SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, 2840 
By Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III 
AN ACT 
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'15 
JUN 10 
1111 :02 
PROVIDING FORA REVISED HUMAN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AND 
TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION 
THEREOF, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7170, AS 
AMENDED, ALSO KNOWN AS THE "ORGAN DONATION ACT OF 1991" 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Human organ and tissue trading has become a lucrative business for unscrupulous 
groups. In recent years, it has been reported that residents in poor communities in 
the Philippines have been lured into selling their organs in exchange for money. Most 
of these compensated organ "donors" unfortunately end up being poorer than they 
were as they contract other illnesses resulting from being unaware of the 
repercussions of their decision and the absence of medical care after the organ sale. 
Such exploitation of the poor should be stopped. This measure seeks to establish the 
Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program which will provide the 
overall direction and system of implementation of organ donation and transplantation 
in the country. Under the said program, there shall be a centralized system of organ 
donors and patient registry to eliminate profit marketing of organ donation and to 
facilitate the success of organ transplants and the survival of patients. 
The bill also replaces the Organ Donation Act of 1991 (RA No. 7170) to cover organ 
and tissue donations for transplantation purposes from both deceased and living 
donors. It entitles living donors to assistance and protection-such as discrimination 
in the work place while at the same time, giving the donor and his immediate family 
priority in the event that they need organ transplant 
With the sanctions and penalties imposed on acts tantamount to trafficking or illicit 
marketing of human organs proposed in this bill, it is hoped that this inhumane organ 
trading will come to an end. 


In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this measure is sought. 
"TG" GUINGONA III 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
t 
,~k~1;:Jlr' 
'_Ie 
Oyttlff v' HlP ;0rnl'br~ 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'15 
JlJN 10 All :02 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2 B 4 0 
By Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A REVISED HUMAN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION AND 
TRANSPLANTATION PROGRAM AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION 
THEREOF, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7170, AS AMENDED, 
ALSO KNOWN AS THE "ORGAN DONATION ACT OF 1991" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Tit/e. - This Act shall be known as the "Organ Donation Act of 2015". 
2 
3 
ARnC~1 
4 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
5 
6 
SEC. 2. Coverage. - This Act covers all government and private hospitals, health facilities, organ 
7 
procurement organizations, medical and allied medical practitioners or professionals, foundations 
8 
and nongovernment organizations that are involved in organ and tissue transplantation in the 
9 
Philippines. 
10 
11 
This Act also covers organ and tissue donations for transplantation purposes from deceased and 
12 
living donors. 
13 
14 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act" 
15 
(a) Advertisement includes any form of advertising or the promotion of goods, services or 
16 
ideas through paid or unpaid announcements in print, broadcast, or electronic media 
17 
whether to the public generally or to any section of the public or individually to selected 
18 
persons for the purpose of promoting commercial dealings in human organs, tissues or 
19 
parts. 
20 
(b) Allowable reimbursement refers to the reasonable costs incurred for organ and tissue 
21 
donation and transplantation. 
22 
(c) Brain death refers to the irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain 
23 
(d) Commercial dealings refer to: 
24 
(1) The sale, barter, or supply of human organ, tissue, or part thereof involving 
25 
valuable consideration in whatever form; 
1 


1 
(2) Acts involving trafficking of a human organ, tissue, or part thereof through 
2 
whatever means; and 
3 
(3) The brokering for sale, barter or supply of a human organ, tissue, or part thereof 
4 
whether for money or any other consideration in violation of this Act; 
5 
(e) Death refers to the irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or the 
6 
irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. A brain 
7 
dead person is dead, although his or her cardiopulmonary functioning may be artificially 
8 
maintained for some time; 
9 
(f) Donor refers to an individual who voluntarily donates organ, tissue, or part thereof, 
10 
gratuitously to another who accepts it; 
11 
(g) Donor Allocation Scoring System (DASS) refers to the national scoring system by which 
12 
allocation of organs from deceased donors shall be based; 
13 
(h) Human organ refers to the differentiated and vital part of the human body, formed by 
14 
different tissues, that maintains its structure, vascularization and capacity to develop 
15 
physiological functions with an important level of autonomy; 
16 
(i) Human tissue refers to all constituent parts of the human body formed by cells; 
17 
U) Human organ and tissue bank storage facility refers to a facility for the storage of human 
18 
organs, tissues, or parts thereof; 
19 
(k) Immediate family refers to the spouse, son or daughter of legal age, either parent, brother 
20 
or sister of legal age and legal guardian over the person, at the time of death; 
21 
(I) Indigent refers to an individual who has no visible means of income or whose income is 
22 
insufficient for the subsistence of his family, and identified, listed or certified by the 
23 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as poor pursuant to the National 
24 
Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction; 
25 
(m) Living donor (LD) refers to an individual who is willing to donate an organ, tissue, or part 
26 
of the body while still alive, and may be either a: 
27 
(1) Living related donor (LRD) - a donor who is related to the recipient by blood within 
28 
the fourth civil degree of consanguinity, 
29 
(2) Living non-related donor (LNRD) - a donor who is not related to the recipient by 
30 
blood or related by blood beyond the fourth civil degree of consanguinity but who 
31 
is willing to donate organs, tissues, or parts thereof. The term also applies to 
32 
those related emotionally. 
33 
(n) Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) is an organization responsible for the 
34 
procurement of organs and tissues for transplantation; 
35 
(0) Organ transplant candidate refers to a patient diagnosed to have end stage organ 
36 
disease who is qualified to undergo an organ transplant procedure; 
37 
(p) Organ and Tissue Procurement is the process that includes donor identification, 
38 
evaluation, obtaining consent for donation, donor maintenance and retrieval of cells, 
39 
tissues or organs. 
40 
(q) Person refers to an individual, corporation, estate, trust, partnership, association, the 
41 
government or any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities, including 
42 
government-owned or -controlled corporations, or any other legal entity; 
43 
(r) Philippine Organ Donor and Recipient Registry System (PODRRS) refers to a national 
44 
computerized database of all organ transplant candidates, recipients, organ donors, and 
45 
all transplants performed in the Philippines; 
46 
(s) Potential multiple organ donor (PMOD) refers to any patient who will imminently becorne 
47 
brain dead or who currently meets the criteria for brain death who may donate more than 
48 
one organ 
49 
(t) Physician or surgeon refers to a physician or surgeon licensed to practice medicine under 
50 
the laws of the Republic of the Philippines; 
51 
(u) Referring hospital refers to any hospital that identifies and refers potential deceased 
52 
organ and tissue donor to the Phil NOS; or to the appropriate tissue bank 
2 


1 
(V) Transplant Coordinator (TC) refers to the designated trained health care professional who 
2 
takes the central role and acts as liaison between the referring hospital and the retrieval 
3 
and transplant team members. 
4 
(1) Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CTC) refers to the TC who shall have the 
5 
responsibility of coordinating the transplant candidate's evaluation, management, 
6 
and follow-up care. 
7 
(2) Procurement Transplant Coordinator (PTC) refers to a healthcare professional of 
8 
organ procurement organization, designated to coordinate with the donor family 
9 
and facility in order to facilitate a donation and proper transport of donated organ 
10 
or tissue. 
11 
(w) Transplant facility refers to a hospital accredited by the DOH to perform organ and tissue 
12 
transplantation; and 
13 
(x) Valuable consideration refers to any financial gain or benefit but does not include 
14 
"allowable reimbursement" as defined in subsection (b) herein. 
15 
16 
SEC. 4. National Organ Donation and Transplantation Program (NOD TP). - There is established 
17 
the Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program that provides the overall direction 
18 
and system of implementation of organ donation and transplantation in the country through the 
19 
Philippine Organ and Transplantation Board under the Department of Health. 
20 
21 
SEC. 5. Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board (POTDTB). - There 
22 
shall be established a Philippine Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Board, 
23 
hereinafter referred to as the Board, that shall serve as overseer in the implementation of policies 
24 
related to organ and tissue donation and transplantation hereinafter referred to as the Board, 
25 
composed of the following members: 
26 
27 
(a) Secretary of Health, as Chairperson; 
28 
(b) DOH Undersecretary for Policy and Standard Development Team for Service Delivery, as 
29 
Vice Chairperson; 
30 
(c) Chairperson of National Transplant Ethics Committee or representative; 
31 
(d) President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhiIHealth) or representative; 
32 
(e) Representative of government transplant facilities appointed by the Secretary of Health; 
33 
(f) Representative of private transplant facilities appointed by the Secretary of Health; 
34 
(g) Representatives of the professional societies involved in transplantation; 
35 
(h) Chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission or representative; 
36 
(i) Representative of nongovernment organizations involved in health advocacy, preferably 
37 
on human organ and tissue donation; and 
38 
39 
Additional members as may be determined by the Secretary of Health. 
40 
41 
SEC. 6. Functions of the Board. - The Board shall perform the following functions: 
42 
43 
(a) Overall implementing body of the organ and tissue donation and transplantation program 
44 
in the country; 
45 
(b) Develop and implement policies on organ and tissue donation and transplantation within 
46 
the framework of Philippine laws; 
47 
(c) Monitor compliance of organ transplant and tissue bank storage facilities and organ 
48 
procurement organizations with the policies prescribed by the Board; and 
3 


1 
(d) Perform such other functions as may be ordered by the Secretary of Health related to its 
2 
primary functions. 
3 
4 
SEC. 7. Philippine Network for Organ Sharing. - There is established the Philippine Network for 
5 
Organ Sharing (Phil NOS) under the Board to perform the following functions: 
6 
7 
(a) Oversee and facilitate donation and organ transplantation involving deceased donors in 
8 
the country; 
9 
(b) Act as the central coordinating body to ensure that all organs from deceased donors are 
10 
allocated according to established criteria; 
11 
(e) Promote organ donation 
12 
(d) Implement the policies on organ allocation from a deceased donor; 
13 
(e) Maintain a national waiting list of patients seeking transplantation with organs from 
14 
deceased donors; 
15 
(f) Assist in the development and accreditation of organ procurement organizations; 
16 
(g) Develop and update specific donor allocation scoring systems for the different organs for 
17 
transplantation. For eye and tissue banks, tissue assignments for recipients shall be 
18 
based on a first come, first served basis and based on the type of tissue as specified by 
19 
the surgeon for a particular recipient; and 
20 
(h) Perform such other functions as may be ordered by the Secretary of Health or the Board 
21 
for those related to its primary functions. 
22 
23 
SEC. 8. Secretariat. - The Phil NOS shall be supported by a secretariat consisting of personnel 
24 
with the necessary technical expertise and capability who will be designated by the Secretary of 
25 
Health from the existing bureau or unit of the DOH. The secretariat shall be headed by a 
26 
Program Manager under the direct supervision of the Chairperson of the Board. 
27 
28 
SEC. 9. Transplant Facilities. - The Board, through its licensing and accreditation arm and the 
29 
Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB), shall establish accreditation criteria 
30 
to determine the DOH-licensed hospitals that should be allowed to perform transplant operations. 
31 
The Board and the Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau may limit a transplant 
32 
facility to the performance of transplants to specific organs or tissues. 
33 
34 
SEC.10. Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). - In order for the PhilNOS to effectively carry 
35 
out its functions, Organ Procurement Organizations shall be allowed and encouraged. An OPO is 
36 
an organization, which may be independent or hospital-based and accredited by the DOH. 
37 
38 
SEC. 11. National Transplant Ethics Committee. -
There shall be established a National 
39 
Transplant Ethics Committee (NTEC) under the DOH. It shall perform the following functions: 
40 
41 
(a) Formulate national ethical standards or guidelines on organ donation and transplantation 
42 
for approval by the Board; 
43 
(b) Assist the Board in the resolution of ethical issues; 
44 
(e) Assist in the monitoring of transplant facilities and Hospital Ethics Committee to ensure 
45 
compliance with ethical standards or guidelines; 
4 


1 
(d) Coordinate with the Department of Justice and Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in 
2 
formulating and implementing policies and procedures for suspected cases of organ 
3 
trafficking; and 
4 
(e) Perform such other functions as may be ordered by the Secretary of Health or the Board 
5 
on ethical related issues. 
6 
7 
SEC. 12. Hospital Ethics Committee. - All transplant facilities shall have an Ethics Committee 
8 
that shall evaluate all candidates for organ transplant with living donors, and resolve ethical 
9 
issues related to transplantation based on the guidelines and policies of the National Transplant 
10 
Ethics Committee. 
11 
12 
All transplant facilities, referring hospitals, OPOs, and tissue banks shall keep documents 
13 
pertaining to on organ and tissue donations and transplantation. These shall be made available 
14 
and transparent to the public, whenever necessary. 
15 
16 
17 
18 
ARTICLE II 
ORGAN DONATION FROM DECEASED DONORS 
19 
SEC. 13. Organ Donation from Deceased Donor. - All transplant candidates shall be given the 
20 
option to receive an organ from a deceased donor. 
21 
22 
SEC. 14. Person Who May Execute a Donation. In the absence of actual notice of contrary 
23 
intentions by the PMOD or actual notice of opposition by a member of the immediate family of 
24 
the PMOD, any of the following persons in the order of priority provided herein may donate all or 
25 
any part of the PM OD's body for any purpose provided in Section 14 of this Act: 
26 
27 
(a) Spouse; 
28 
(b) Son or daughter of legal age; 
29 
(c) Either parent; 
30 
(d) Brother or sister of legal age; and 
31 
(e) Legal guardian over the person of the PMOD at the time of death. 
32 
33 
The persons authorized by as stated in this section may make the donation only after brain death 
34 
has been certified. 
35 
36 
Any donation by a person authorized under this section shall be sufficient if it complies with the 
37 
formalities of a donation of a movable property. 
38 
39 
SEC. 15. Examination of Human Body or Part Thereof. - A legacy or donation of all or of any 
40 
organ, tissue, or part of a human body authorizes an examination necessary to assure medical 
41 
acceptability of the legacy or donation for the purpose intended. 
42 
43 
For purposes of this Act, in medico-legal cases, the operative report pertaining to the recovery of 
44 
the human organ, tissue, or part thereof from the brain-dead donors submitted by the surgeons 
45 
shall be recognized as part of the autopsy report by law enforcement authorities, including the 
46 
police or the National Bureau of Investigation. 
47 
5 


1 
SEC. 16. Persons Who May Become Recipients. -
The following persons may become 
2 
recipients of human organs, tissues, or parts thereof for any of the purposes stated hereunder: 
3 
4 
(a) An accredited medical or dental school, college or university - for educallOn, research, 
5 
advancement of medical or dental science, or therapy; 
6 
(b) A tissue bank storage facility - for medical or dental education, research, therapy or 
7 
transplantation; and 
8 
(c) An individual in the national transplant waiting list, as allocated by PhiINOS. 
9 
10 
SEC. 17. International Sharing of Organs. - With regard to international sharing of human organs 
11 
or tissues, this Act provides that sharing of human organs or tissues shall be made only through 
12 
exchange programs duly approved by the DOH; provided that foreign organs or tissue bank 
13 
storage facilities and similar establishments grant reciprocal rights to their Philippine counterparts 
14 
to draw human organs or tissues at any time. 
15 
16 
SEC. 18. Duty of Hospitals. - All hospitals are potential referring hospitals that shall develop the 
17 
capacity to identify Potential Multiple Organ Donors (PMODs) and are required to refer to the 
18 
Phil NOS, which shall activate the organ donation process through an OPO that is deSignated 
19 
with Donor Service Areas. 
20 
21 
A hospital that fails to comply with thiS section shall, after due hearing, be penalized in 
22 
accordance with Phil Health regulations. 
23 
24 
SEC. 19. Person Who May Execute a Legacy. - A person who is at least eighteen (18) years of 
25 
age and of sound mind may give, by way of legacy, all or any organ, tissue, or part thereof. 
26 
27 
SEC. 20. Manner of Executing a Legacy. 
28 
29 
(a) A legacy on donation of all or any organ, tissue, or part of the human body may be made 
30 
through a written duly signed will. The legacy becomes effective upon the death of the 
31 
testator even before probate proceedings are conducted. If the will is not probated, or if it 
32 
is declared invalid for testamentary purposes, the legacy, to the extent that it was 
33 
executed in good faith, is nevertheless valid and effective. 
34 
(b) A legacy on donation of all or any organ, tissue, or part of the human body may also be 
35 
made in any document other than a will. The legacy becomes effective upon death of the 
36 
testator and shall be respected by and binding upon the executor or administrator, heirs, 
37 
aSSigns, successors-in-interest, and all members of the family. The document, which may 
38 
be a card or any paper designed to be carried on one's person, must be signed by the 
39 
testator in the presence of two (2) witnesses who must sign the document in the presence 
40 
of the testator. If the testator cannot sign, the document may be signed at the discretion 
41 
and presence of the testator and two (2) witnesses who must, likewise, sign the 
42 
document in the presence of the testator. Delivery of the document of legacy during the 
43 
testator's lifetime is not necessary to make the legacy valid. 
44 
45 
SEC. 21. Organ Donor Cards. - A donor may also indicate the willingness to donate an organ, 
46 
tissue, or part thereof either through an organ donor card, or the government-issued identification 
47 
(10) cards and licenses, including but not limited to the following: 
6 


1 
Z 
(a) Land Transportation Office (L TO)-issued driver's license; 
3 
(b) PhllHealth membership ID; 
4 
(el Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) membership 10; 
5 
(d) Social Security System (SSS) rnembership ID; 
6 
(e) Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license card; 
7 
(f) Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax identification number ID, or 
8 
(g) Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)-issued Philippine passport. 
9 
10 
The L TO, PhilHealth, GSIS, SSS, PRC, BIR and the DFA, in coordination with the Secretary of 
11 
Health through the PhiINOS, shall devise their respective application forms wherein the consent 
12 
of the applicant to be an organ or tissue donor in case of death will be asked. The response of 
13 
the applicant shall be indicated in these cards, and these government agencies shall furnish the 
14 
PhilNOS of the applicant's response, which will be recorded in the PODRRS. 
15 
16 
SEC. 22. Procedure in the Absence of a Donation. -
In the absence of any of the persons 
17 
authorized to execute a donation under Section 12 hereof, and in the absence of any document 
18 
of organ donation, the physician in charge of the patient, the head of the hospital or a designated 
19 
officer of the hospital who has custody of the body of the PMOD may authorize in a public 
20 
document the procurement of organs and tissues from the PMOD. Provided, That the physician, 
21 
head of the hospital or a deSignated officer of the hospital for this purpose exerted reasonable 
22 
efforts, within forty-eight (48) hours, to locate the nearest relative specified in Section 12 of this 
23 
Act or the legal guardian of the donor at the time of death. 
24 
25 
The physician, head of the hospital or a deSignated officer of the hospital, or the medico-legal 
26 
officer of any government agency which has custody of the body may authorize the removal of 
27 
the cornea or corneas of the donor within twelve (12) hours after death and upon the request of 
28 
qualified recipients for the sole purpose of transplantation: Provided, That the removal of the 
29 
cornea or corneas will not interfere with any subsequent investigation or alter the post-mortem 
30 
facial appearance of the donor by means of placing eye caps after the cornea or corneas have 
31 
been removed. 
32 
33 
34 
SEC. 23. Brain Death Certification. - The diagnosis of brain death of the PMOO shall be certified 
35 
by two (2) qualified physicians, neither of whom is: 
36 
37 
(al A member of the team of medical practitioners who will effect the removal of the organ 
38 
from the body; nor 
39 
(b 1 The physician attending to the recipient of the organ to be removed; nor 
40 
(e) The head of the hospital or the designated officer authorizing the removal of the organ. 
41 
42 
The official time of death shall be the time of brain death certification and the death certificate 
43 
shall be signed at the time of brain death certification. 
44 
45 
SEC. 24. Persons Authorized to Remove and Transplant Organs, Tissues and Corneas. - Only 
46 
authorized medical practitioners in a hospital shall remove or transplant any organ which is 
47 
authorized to be removed or transplanted. The removal of eyes and corneal tissues shall be 
7 


1 
performed only by ophthalmic surgeons trained in the methodology of such procedure and duly 
2 
certified by the accredited National Association of Ophthalmologists and specialty board, and eye 
3 
bank technicians trained in the methodology of such procedure and duly certified by a DOH 
4 
accredited eye bank and the National Association of Ophthalmologists 
5 
6 
SEC. 25. Delivery of Document of Legacy or Donation. - If the legacy or donation is made to a 
7 
specified recipient, the will, card or other document, or an executed copy thereof, may be 
8 
delivered by the testator or donor, or the authorized representative of the testator or donor to the 
9 
recipient to expedite the appropriate procedures immediately after death. The will, card or other 
10 
document, or an executed copy thereof, may be deposited in any hospital or organ bank storage 
11 
facility that accepts it for safekeeping or for facilitation of procedures after death. On the request 
12 
of any interested party upon or after the testator's death, the person in possession shall produce 
13 
the document of legacy or donation for verification. 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
SEC. 26. Amendment or Revocation of Legacy or Donation. 
19 
20 
(a) If the will, card or other document, or an executed copy thereof, has been delivered to a 
21 
specific recipient, the testator or donor may amend or revoke the legacy or donation 
22 
either by: 
23 
(1) The execution and delivery to the recipient or recipient of a signed statement; or 
24 
(2) A written statement addressed to an attending physiCian executed in the presence 
25 
of two (2) other persons and communicated to the recipient; or 
26 
(3) A written statement addressed to an attending phYSician during a terminal illness 
27 
or injury, and communicated to the recipient; or 
28 
(4) A signed card or document found on the person or effects of the testator or donor. 
29 
(b) Any will, card or other document, or an executed copy thereof, which has not been 
30 
delivered to the recipient may be revoked by the testator or donor in the manner provided 
31 
in subsection (a) of this section or by destruction, cancellation, or mutilation of the 
32 
document and all executed copies thereof. 
33 
(c) Any legacy or donation made through a will may also be amended or revoked in the 
34 
manner provided for amendment or revocation of wills or as provided in subsection (a) of 
35 
this section. 
36 
37 
SEC. 27. Rights and Duties After Death. - The reCipient may accept or reject the legacy or 
38 
donation. A reCipient who accepts the legacy or donation shall, upon the death of the testator and 
39 
prior to embalming, authorize the removal of the organ, tissue, or part thereof, avoiding 
40 
unnecessary mutilation. After removal of the human organ, tissue, or part thereof, the custody of 
41 
the remainder of the body vests in the surviving spouse, next-at-kin, or other persons under 
42 
obligation to dispose of the body. 
43 
44 
SEC. 28. Allowable Reimbursements for OPO. - The human organ, tissue, or part thereof shall 
45 
be donated for free or without any financial consideration. The OPO shall be reimbursed for 
46 
reasonable expenses incurred during the recovery, organ and tissue preservation, transport, and 
47 
other operational costs. This amount shall be determined by the Phil NOS and shall be subject to 
48 
regular review. 
8 


1 
2 
SEC. 29. Allowable Assistance to the Deceased Donor Family. - Assistance to the donor family 
3 
shall be limited to funeral and/or hospitalization expenses of the donor. This amount shall be 
4 
determined by the Phil NOS and shall be subject to regular review. 
5 
6 
SEC. 30. Transport of Donated Organ. -
In view of the urgency to immediately transport the 
7 
donated organ, all local airlines shall allocate a space in the passenger cabin to accommodate 
8 
the transport of such organ or tissues on the first available opportunity, free of charge. The Civil 
9 
Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under the DOTC and the DOH shall jOintly formulate 
10 
guidelines that shall govern the transport of procured organs through commercial airlines. The 
11 
CAAP shall ensure the compliance of all registered commercial airlines with the regulations 
12 
allowing transport of procured organs. 
13 
14 
Phil NOS shall take charge of monitoring and tracking the transport of all donated organs and 
15 
tissues. 
16 
17 
18 
19 
ARTICLE III 
20 
ORGAN DONATION FROM LIVING DONORS 
21 
22 
SEC. 31. Living Donors. - The Board shall establish policies and guidelines to prevent organ 
23 
trafficking and to ensure the safety of living donors and their eventual recipients in accordance 
24 
with the provisions of this Act. 
25 
26 
SEC. 32. Living Donors in Closed Settings. -
Individuals in closed settings, such as prisons, 
27 
rehabilitation centers and other similar facilities, shall be allowed to donate their organs, tissues, 
28 
or parts thereof, only to recipients or recipients who are related to them by blood within the third 
29 
civil degree of consanguinity. 
30 
31 
SEC. 33. Assistance and Protection to Donors. - A donor of a human organ, tissue, or part 
32 
thereof shall be entitled to the following assistance, protection, and recognition: 
33 
(a) Inclusion in the priority list of Phil Nos if the donor should need an organ in the future. The 
34 
immediate family of a living or deceased donor shall also be given priority if any member 
35 
of immediate family, as enumerated in the order of priority in Section 14 of this Act, also 
36 
needs an organ in the future; 
37 
(b) Allowable reimbursement for a living donor may include expenses for travel, housing, 
38 
child care for the donor family and lost wages incurred by the donor in connection with the 
39 
pre-donation work-up, donation of the organ, medical insurance, periodic health 
40 
monitoring, life insurance, and medical care in the immediate peri-operative period; 
41 
(e) Paid leave for fifteen (15) days during the time of full recovery when donor is employed 
42 
either in the government or private sector; 
43 
44 
(d) Disability pay from SSS or GSIS in case of post-operation disability; 
45 
46 
(e) Ten percent (10%) discount on airfare to and from the venue of actual operation for 
47 
potential donors found suitable, mentally and physically to make the donation; and 
48 
9 


1 
(I) Ten percent (10%) discount from pharmaceutical companies and their distributors on 
2 
transplant and post transplant related medicines prescribed for the donor's medication. 
3 
ARTICLE IV 
4 
PHILHEAL TH BENEFITS 
5 
6 
SEC. 34. PhilHealth Assistance. - Pursuant to its mandate under the National Health Insurance 
7 
Act of 1995, as amended, the Phil Health shall develop a benefit package that will mitigate the 
8 
financial burden in organ and tissue transplantation especially in deceased organ and tissue 
9 
donation. 
10 
11 
ARTICLE V 
12 
PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM 
13 
14 
SEC. 35. Information and Education Drive. - To ensure public awareness of the maximum 
15 
benefits under this Act, the DOH, in cooperation with institutions such as the National Kidney and 
16 
Transplantation Institute (NKTI), civic and nongovernment health organizations, and other health-
17 
related agencies involved in the donation and transplantation of human organs and tissues, as 
18 
well as the Department of Education and the CHED shall undertake a public information and 
19 
education program for this purpose. 
20 
21 
The Department of Health shall ensure that all health professionals, both in government and 
22 
private sectors, as well as media organizations from print, radio and television are encouraged to 
23 
undertake massive public information campaign to emphasize the importance of organ donation. 
24 
25 
The Department of Education shall mandate the inclusion of organ donation awareness in the 
26 
national high school curriculum. The CHED shall mandate the inclusion of organ donation 
27 
awareness in all medical and paramedical courses. 
28 
29 
The importance of organ and tissue donation shall be included in the Health and Science 
30 
subjects in the curricula of both the elementary and secondary levels as well as in the general 
31 
education curriculum in the collegiate level. The Secretary of Health shall coordinate with the 
32 
Secretary of Education and the Chairperson of the CHED for the effective implementation of this 
33 
provision. 
34 
35 
The DOH shall also endeavor to disseminate information on human organ and tissue donation 
36 
through other means, including the internet, social media, and mails subject to franking privilege 
37 
38 
SEC. 36. National Organ Donation Awareness Month. - The month of April of every year is 
39 
hereby declared as the "National Organ Donation Awareness Month". The DOH, in coordination 
40 
with various government and private agencies, and organizations, including professional 
41 
societies, OPOs or associations related to human organ and tissue donation and transplantation, 
42 
shall spearhead programs and activities that highlight the importance of organ and tissue 
43 
donation in saving lives. 
44 
45 
ARTICLE VI 
46 
PROHIBITED ACTS AND PENALTIES 
10 


1 
2 
SEC. 37. Prohibited Discriminatory Acts. 
3 
4 
(a) It shall be unlawful to discriminate against a living organ donor or an organ recipient in 
5 
any form from pre-employment to post-employment, including hiring, promotion, or 
6 
assignment by reason of the person being an organ donor or an organ recipient despite a 
7 
certification from a physician that the living donor or an organ recipient is fit for work: 
8 
Provided, That this provision shall not apply to uniformed police and military personnel for 
9 
purposes of their pre-employment and hiring procedure and requirements. 
10 
11 
(b) It shall be unlawful for private health insurance companies under a health maintenance 
12 
organization (HMO) and life insurance companies to deny or deprive a person of health or 
13 
life insurance coverage on the basis of being an organ donor or recipient. Neither shall 
14 
the insurance premiums of an insured donor or recipient be increased nor the insurance 
15 
benefits of an insured donor or recipient be decreased. The Insurance Commission shall 
16 
implement the provision covering life insurance and shall develop the necessary policies 
17 
to ensure compliance. 
18 
19 
(c) It shall be unlawful for a carrier to refuse to transport or ship an organ, tissue, or part 
20 
thereof, whether accompanied or not. Such refusal shall be penalized with a fine in the 
21 
amount of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO). 
22 
23 
(d) Any person who commits the discriminatory act mentioned in subsection (a) and (b) of 
24 
this section shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for six (6) months to four (4) years 
25 
and a fine not exceeding ten thousand pesos (P10,OOO.OO), including the cancellation or 
26 
revocation of license or permit as may be applicable. 
27 
28 
Any person who acts in good faith in accordance with the provisions of this Act shall not be liable 
29 
for damages in any civil action or be subject to criminal prosecution. 
30 
31 
SEC. 38. Other Prohibited Acts. -
It shall be unlawful for any person, natural or juridical, to 
32 
commit any of the following acts: 
33 
34 
(a) Advertise in any manner, whether formally or informally through print, broadcast media 
35 
and other means of electronic media, an offer to sell, barter, deal in or supply human 
36 
organs, tissues, or parts thereof or an offer to acquire, buy or to receive human organs, 
37 
tissues, or parts thereof for consideration in whatever form; 
38 
39 
(b) Advertise, publish, print, broadcast or distribute, or cause the advertisement, publication, 
40 
printing, broadcasting or distribution by any means, including the use of information 
41 
technology and the internet, or any brochure, flyer, or any propaganda material that 
42 
promotes commercial dealings in human organs, tissues, or parts thereof; 
43 
44 
(e) Recruit, transport, transfer, harbor, prOVide, or receipt of persons by any means, for the 
45 
sale, barter, or supply of human organs, tissues, or parts thereof which involves 
46 
consideration in whatever form; 
47 
11 


1 
(d) Offer consideration in money, kind or service for the purpose of acquiring, buying, 
2 
offering, selling, or trading human organs, tissues, or parts thereof; 
3 
4 
(e) Offer to supply human organs, tissues, or parts thereof for consideration or initiate or 
5 
negotiate any arrangement for the supply thereof or for an offer to supply human organs, 
6 
tissues or parts thereof; 
7 
8 
(f) Act as a facilitator, middleman, broker or other similar role in the sale, barter, or supply of 
9 
human organs, tissues, or parts thereof for consideration in whatever form; 
10 
11 
(g) Engage in the trade, sale, barter, or supply of human organs, tissues, or parts thereof for 
12 
consideration in whatever form; 
13 
14 
(11) Store or handle human organs, tissues, or parts thereof that have been acquired or 
15 
transferred or sold for consideration; 
16 
17 
(i) Deliver, transport, transfer or distribute human organs, tissues, or parts thereof that have 
18 
been acquired or transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form; 
19 
20 
(j) Remove or transplant human organs, tissues, or parts thereof that have been acquired or 
21 
transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form; 
22 
23 
(k) Consent to the transplantation of human organs, tissues, or parts thereof and be 
24 
transplanted with the same with the knowledge that the human organs, tissues, or parts 
25 
thereof have been acquired or transferred or sold for consideration in whatever form; 
26 
27 
(I) Recruit or invite persons to supply human organs, tissues, or parts thereof for 
28 
consideration; and 
29 
30 
(m) Make or receive payment for the supply of or for an offer to supply human organs, 
31 
tissues, or parts thereof. 
32 
33 
SEC. 39. Penalties for Other Prohibited Acts. -
The following penalties and sanctions are 
34 
imposed for the offenses enumerated in Section 36 of this Act: 
35 
36 
(a) Any person found guilty of committing any of the acts enumerated in Section 38 of th is 
37 
Act shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment of twenty (20) years and a fine of not less 
38 
than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) but not more than two million pesos 
39 
(P2,000,000.00) 
40 
(b) If the offender is a corporation, partnership, association, club, establishment or any 
41 
juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the owner, president, partner, 
42 
manager, or any responsible officer who participated in the commission of the crime or 
43 
who shall have knowingly permitted or failed to prevent its commission; 
44 
(c) The registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and license to 
45 
operate of an erring corporation, partnership, association, or group shall be cancelled and 
46 
revoked permanently. The owner, president, partner or manager thereof shall not be 
47 
allowed to operate similar establishments in a different name', 
12 


1 
(d) If the offender is a hospital, clinic or other similar licensed medical institution, the penalty 
2 
shall be imposed upon its owner, president, director, members of the board, offiCials, 
3 
doctors and medical staff with knowledge of the illegal acts and partiCipates in the illegal 
4 
acts; 
5 
(e) If the offender is a hospital, clinic or medical institution under the DOH and other 
6 
regulatory institutions, its license shall be cancelled and revoked, and the license to 
7 
practice of medical professionals working in such hospital, clinic, medical or regulatory 
8 
institution found guilty of the illegal acts shall be cancelled and revoked; 
9 
(f) If the offender is a foreigner, the foreigner shall be immediately deported after serving the 
10 
sentence and be barred permanently from entering the country; and 
11 
(g) If the offender is an official or employee of a governrnent agency, such offiCial or 
12 
employee shall be held administratively liable, without prejudice to criminal liability under 
13 
this Act. The government official or employee shall, upon conviction, be dismissed from 
14 
the service and be barred permanently to hold public office. The retirement and other 
15 
benefits of erring government official or employee shall likewise be forfeited. 
16 
17 
ARTICLE VII 
18 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
19 
20 
SEC. 40. Appropriation. 
21 
22 
(a) Initial Appropriation -
Congress shall appropriate the amount of Forty Million Pesos 
23 
(P40,000,000.00) for the initial implementation of the Act. 
24 
25 
(b) Subsequent Appropriations -
the following year after the initial appropriation and 
26 
succeeding years thereafter, the appropriation for the PhiliNOS shall be included in the 
27 
regular budgetary allocation for the Department of Health, until such time that the 
28 
PhiiNOS shall be self-sustaining through its own funding. 
29 
(c) Additional Appropriations -
DOH may request Congress to appropriate supplemental 
30 
funding for the PhilNOS in order to meet targeted milestones of this Act, as may deemed 
31 
necessary by the PhiINOS. 
32 
33 
SEC. 41. Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act, the 
34 
Secretary of Health, after consultation with all health professionals of both government and 
35 
private, and nongovernment health organizations, shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
) 
36 
implementing the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant 
37 
to this Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of 
38 
general circulation. 
39 
40 
SEC. 42. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7170, as amended, also known as the "Organ 
41 
Donation Act of 1991", is hereby repealed. 
42 
43 
All other laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and regulations, executive or administrative orders, 
44 
and other presidential issuances inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or 
45 
modified accordingly. 
46 
13 


1 
SEC. 43. Suppletory Application of Republic Act No. 9208. - The provisions of Republic Act No. 
Z 
9208, otherwise known as the "Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003", and Section 4(g) of its 
3 
Implementing Rules and Regulations, insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of 
4 
this Act, shall apply suppletorily. 
5 
6 
SEC. 44. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
7 
the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
8 
9 
SEC. 45. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
10 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
11 
12 
Approved, 
14