FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN.a1J'1 
S. No. 
~\i21 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11 mandates the State to give priority to the needs 
of women. To carry out this mandate, the State should undertake appropriate research focusing 
on women's health which shall be responsive to their needs and responsibilities. 
Women have peculiar needs and responsibilities. Women are more exposed to diseases 
and danger as they get pregnant and give birth. Studies show that women who give birth are 
more susceptible to pregnancy-related and childbirth-related complications, especially if the 
women are either too young or too old, or if the pregnancies and child bearing have been too 
many or closely spaced. 
Because of the responsibilities of women in this society, they have heavier and more 
tiring workloads. Women, aside from doing income-generating work also have to perform such 
other responsibilities as child rearing, community work and housework, which often fall solely 
on them. Hence, there is a probability that they get tired more and so may have lower resistance 
to infections. 
Taking into account the needs of women arising from the role that they play in this 
society, this bill seeks to establish the Office of Research on Women's Health which shall 
conduct research on women's health and shall provide the appropriate and quality care to 
, 
women . 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regnlar Session. 


1 
2 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
. SEN~i21 
S.No. ___ ~ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH ON WOMEN'S HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Research on Women's Health 
4 
Act." 
5 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to the 
6 
needs of women. Taking into account the inherent disparity between men and women, the State 
7 
shall undertake a research focusing on women's health which shall be responsive to the needs of 
8 
every woman. 
9 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
10 
(A) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary to the Department of Health; 
11 
(B) "Women's health conditions" shall refer to all diseases, disorders, and conditions-
12 
(1) Unique to, more serious, or more prevalent in women; 
13 
(2) For which the factors of medical risk or types of medical intervention are 
14 
different for women, Of for which it is unknown whether such factors or types 
15 
are different for women; or 
16 
(3) With respect to which there has been insufficient clinical research involving 
17 
women as subjects or insufficient clinical data on women. 
18 
(C) "Research on women's health" shall mean research on women's health conditions, 
19 
including research on preventing such conditions; and 
20 
(D) "Committee" shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Women's Health. 
1 


1 
SECTION 4. Establishment of the Office of Research on Women's Health. - There shall 
2 
be established an office to be known as the Office of Research on Women's Health which shall 
3 
be headed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall have the following functions: 
4 
(A) To identify projects of research on women's health that should be conducted or 
5 
supported by both the government and non-government agencies; 
6 
(B) To promote coordination and collaboration among entities conducing research 
7 
identified under paragraph (A); 
8 
(C) To recommend an agenda for conducting and supporting such research; and 
9 
(D) To encourage the conduct of such research. 
10 
SECTION 5. Advisory Committee on Women's Health. - In carrying out the provisions 
11 
of Section 4, the Secretary shall establish 'a Committee to be known as the Advisory Committee 
12 
on Women's Health. 
13 
SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members 
14 
which shall include the following: 
15 
(A) Two (2) representatives form the Department; 
16 
(B) Four (4) physicians, practitioners and other health personnel; 
17 
(C) Two (2) representatives from a non-governmental organization which conducts 
18 
research on women; 
19 
(D) One (1) representative form the general pUblic. 
20 
A majority of the members of the Committee shall be women. 
21 
SECTION 7. Meetings. - The Advisory Committee shall determine the number, time, 
22 
place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least one (1) public meeting each year 
23 
at which the general public is given an opportunity to express views concerning the conduct of 
24 
research on women's health by the Office. 
25 
SECTION 8. Term. - Members sh~ll be appointed by the Secretary for a term ofthree (3) 
26 
years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three (3) years, three (3) 
27 
members for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year. 
2 


I 
Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
2 
the original appointment. 
3 
Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with procedures 
4 
established by the Committee. 
5 
SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions: 
6 
(A) Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the 
7 
Office with respect to -
8 
(I) Research on women's heallh; 
9 
(2) Research on gender differences in clinical drug trials, including responses to 
10 
phamlacological drugs; 
11 
(3) Research on gender differences in disease etiology, course and treatment; 
12 
(4) Research on obstetrical and gynecological health conditions, diseases"and 
13 
treatment; and 
14 
(5) Research on women's health conditions which reqUIre a multidisciplinary 
15 
approach. 
, 
16 
(B) Report to the Secretary on such research; 
17 
(C) Provide recommendations to such Secretary regarding activities of the Office. 
18 
(D) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee. 
19 
SECTION 10. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
20 
may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
21 
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Office of Research on 
22 
Women's Health shall be included in the annual appropriation of the Department of Health. 
23 
SECTION II. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
24 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
25 
valid and subsisting. 
3 


I 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
2 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
3 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
4 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (IS) days after its 
5 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers'of general circulation. 
Approved, 
4