SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
F irst R egular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. N o.l 1 9 0
■16 OCI-6 A 9 54
Introduced by Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY 
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE DELIVERY OF 
INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PROMOTING AND 
PROTECTING PERSONS UTILIZING PSYCHIATRIC, NEUROLOGIC 
AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
As noted by the World Health Organization (WHO) mental, neurological, and 
substance use disorders are common in all regions of the world, affecting every 
community and age group across all countries, regardless of income. While 14% 
of the global burden of disease is attributable to these disorders, most of the 
people affected do not have access to the treatment they need. According to the 
WHO, while the lifetime prevalence of mental illness globally is estimated at 20% 
of any given population, the data from developing countries shows a much higher 
prevalence, ranging from 11% to 44%.
People with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of 
disability and mortality. For instance, persons with major depression and 
schizophrenia have a 40% to 60% greater chance of dying prematurely than the 
general population; commonly, as a result of suicide, which is the second most 
common cause of death among young people worldwide, or neglect. 
Furthermore, mental disorders frequently reduce sufferers and their families to 
poverty. Homelessness and inappropriate incarceration are far more common for 
people with mental disorders than for the general population, and exacerbate 
their marginalization and vulnerability.
Because of stigmatization and discrimination, persons with mental disorders 
often have their basic human rights violated. Many are denied opportunities 
to work or to obtain education and vocational training. They may also be subject 
to unhygienic and inhuman living conditions, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, 
and harmful and degrading treatment
In the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority has reported that 1 in 5 
adult Filipinos suffer from mental or psychiatric disorders, resulting in an 
average of 88 reported cases of mental illness per 100,000 Filipinos. 50% of 
adults visiting rural health centers in remote barrios were also diagnosed to be 
suffering from some form of psychological illness. Of the 1.4 million Filipinos 
with disabilities identified in the 2010 National Census, 14 percent, or over 
200,000 people, were found to have a mental disability or disorder. Despite the 
prevalence of mental, psychosocial, and neurologic disorders locally, only 490 
psychiatrists are currently licensed to practice in the Philippines. Moreover, only 
5,465 hospital beds have been set aside for persons with mental disorders 
nationwide -  4,200 of which are concentrated in the National Center for Mental


health.
In this regard, the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that the State shall 
protect and promote the right to health of the people, adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development giving priority to the needs of 
the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, indigenous peoples, women and 
children.
Moreover, as a state-party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with 
Disabilities, the Philippines is also obligated under Article 4 thereof "to ensure 
and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms 
for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of 
disability."
Similarly, UN General Assembly resolution 46/119 of December 17, 1991, on the 
Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement 
of Mental Health Care, which provides, among others, that all persons shall have 
the right to the best available mental health care, which shall be part of the health 
and social care system, and that all persons with mental illness shall be treated 
with humanity and respect.
Considering the foregoing, it is imperative that the State uphold the basic right of 
all Filipinos to mental health, protect the fundamental rights of people who 
require mental health services, promote mental and psychosocial well-being, and 
support processes that engenders resilience and growth. This policy is founded 
on the belief that addressing the needs of, and profound social disadvantages 
experienced by, persons suffering from psychosocial problems, mental disorders, 
and mental incapacities enhances their capacity to participate in civil, political, 
economic, social and cultural affairs
Hence, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
ANA THERESIA “RISA” HONTIVEROS- 
BARAQUEL


.<,<>’r-,i.
.> fn a lr
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
F irst R egular Session
)
)
)
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
9 0
‘16 
O C T -6 A 9:54
H I ! ; ' i ’ : •> r^Y- / ' O
Introduced by Senatoi Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY
t h e  p u r p o s e  o f e n h a n c in g  t h e  d e l iv e r y  o f 
r»D^^^GRATED MENTAL h e a l t h  s e r v ic e s , p r o m o t in g  a n d
PROTECTING PERSONS UTILIZING PSYCHIATRIC NEUROLOCIC 
AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH SERVICES, ^ R O P M ^ T m O ^ D S  
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
B e i t  enaeled by the Senate and the House o f R epresentatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assem bled: 
J
5
6
7
8 
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ARTICLE I
Policy, Objectives, and Definitions
^Oe-
On 1' Sh0rt Tltle' ThiS Act Shal1 be known as the “Mental Health Act of
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
uphold the basic right of all Filipinos to mental health and to respect the 
fundamental rights of people who require mental health services.
The State thus commits itself to promoting the well-being of its people by, among 
others, ensuring that mental health is valued, promoted and protected; mental 
disorders are prevented; and persons affected by these disorders are able to 
access high quality, culturally-appropriate health and social care in a timely wav 
to, exercise the full range of human rights, and participate fully in society and at 
work tree from stigmatization and discrimination.
Polices plans and laws for mental health shall comply with obligations under the 
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other 
international and regional human rights conventions. Thus, the State expressly 
recognizes the applicability of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 7277, as amended
otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons”, to persons with 
mental disorders, as defined herein.
Section 3. Objectives. The objectiyes of this Act are, as follows:
(a)
Strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health by, 
aniong others, formulating, developing, and implementing national 
policies, strategies, programs, and regulations relating to mental health;


1 
(b) 
Develop and establish a comprehensive, integrated, effective, and efficient
2 
national mental health care system responsive to the psychiatric,
3 
neurologic, and psychosocial needs of the Filipino people;
4 
(c) 
Protect the rights and freedoms of persons with psychiatric, neurologic,
5 
and psychosocial health needs; and
6 
(d) 
Strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.
7 
Section 4. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions
8 
shall apply:
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21
22
23
24
(a) 
“Confidentiality” means ensuring that the personal and health information 
related to persons with psychiatric, neurologic, and psychosocial health 
needs is kept private, safe from access or use by or disclosure to persons or 
entities who are not authorized to access, use, or possess such information.
(b) 
“Discrimination” means any distinction, exclusion or restriction which has 
the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition or exercise, 
on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental 
freedoms.
(c) 
“Informed Consent” refers to the voluntary acceptance of a plan for 
treatment by a service user who is not mentally incapacitated, after full 
disclosure by the attending mental health professional of information 
regarding the plan of treatment, its risks, benefits, and available 
alternatives.
(d) 
“Legal Representative” refers to a person who is designated by the seivice 
user or appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, to act as a 
supported or substitute decision maker.
25 
(e) 
“Mental Disorder” refers to a neurologic or psychiatric condition
26 
characterized by the existence of a recognizable, clinically-significant
27 
disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior
28 
that reflects a genetic or acquired dysfunction in the neurobiological,
29 
psychosocial, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.
30 
The determination of psychiatric and neurologic disorders shall be based
31 
on scientifically-accepted medical nomenclature.
32 
(f) 
“Mental Health” refers to a state of psychosocial well-being in which the
33 
individual realizes his or her own abilities, copes adequately with the
34 
normal stresses of life, displays resilience in the face of extreme life events,
35 
works productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a positive
36 
contribution to the community.
37 
(g) 
“Mental Health Facility” refers to any establishment, or any unit of an
38 
establishment, which has, as its primaiy function the provision of mental
39 
health care or services.
40
41
42
43
(h) 
“Mental Health Professional” refers to a medical doctor, clinical 
psychologist, nurse, social worker or any other appropriately-trained and 
qualified person with specific skills relevant to the provision of mental 
health services.


1 
(i) 
“Mental Health Sei-vices” refer to psychosocial, psychiatric or neurologic
2 
activities and programs along the whole range of the mental health
3 
support spectrum including enhancement, prevention, treatment, and
4 
aftercare.
5 
(j) 
“Mental Health Workers” refer to trained personnel, volunteers or
6 
advocates engaged in mental health promotion, providing services under
7 
the supei-vision of a mental health professional.
8 
(k) 
“Mental Incapacity” refers to medically-determined, temporary or
9 
permanent inability on the part of a service user or any other person
10 
affected by a mental disorder, to:
11 
12
(i) 
Understand information given concerning the nature of a mental 
disorder;
13
14
(ii) 
Understand the consequences of one’s decisions and actions on 
one’s life or health, or the life or health of others;
15
16 
17
(iii) 
Understand information about the nature of the treatment 
proposed, including methodology, direct effects, and possible side- 
effects; and
18
19
(iv) 
Effectively communicate consent to treatment or hospitalization, or 
information regarding one’s own condition.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 
29
(l) 
“Psychiatric Emergencies” refer to conditions presenting a serious and 
immediate threat to the health and well-being of a service user or any 
other person affected by a mental disorder, or to the health and well-being 
of others, such as, but not limited to, threatened or attempted suicide, 
acute intoxication, severe depression, acute psychosis, or violent behavior, 
requiring immediate psychiatric intei’vention.
(m) 
“Psychosocial Problem” refers to a condition that indicates the existence of 
dysfunctions in a person’s behavior, thoughts and feelings brought about 
by sudden, extreme, prolonged or cumulative stressors in the physical or 
social environment.
30
31
(n) 
“Semce User” refers to a person receiving psychiatric, neurologic, or 
psychosocial sei*vices or care.
32
33
34
35
(o) ^ “Substituted Decision Making” ” is the act of making decisions on behalf of 
a service user in situations where the latter has been assessed by a mental 
health professional to be mentally incapacitated, consistent with the 
service user’s written directives, if available.
36
37
38
39
(p) 
“Supported Decision Making” is the act of assisting a service user who 
retains decision-making ability, or who is not otherwise mentally 
incapacitated as defined herein, in coherently expressing a mental health- 
related preference, intention or decision.
40
Al^TICLE II


1 
Rights o f Persons ivith M ental H ealth Needs, their Fam ilies & Legal
2 
Representatives, and M ental H ealth Professionals
3 
Section 5. Rights of Persons with Mental Health Needs. Without prejudice to
4 
the provisions of this Act or any other applicable law, a sei*vice user or any other
5 
person with mental health needs shall have the right to:
6
(a)
7
8
(b)
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II
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(c)
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(d)
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(e)
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(f)
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24
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(g)
26
27
(h)
28
29
(i)
30
31
a)
32
33
(h)
34
35
(i)
36
37
38
Freedom from social, economic, and political discrimination and 
stigmatization, whether committed by public or private actors;
Exercise all their inherent civil, political, economic, social, religious, 
educational, and cultural rights respecting individual qualities, abilities, 
and diversity of background, without discrimination on the basis of 
physical disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, language, 
religion or national, ethnic, or social origin of the semce user concerned;
Receive evidence-based or informed treatment of the same standard and 
quality as that of other persons similarly situated, regardless of age, sex, 
socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation;
Access essential health and social semces that enable them to recover and 
achieve the highest attainable standard of mental health without risk of 
impoverishing themselves or their families;
Receive mental health sei-vices at all levels of the health care system;
Receive comprehensive and coordinated treatment that integrates holistic 
prevention, promotion, rehabilitation, care and support aimed at 
addressing mental and physical health care needs and facilitating 
recovery, through 
a multi-disciplinary, user-driven 
treatment 
and 
recovery plan;
environment and manner;
Humane treatment free from solitary confinement, torture, and cruel, 
inhumane, harmful or degrading treatirrent;
Aftercare and rehabilitation within the community whenever possible, for 
the purpose of facilitating social reintegration;
Adequate inforiuation regarding psychosocial and clinical assessments and 
available multidisciplinary health services;
Participate in mental health advocacy, policy, planning, legislation, 
service provision, monitoring, research and evaluation;
Confidentiality of all information, communications, and records, in 
whatever form or medium stored, regarding the service user, any aspect of 
the service user’s mental health, or any treatment or care received by the 
service user, which information, communications, and records shall not be


1
2
disclosed to third parties without the written consent of the service user 
concerned or the service user’s legal representative, unless:
3 
(i) 
Such disclosure is required by law or pursuant to an order issued by
4 
a court of competent jurisdiction;
5 
(ii) 
A life-threatening emergency exists and such disclosure is necessary
6 
to prevent harm or injiny to the service user or to other persons;
7 
(iii) 
The sei-vice user is a minor and the attending mental health
8 
professional reasonably believes that the service user is a victim of
9 
child abuse;
10 
(iv) 
Such disclosure is required in connection with an administrative,
11 
civil, or criminal case against a mental health professional or worker
12 
for negligence or a breach of professional ethics, to the extent
13 
necessary to completely adjudicate, settle, or resolve any issue or
14 
controversy involved therein; or
15 
(v) 
Such disclosure is in the interest of public safety or national
16 
security.
17 
(j) 
Give informed consent before treatment or care is provided, including the
18 
right to withdraw such consent. Such consent shall be recorded in the
19 
service user’s clinical record;
20 
(k) 
Participate in the development and formulation of the psychosocial care or
21 
clinical treatment plan to be implemented;
22 
(1) 
Unless the service user has been determined or declared to be mentally
23 
incapacitated, designate or appoint a person of legal age to act as his or her
24 
legal representative through a notarized document executed for that
25 
purpose. If the sei*vice user has been determined or declared to be
26 
mentally incapacitated, or otherwise fails to designate or appoint a legal
27 
representative, the following persons shall act as the service user’s legal
28 
representative, in order of preference:
29
30
31
32
(i) 
The spouse, if any, unless permanently separated from the service 
user by a decree issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, or 
unless such spouse has abandoned or been abandoned by the 
semce user for any period which has not yet come to an end;
33
(ii) 
Non-Minor Children;
34
(iii) Either parent by mutual consent, if the service user is a minor; or
35
(iv) 
A person appointed by the court.
36 
(m) 
Legal representation, through competent counsel of the service user’s
37 
choice. In case the service user cannot afford the services of counsel, the
38 
Public Attorney’s Office, or a legal aid institution of the service user or
39 
representative’s choice, shall assist the service user;
40 
(n) 
Access to their clinical records unless, in the opinion of the attending
41 
mental health professional, revealing such information would cause harm


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
(o)
to the sei-vice user’s health or put the safety of others at risk. When any 
such clinical records are withheld, the service user or his or her legal 
representative may contest such decision with the internal review body 
created pursuant to this Act authorized to investigate and resolve disputes, 
or with the Commission on Human Rights; and
Information, within twenty-four (24) of admission to a mental health 
facility, of the rights enumerated in this section in a form and language 
understood by the service user;
9 
Section 6 . Rights of Family Members and Legal Representatives. The family
10 
members and duly-designated or appointed legal representative of the sei*vice
11 
user shall have the right to:
12 
(a) 
Receive appropriate psychosocial support from the relevant government
13 
agencies;
14 
(b) 
With the consent of the concerned service user, participate in the
15 
formulation, development, and implementation of the service user’s
16 
individualized treatment plan;
17 
(c) 
Apply for release and transfer of the sei’vice user to an appropriate mental
18 
health facility; and
19 
(d) 
Participate in mental health advocacy, policy, planning, legislation,
20 
service provision, monitoring, research and evaluation.
21 
Section 7. Rights of Mental Health Professionals. Mental health professionals
22 
shall have the right to:
23 
(a) 
A safe and supportive work environment;
24 
(b) 
Continuous education and training;
25 
(c) 
Participate in the planning, development, and management of mental
26 
health services;
27 
(d) 
Contribute to the development and regular review of standards for
28 
evaluating mental health services provided to service users;
29 
(e) 
Participate in the development of mental health policy and service delivery
30 
guidelines;
31 
(f) 
Except in emergency situations, manage and control all aspects of his or
32 
her practice, including whether or not to accept or decline a service user
33 
for treatment; and
34 
(g) 
Advocate for the rights of a sei’vice user, in cases where the service user’s
35 
wishes are at odds with those of his family or legal representative.
36
37
ARTICLE III
Duties & Respon s ibili tie s o f Government Agencies


1 
Section 8 . Duties and Responsibilities of the Department of Health (DOH). To
2 
achieve the policy and objectives of this Act, the DOH shall:
4
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(a) 
Formulate, develop, and implement a national mental health program;
(b) 
Ensure that a safe, therapeutic, and hygienic environment with sufficient 
privacy exists in all mental health facilities and, for this purpose, shall be 
responsible for the regulation, licensing, monitoring, and assessment of all 
mental health facilities;
(c) 
Integrate mental health into the routine health information system 
and identify, collate, routinely report and use core mental health data 
disaggregated by sex and age, and health outcomes, including data on 
completed and attempted suicides, in order to improve mental health 
sei-vice deliveiy, promotion and prevention strategies;
(d) 
Improve research capacity and academic collaboration on national 
priorities for research in mental health, particularly operational 
research 
with 
direct 
relevance 
to 
semce 
development 
and 
implementation and the exercise of human rights by persons with 
mental disorders, including the establishment of centers of excellence;
(e) 
Ensure that all public and private mental health institutions uphold the 
right of patients to be protected against torture or cruel, inhumane, and 
degrading treatment;
21
22
23
24
25
(f) 
Coordinate with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to ensure 
that insurance packages equivalent to those covering physical disorders of 
comparable impact to the patient, as measured by Disability-Adjusted Life 
Year or other methodologies, are available to patients affected by mental 
disorders;
26
27
28
(g) 
Prohibit forced or inadequately remunerated labor within mental health 
facilities, unless such labor is justified as part of an accepted therapeutic 
treatment program; and
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30
31
32
33
34
(h) 
Develop alternatives to institutionalization, particularly community-based 
approaches to treatment aimed at receiving patients discharged from 
hospitals, meeting the needs expressed by persons with mental health 
disorders, and respecting their autonomy, decisions, dignity, and privacy.
Section 9. Duties and Responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights 
(CHR). The CHR shall:
35
36
37
38
(a) 
Establish mechanisms to investigate, address, and act upon impropriety 
and abuse in the treatment and care received by service users, particularly 
when such treatment or care is administered or implemented 
involuntarily;
39
40
(b) 
Inspect mental health facilities to ensure that sei’vice users therein are not 
being subjected to cruel, inhumane, or degrading conditions or treatment;


1 
(c) 
Investigate all cases involving involuntaiy treatment, confinement, or care
2 
of service users, for the purpose of ensuring strict compliance with
3 
domestic and international standards respecting the legality, quality, and
4 
appropriateness of such treatment, confinement, or care; and
5 
(d) 
Appoint a focal commissioner for mental health tasked with protecting and
6 
promoting the rights of service users and other persons utilizing mental
7 
health sei’vices or confined in mental health facilities, as well as the rights
8 
of mental health professionals and workers. The focal commissioner shall,
9 
upon a finding that a mental health facility, mental health professional, or
10 
mental health worker has violated any of the rights provided for in this
11 
Act, take all necessary action to rectify or remedy such violation, including
12 
recommending that an administrative, civil, or criminal case be filed by the
13 
appropriate government agency.
14 
Section lo. Duties and Responsibilities of Mental Health Facilities. Mental
15 
health facilities shall:
16 
(a) 
Establish policies, guidelines, and protocols for minimizing the use of
17 
restrictive care and involuntaiy treatment;
18 
(b) 
Inform service users of their rights under this Act and all other pertinent
19 
laws and regulations;
20 
(c) 
Provide eveiy service user, whether admitted for voluntary or involuntary
21 
treatment, with complete information regarding the plan of treatment to
22 
be implemented;
23 
(d) 
Ensure that informed consent is obtained from service users prior to the
24 
implementation of any medical procedure or plan of treatment or care,
25 
except when the service user concerned is mentally incapacitated, as
26 
defined herein;
27
28
29
30
(e) 
Ensure that involuntarily treatment or restraint, whether physical or 
chemical, is only administered or implemented pursuant to the following 
safeguards and conditions, and only to the extent that such treatment or 
restraint is necessaiy:
31
(i) 
During psychiatric or neurologic emergencies;
32
33
34
(ii) Upon the order of the semce user’s attending physician, which 
order must be reviewed by a board-certified psychiatrist within one 
(i) month from date of issuance, or as soon as possible;
35
36
(iii) When all other means of treatment or restraint have proven 
unsuccessful; and
37
38
39
40
41
42
(iv) That such involuntary medical treatment or restraint shall be: in 
strict accordance with guidelines approved by the appropriate 
authorities, which must contain clear criteria regulating the 
application and termination of such medical intervention; used for 
the shortest period of time possible, as assessed by a board-certified 
psychiatrist or by the semce user’s attending physician under the
8


1 
supervision of a board-certified psychiatrist; and fully documented
2 
and subject to regular external independent monitoring and audit.
3 
(f) 
Maintain a register containing information on all medical treatments and
4 
procedures involuntarily administered to sei-vice users;
5 
(g) 
Ensure that legal representatives are designated or appointed only after
6 
the requirements of this Act and the procedures established for the
7 
purpose have been obsei’ved, which procedures should respect the
8 
autonomy and preferences of the patient as far as possible; and
9 
(h) 
Establish an internal review body to monitor and ensure compliance with
10 
the provisions of this Act, as well as receive, investigate, resolve, and act
11 
upon complaints brought by sei’vice users or their families and legal
12 
representatives against the mental health facility or any mental health
13 
professional or worker.
14
15
ARTICLE IV
Community M ental H ealth Services
16 
Section ii. Community Mental Health Services. Within the general health care
17 
system, the following mental health semces shall be developed and integrated
18 
into the primary health care system at the community level:
19 
(a) 
Basic mental health services, which shall be made available at all local
20 
government units down to the barangay level;
21 
(b) 
Community resilience and psychosocial well-being training in all
22 
barangays, including the availability of mental health and psychosocial
23 
support services during and after natural disasters and other calamities;
24
25
26
27
28
(c) 
Training and capacity-building programs for local mental health workers 
in coordination with mental health facilities and departments of psychiatry 
in general or university hospitals;
(d) 
Support services for families and co-workers of service users, mental 
health professionals, and mental health workers; and
29 
(e) 
Dissemination of mental health information and promotion of mental
30 
health awareness among the general population.
31
32
33
34
35
Section 12. Psychiatric, Psychosocial, and Neurologic Services in Regional, 
Provincial, and Tertiary Hospitals. All regional, provincial, and tertiary hospitals 
shall provide the following psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services:
(a) 
Short-term, in-patient hospital care in a small psychiatric ward for service 
users exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms;
36 
(b) 
Partial hospital care for those exhibiting psychiatric symptoms or
37 
experiencing difficulties vis-a-vis their personal and family circumstances;


1 
(c) 
Out-patient sei*vices in close collaboration with existing mental health
2 
programs at primary health centers in the same area;
3 
(d) 
Home care sei-vices for sei-vice users with special needs as a result of,
4 
among others, long-term hospitalization, non-compliance with or
5 
inadequacy of treatment, and absence of immediate family;
6 
(e) 
Coordination with drug rehabilitation centers vis-a-vis the care,
7 
treatment, and rehabilitation of persons suffering from addiction and
8 
other substance-induced mental disorders; and
9
10
11
12
(f) 
A referral system involving other public and private health and social 
welfare service providers, for the purpose of expanding access to programs 
aimed at preventing mental illness and managing the condition of persons 
at risk of developing mental, neurologic, and psychosocial problems.
13
14
15
16 
17
ARTICLE V
Education, Research, and Development
Section 13. Integration of Mental Health into the Educational System. The 
State shall ensure the integration of the mental health into the educational 
system, as follows:
18
19
(a) 
Age-appropriate content pertaining to mental health shall be integrated 
into the curriculum at all educational levels; and
20 
(b) 
Psychiatry and neurology shall be a required subjects in all medical and
21 
allied health courses, including post-graduate courses in health.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Section 14. Capacity-Building, Reorientation, and Training. In close 
coordination with mental health facilities, and the departments of psychiatry in 
general and university hospitals, mental health professionals and workers shall 
undergo capacity-building, reorientation, and training to develop their ability to 
deliver evidence-based, culturally-appropriate and human rights-oriented mental 
health semces, with an emphasis on the community and public health aspects of 
mental health.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Section 15. Research and Development. Research and development shall be 
undertaken, in collaboration with academic institutions, psychiatric, neurologic, 
and related associations, and non-government organizations, to produce the 
information, evidence, and research necessary to formulate and develop a 
culturally-relevant national mental health program incorporating indigenous 
concepts and practices related to mental health.
High ethical standards in mental health research shall be promoted to ensure 
that: research is conducted only with the free and informed consent of the 
persons involved; researchers do not receive any privileges, compensation or 
remuneration in exchange for encouraging or recruiting participants; potentially 
harmful or dangerous research is not undertaken; and all research is approved by 
an independent ethics committee, in accordance with applicable law.
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ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
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1 
Section i 6. Implementing Rules & Regulations. The Secretary of Health shall
2 
issue the Implementing Rules & Regulations necessary for the effective
3 
implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days from the effectivity thereof.
4 
Section 
17. Appropriations. 
The amount 
necessary for the 
initial
5 
implementation of the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the current
6 
year’s appropriations of the Department of Health. Thereafter, five percent (5%)
7 
of the annual excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products collected by the
8 
government shall be earmarked for the implementation of this Act.
9 
Section 18. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
10 
unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
11 
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
12 
Section 19. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, department or
13 
memorandum orders and other administrative issuances or parts thereof which
14 
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded
15 
or repealed accordingly.
16
17
18
Section 20. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation.
19 
AlPPROVED.
11