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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES = u
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. _ 6782

Introduced by HON. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Third District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 2018, Republic Act No. 11036 or the Mental Health Act was enacted which
establishes a national mental health policy to enhance the delivery of integrated mental health
services and to promote and protect the rights of persons availing psychiatric, neurologic and
psychosocial health services. It is a landmark legislation that ensures affordable and
accessible mental health services for Filipinos.

The law further secures the rights and welfare of persons with mental health needs
and mental health professionals; provide mental health services down to the barangays;
integrate psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services in regional, provincial, and
tertiary hospitals; improve mental healthcare facilities; and promote mental health education
in schools and workplaces.

For employees, a big factor of stress comes from work. Whether it’s the long hours of
commuting to and from the workplace, the lack of work/life balance, the excessive demands
of their jobs, or the less than competitive salary, Filipino workers are constantly being
subjected to stress which — according to experts ~ can lead to several mental health problems
such as depression or even dementia, While the law is effective in raising awareness and
preventing stigma about mental health conditions in the workplace, RA 11036 does not
provide any compensation benefits or financial assistance in the event an employee suffers
work-related mental health issues.

Hence, this amendment to RA 11036 is proposed to ensure that employees receive
immediate benefits or compensation should the employee sustain temporary or permanent
mental disability while in the performance of duty or by reason of his or her office or
position,

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

HON. KRISTINE Ee TUTOR



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 6782

Introduced by HON. KRISTINE ALEXIE B. TUTOR
Third District, Bohol

AN ACT
AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11036,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT.

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

SECTION 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 11036 otherwise known as the “Mental

ers

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Health Act” is hereby amended to read as flows:

“Sec. 5. Rights of Service Users — Service users shall enjoy, on an equal and
nondiscriminatory basis, all rights guaranteed by the Constitution as well as
those recognized under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and all
other relevant international and regional human rights conventions and
declarations, including the right to:

XXX XXX XXX

“(U) IMMEDIATELY RECEIVE COMPENSATION BENEFITS
AND/OR ANY SPECIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT THE
SERVICE USER IS ENTITLED TO UNDER EXISTING LAWS
SHOULD THE SERVICE USER SUSTAIN TEMPORARY OR
PERMANENT MENTAL DISABILITY WHILE IN THE
PERFORMANCE OF DUTY OR BY REASON OF HIS OR HER
OFFICE OR POSITION.”

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or

modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of the general circulation.

Approved,