 
27 
thereof who are suffering from any reportable disease; and 
4 


1 
(ii) national public health policies, initiatives, programs and related studies 
2 
concerning any reportable disease; and 
3 
( e) generally to do all such acts, matters and things as are necessary to be carried 
4 
out under this Act. 
5 
6 
SEC. 5. Registers. -
7 
(1) 
The Registrar shall keep and maintain for each reportable disease a register 
8 
containing individually-identifiable information of each person who is diagnosed with and 
9 
treated for that disease in the country. 
10 
(2) 
The registers kept and maintained under subsection (l) shall not be open for 
11 
inspection by the public. 
12 
13 
ARTICLE III 
14 
NOTIFICATION OF REPORTABLE DISEASES 
15 
SEC. 6. Duty to Notify Registrar of Reportable Diseases. -
16 
(1) IWhere a person is diagnosed with or undergoes treatment for a reportable disease at 
17 
a healthcarel institution, the manager of the healthcare institution shall, in such form and within 
18 
such time as may be prescribed, notify the Registrar of that fact. 
19 
(2) Any manager of a healthcare institution who -
20 
(a) without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the requirements of subsection 
21 
(1); or 
22 
(b) in compliance or purported compliance with subsection (1), furnishes as true 
23 
information which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, shall be 
24 
guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 
25 
Eighty Thousand Pesos (P80,OOO.OO). 
5 


1 
(3) A certificate under the hand of the Registrar stating that a notification required under 
2 
subsection (1) has not been furnished or is incorrect shall be prima facie evidence of the facts 
3 
stated in the certificate. 
4 
SEC. 7. Collection of Information.-
5 
(1) Upon a notification being made to the Registrar under Sectioll 6, the Registrar or an 
6 
authorized Registry officer may require the manager of the healthcare institution who made the 
I 
7 
notification to provide such additional information as may be prescribe~ concerning the person 
\ 
8 
to whom the notification relates. 
9 
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the Registrar or authorized Registry officer may 
10 
require the manager of the healthcare institution -
11 
(a) to furnish the prescribed additional information to any Registry officer or 
12 
agent of the Registry; or 
13 
(b) to produce to the Registrar or any Registry officer or agent of the Registry for 
14 
inspection any medical record, book or document which contains or may contain the 
15 
prescribed additional information. 
16 
(3) Any manager of a healthcare institution who -
17 
(a) without reasonable .excuse, fails to comply with the requirement of the 
18 
Registrar or an authorized Registry officer under this section; or 
19 
(b) in compliance or purported compliance with this section, furnishes as true 
20 
information which he knows or has reason to believe to be false, shall be guilty of an 
21 
offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Eighty Thousand Pesos 
22 
(P80,OOO.OO). 
23 
(4) A certificate under the hand of the Registrar stating that the additional information 
24 
required under subsection (1) has not been furnished or is incorrect shall be prima facie evidence 
25 
of the facts stated in the certificate. 
26 
6 


1 
ARTICLE IV 
2 
CONFIDENTIALITY AND DISCLOSURE 
3 
SEC. 8. Confidentiality. -
4 
(1) Except in the case of a prosecution for an offence under this Act, the Registrar, a 
5 
Registry officer, an agent of the Registry or any other person who acts under the direction of the 
6 
Secretary or Registrar for any purpose related to the Registry shall not be compellable in any 
7 
proceedings to give evidence in respect of, or to produce any document containing, any 
8 
individually-identifiable information which has been obtained under this Act. 
9 
(2) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Registrar, a Registry officer, an agent 
10 
of the Registry or any other person who acts under the direction of the Secretary or Registrar for 
11 
any purpose related to the Registry shall not disclose the contents of any register or any 
12 
individually-identifiable information which may have come to his knowledge in the course of 
13 
performing any duty or function under this Act or carrying out any act in relation to the Registry. 
14 
(3) Any person who fails to comply with subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and 
15 
shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Four Hundred Thousand Pesos 
16 
(P400,OOO.OO) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve (12) months or to both. 
17 
18 
SEC. 9. Disclosure and Publication of Anonymi'Zed Information. -
19 
(1) The Registrar-
I 
20 
(a) may, on a request by any person and-
21 
(i) upon payment by such person of the prescribed fee; and 
22 
(ii) subject to such conditions as the Registrar may impose; and 
23 
(b) shall, on a request by the Secretary, disclose or publish any information held by the 
24 
Registry in an anonymized form. 
25 
(2) Any person who fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (1) shall be 
26 
guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Two Hundred 
7 


1 
Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO.OO) or to imprisonment for a tenn not exceeding six (6) months or to 
2 
both. 
3 
4 
SEC. 10. National Public Health Programs. -
5 
(1) 
The Registrar may, with the approval of the Secretary, disclose individuaIly-
6 
identifiable infonnation held by the Registry to any public officer or any other person for the 
7 
purpose of conducting national public health programs concerning any reportable disease. 
8 
(2) 
In determining whether to approve such disclosure under subsection (1), the 
9 
Secretary shall, subject to subsection (3), have regard to -
10 
(a) the aims and objectives of the national public health program, including any 
11 
publiF health benefits to the country; 
12 
(b) the identity of the public officers or persons involved in the program to whom 
13 
the individually-identifiable infonnation held by the Registry will be disclosed; 
14 
(c) the use to which the individually-identifiable infonnation will or may be put; 
15 
and 
16 
(d) the measures that will be put in place under the national public health program 
17 
to protect the individually-identifiable infonnation from unauthorized disclosure. 
18 
(3) The Secretary shall not approve any disclosure under subsection (1) unless he is 
19 
satisfied that the national public health program cannot be carried out with anonymized 
20 
infonnation. 
21 
(4) The Secretary may, when granting approval under subsection (1), impose such 
22 
conditions as he considers necessary with respect to -
23 
(a) the identities of the public officers or persons, or class of public officers or 
24 
persons who are authorized to receive or handle the individually-identifiable infonnation; 
25 
(b) the use to which the individually-identifiable infortnation is to or may be put; 
26 
and 
8 


1 
(c) the measures that must be put in place under the national public health 
2 
progrlllll to protect the individually-identifiable information from unauthorized 
3 
discl@sure. 
4 
(5) 
The Secretary may, at any time, vary or revoke any of the existing conditions 
5 
imposed under subsection (4) or impose new conditions. 
6 
(6) The Secretary may, at any time, revoke the approval given under subsection (1). 
7 
(7) Any person who fails to comply with any condition imposed under subsection (4) Qr 
8 
any new condition imposed under subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable 
9 
on conviction to a fine not exceeding Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (P400,OOO.OO) or to 
10 
imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve (12) months or to both. 
11 
12 
SEC. 11. Medical Treatment. - The Registrar may, if he thinks fit, disclose to a medical 
13 
practitioner any indiVidually-identifiable information of a medical nature held by the Registry 
14 
concerning a person suffering from a reportable disease if the Registrar is satisfied that-
15 
(a) the medical practitioner is responsible for the treatment and care of that person; 
16 
(b) the disclosure is necessary for the proper treatment of that person; and 
17 
(c) the requisite consent has been given for such disclosure. 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
SEC. 12. Disclosure of Individually-Identifiable Information for Public Health 
Research.-
(1) A person, referred to in this section as the researcher, who requires any individually-
I 
identifiable I information held by the Registry for the purpose of CarrYing out any medical, 
epidemiological or other form of public health research concerning any reportable disease may 
apply to the Registrar in the prescribed form for the disclosure of such information. 
(2) The Registrar may, subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose and upon the 
payment by the researcher of such fees as may be prescribed, disclose to the researcher such 
individually-identifiable information if the Registrar is satisfied that -
9 


1 
(a) the research cmmot be carried out with anonymized infonnation; 
2 
(b) the requisite consent has been given for such individually-identifiable 
3 
infonnation to be disclosed to the researcher for the pmpose ofthe research; 
4 
( c) the research may -
5 
(i) improve the quality of health services provided for patients suffering 
6 
from any reportable disease in the country; or 
7 
(ii) support any national public health policy, initiative or progr81l1 
8 
concerning any reportable disease; and 
9 
(d) the researcher and the research comply with such conditions as may have been 
10 
prescribed. 
11 
(3) A researcher to whom the individuallY-identifiable infonnation of any person has 
12 
been disclosed under subsection (2) shall not-
13 
I (a) use such individually-identifiable information for any pmpose other than the 
14 
pmp?se approved by the Registrar; or 
15 
(b) disclose the n81l1e or any other individually-identifiable information of that 
16 
person unless the requisite consent has been given for the disclosure. 
17 
(4) A researcher to whom the individually-identifiable information of any person has 
18 
been disclosed under subsection (2) shall not disclose-
19 
(a) the n81l1e or any other information leading to the identification of the 
20 
healthcare institution in which that person has been diagnosed with, or has been or is 
21 
being examined or treated for, a reportable disease unless the manager of that healthcare 
22 
institution has given his consent for the disclosure in the prescribed form and manner; or 
23 
(b) the n81l1e or any other information leading to the identification of the person 
24 
who provided the individually-identifiable information to the Registrar under this Act, 
25 
unless that person has given his consent for the disclosure in the prescribed form and 
26 
manner. 
10 


1 
(5) Before making any decision on an application nnder subsection (2), the Registrar 
2 
may refer the application to a national research advisory committee comprising not less than 3 
3 
and not more than five (5) members appointed by the Secretary and, in making his decision, the 
4 
Registrar shall have regard to any report made to him by the national research advisory 
5 
committee. I 
6 
(6) kere a researcher to whom any individually-identifiable information of any person 
7 
has been disclosed nnder subsection (2) contravenes subsection (3) or (4) or any condition 
8 
imposed under subsection (2), he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to 
9 
a fine not exceeding Four Hnndred Thousand Pesos (P400,OOO.OO) or to imprisonment for a term 
10 
not exceeding twelve (12) months or to both. 
11 
12 
ARTICLE V 
13 
ENFORCEMENT POWERS 
14 
SEC. 13. Appointment of Investigation Officers. -
15 
(1) The Secretary may, in writing, appoint any public officer to be an investigation 
16 
officer for the purpose of conducting an investigation into any offence nnder this Act. 
17 
(2) Every investigation officer, when exercising any of his powers nnder this Act, shall, 
18 
if not in nniform, declare his office and shall, on demand, produce to any person affected by the 
19 
exercise of that power such identification card as the Secretary may direct to be carried by the 
20 
investigation officer when exercising such power. 
21 
22 
SEC. 14. Powers of Entry, Inspection, Search, and Seizure. -
23 
(1) An investigation officer shall, for the purposes of investigating any offence under 
24 
this Act, have power to do any or all of the following: 
, 
25 
(a) to enter, inspect and search, without warrant at any reasonable time, any place 
26 
which he has reason to believe contains evidence relating to or connected with an offence 
27 
under this Act; 
11 


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2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
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15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
(b) for the purposes of paragraph (a)-
(i) to inspect and make copies of and take extracts from, or require tlie 
occupier or any person having the management or control of any place mentioned 
in that paragraph to provide copies of or extracts from, any book, document, 
record or electronic material; 
(ii) to inspect and make copies of and take extracts from, or require the 
occupier or any person having the management or control of any place mentioned 
in that paragraph to provide copies of or extracts from, any medical record of any 
person who has been or who is being treated or examined at that place, 
notwithstanding that the prior consent of such person has not been obtained; 
(iii) to seize and remove from any place mentioned in that paragraph any 
book, record, document, material, article or thing which the investigation officer 
reasonably believes to be the subject-matter of, or to be connected with the 
commission of, an offence under this Act; and 
(iv) to make such examination or inquiry as may be necessary to ascertain 
whether the provisions of this Act have been complied with; 
( c) to require any person, by way of an order in writing, to produce any book, 
document, record, electronic material, article or thing that the investigation officer 
considers is necessary or desirable for the purposes of an investigation under this Act. 
(2) The occupier or any person having the management and control of, or who is found 
any place mentioned in subsection (1) (a) shall render all necessary assistance and co-
22 
operation to the investigation officer as are necessary for an entry, inspection, examination, 
21 
in, 
23 
inquiry or otherwise for the exercise of his powers under this Act in relation to that place. 
24 
(3) Any person who -
25 
(a) obstructs, hinders or impedes an investigation officer in the exercise of his 
26 
power under this section; or 
I2 


1 
(b) fails to comply with any order or requirement of an investigation officer under 
2 
this section or to produce any book, document, record, electronic material, article or thing 
3 
which he is required by Of under this Act to produce to an investigation officer, shall be 
4 
guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Two 
5 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO.OO) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six 
6 
(6) months or to both. 
7 
SEC. 15. Powers to Examine and Secure Attendance. -
8 
(1) An investigation officer may -
9 
i (a) examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and 
10 
circumstances of any offence or matter under this Act, and to reduce to writing any 
11 
statement made by the person so examined; and 
12 
(b) require by order in writing the attendance before himself of any person, being 
13 
within the limits of the country, who, from information given or otherwise, appears to be 
14 
acquainted with the facts and circumstances of any offence or matter under this Act and 
15 
that person shall attend as so required. 
16 
(2) The person referred to in subsection (1) (a) shall be bound to state truly the facts and 
17 
circumstances with which he is acquainted conceming any offence or matter under this Act, 
18 
except only that he may decline to make, with regard to any fact or circumstance, a statement 
19 
which would have a tendency to expose him to a criminal charge, penalty or forfeiture. 
20 
(3) A statement made under this section by any person shall be read over to him and 
21 
shall, after correction, if necessary, be signed by him. 
22 
(4) If any person fails to attend as required by an order under subsection (1) (b), the 
23 
investigation officer may report such failure to a Magistrate who may thereupon issue a warrant 
24 
to secure the attendance ofthat person as required by the order. 
25 
26 
ARTICLE VI 
13 


1 
MISCELLANEOUS 
2 
SEC. 16. Offences by Bodies Corporate. -
3 
(1) Where lUl offence under this Act committed by a body corporate is proved-
4 
(a) to have been committed with the consent Of connivance of,an officer; or 
5 
(b) to be attributable to any neglect on his part, the officer as well as the body 
6 
corporate shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and 
7 
punished accordingly. 
8 
(2) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) 
9 
shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of 
10 
management as ifhe were a director of the body corporate. 
11 
(3) Where an offence under this Act committed by a partnership is proved-
12 
(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner; or 
13 
(b) to be attributable to any neglect on his part, the partner as well as the 
14 
partnership shall be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and 
15 
punished accordingly. 
16 
(4) Where an offence under this Act cgmmitted by an unincorporated association other 
17 
than a partnership is proved -
18 
(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer of the 
19 
uninborporated association or a member of its governing body; or 
20 
(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of such officer or member, the 
21 
officer or member as well as the unincorporated association shall be guilty of the offence 
22 
and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
23 
24 
SEC. 17. Protection from Liability. -
25 
(1) 
No action, suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against the government or 
26 
personally against the Secretary, the Registrar, a Registry officer, an agent of the Registry, an 
14 


1 
investigation officer or any other person for anything which is done or omitted to be done in 
2 
good faith in the course of or in connection with-
3 
(a) the exercise or purported exercise of any power under this Act; 
4 
(b) the performance or purported performance of any function or the discharge or 
5 
purported discharge of any duty under this Act; or 
6 
( c) the compliance or purported compliance with this Act. 
7 
. (2) 
A person who makes a notification to the Registrar under Section 6 or who 
8 
otherwise makes available to the Registrar, a Registry officer, an agent of the Registry or an 
9 
investigation officer any document or other information for the purpose of complying with the 
10 
requirements of this Act, shall not, by virtue of doing so -
I 
11 
(a) be liable to any suit or other legal proceedings for breal)h of confidence; or 
12 
(b) be held in any proceedings before any court or tribunal or in any other respect 
13 
to have breached any code of professional etiquette or ethics, or to have departed from 
14 
any accepted form of professional conduct 
15 
(3) Where pursuant to this Act the Registrar discloses to any person any information that 
16 
is held by the Registry, neither the Registrar nor any Registry officer involved in the disclosure 
17 
of such information shall be liable for any loss or damage suffered by that person or by any other 
18 
person by reason of any error or omission of whatever nature appearing in the information 
19 
disclosed Of however caused if the error or omission was made in good faith and in the ordinary 
20 
course of the discharge of the duties of the Registrar or Registry officer. 
21 
22 
SEC. 18. Obstructing Registrar and Registry Officer in Execution of Duty. -
Any 
23 
person who obstmcts, hinders or impedes the Registrar, a Registry officer or an agent of the 
24 
Registry in the performance or execution of his duty or anything which he is authorized, 
25 
empowered or required to do under this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on 
26 
conviction to a fine not exceeding Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,OOO.OO) or to 
27 
imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or to both. 
15 


1 
2 
SECj 19. Regulations.-
3 
(1) the Department may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions 
4 
of this Act. 
5 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (I), the Department may make 
6 
regulations with respect to any or all of the following matters: 
7 
(a) the circumstances under which, and the manner m which, individually-
8 
identifiable information held by the Registry may be anonymized for the purposes of 
9 
disclosure and publication under Section 9; 
10 
(b) the circumstances under and the manner in which persons whose individually-
11 
identifiable information is held by the Registry or the next-of kin of such persons may be 
12 
contacted for the purposes of any national public health program referred to in Section 
13 
10; 
14 
(c) the circumstances under and the manner in which individually-identifiable 
15 
information held by the Registry may be disclosed for the purposes of any medical, 
16 
epidemiological or other form of public health research referred to in Section 12; 
17 
(d) the circumstances under and the manner in which a person may obtain 
18 
certified extracts of individually-identifiable information relating to himself; 
19 
( e) the forms to be used for the purposes of this Act; 
20 
(t) the fees and charges payable under or for the purposes of this Act; 
21 
(g) any other matter as may be necessary or expedient to be prescribed for 
( 
22 
carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
I 
23 
(3) 
In making any regulations any contravention of or failure to comply with any 
24 
regulation shall be an offence punishable with a fine not exceeding Four Hundred Thousand 
25 
Pesos (P400,000.00) or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or with both. 
26 
27 
SEC. 20. Saving Provision for Personal Information Previously Collected. -
16 


1 
(1) As from the date on which any disease becomes a reportable disease for the purposes 
2 
of this Act-
3 
(a) any personal information that had already been collected by a specified entity 
4 
before that date pertaining to a person who had been diagnosed with or who had 
5 
undergone treatment for that disease for the purposes of a national disease registry shall 
6 
be deemed to be personal information that has been collected under and for the purposes 
7 
of this Act in relation to that reportable disease; and 
8 
(b) any person Who had made a notification of any such personal information to 
9 
the specified entity before that date shall be entitled to the same protection from liability 
10 
under Section 17 (2) as if he had made the notification under Section 6 on or after that 
11 
date. 
12 
13 
SEC. 21. Funding Provision. - The Secretary of the Department shall immediately 
I 
. 
14 
hereinafter ipclude in the Department's programs the prompt implementation of this Act, funding 
15 
of which shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act. 
16 
17 
SEC. 22. Enforcement. - It shall be the duty of all duly constituted law enforcement 
18 
agencies and officers of national, provincial, city, or municipal governments to uphold and 
19 
enforce the provisions of this Act and to investigate and prosecute or cause the investigation and 
20 
prosecution of any person violating the same. 
21 
22 
SEC. 23. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the 
23 
approval of this Act, the Department shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and 
24 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
25 
17 


1 
SEC. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be found to 
2 
be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall 
3 
remain in full force and effect. 
4 
5 
SECi 25. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with 
6 
the provisioJs of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. ' 
7 
SEC. 26. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
8 
its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
18