NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 696
of t!iP
'22 JUL 18 AlO *14
RECEIVED BV;, „
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 
SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. B423, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE 
MEDICINE ACT OF 1997"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 8423 or the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) 
was enacted in 1997 which recognized the role of traditional medicine in further 
improving the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people. The 
law aimed to promote the use of traditional, alternative, preventive and curative 
health care modalities that have been proven safe, effective, cost effective and 
consistent with government standards; to formulate standards and guidelines 
appropriate for the practice of traditional and alternative health care; to encourage 
scientific research on and develop traditional and alternative health care systems 
that have direct impact on public health care, among others.
Two decades after, many have taken interest and turned into these alternative 
modalities in search of cure for their ailments or in pursuit of healthier lifestyles. 
Degree and graduate programs In traditional and complementary medicine and 
indigenous health practices are now being offered in various universities. Wellness 
centers and herbal supplements promising improved state of health have entered 
the Philippine market and have grown prominence. Aside from these recent 
developments, our country is inherently blessed with abundant plant species with


known medicinal properties and a diverse heritage of cultural and indigenous health 
practices which allowed traditional medicine to thrive and develop.
We also note the skyrocketing costs of hospitalization and consultation from 
conventional medical practitioners, issues in health insurance coverage, and chronic 
lack of critical infrastructure in primary health care in the countryside that all 
contribute to the popularity of traditional and alternative medicine.
This proposed measure seeks to update the 1997 law to respond to the 
growing awareness and consumption of alternative care systems. It aims to 
empower the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) 
with the necessary regulatory powers to ensure the safety, effectiveness and quality 
of the products and services under the traditional and alternative care systems. It 
also aims to strengthen the presence of traditional and complementary medicine in 
the national health care front as a reliable, accessible and safe option for the people.
In view of the foregoing, consideration of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMON BONG REVILLA, 3R.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
of t!)i'
•22 JUL 18 A10 :14
RECEIVED BY:
S. No.
69
Introduced by SENATOR RAMCN BONG REVILLA, 3R.
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE TRADITIONAL At D COMPLEMENT^ MEDICINE 
cvQTEM AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8423, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "TRADITION AL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
ACT OF 1997"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 8423 is hereby amended to read as 
follows:
"Section 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the 
following terms shall mean;
a) "Traditional and alternative health care SYSTEM" - the sum 
total of knowledge, skills and practices on health care, other 
than those embodied in biomedicine, used in the prevention, 
diagnosis and elimination of physical or mental disorder.
XXX
d) "Alternative health care modalities" - other forms of non- 
ailopathic, occasionally non-indigenous or imported healing 
methods, though not necessarily practiced for centuries nor 
handed down from one generation to another[. Some 
alternative healtivear-e-ffledalitiCG inefade] WHICH SHALL 
INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO reflexology, acupressure,


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chiropractics, nutritional therapy, HILOTf NATUROPATHY,
HOMEOPATHY/HOMOTOXICOLOGY, 
TUINA
MASSAGE, OSTEOPATHY, ANTHROPOSOPHIC
MEDICINE and other similar [methods] MODALITIES.
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h) "PHILIPPINE Traditional healers" - [the relatively old7 
highly respected people with a profowd knowledge—of 
traditional rcmedlos] A PERSON WITH KNOWLEDGE IN 
INDIGENOUS AND/OR PHILIPPINE BELIEF SYSTEMS,
ORAL TRADITIONS AND HEALTH PRACTICES, WHO 
USES THE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE OF THE 
INDIGENOUS 
CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (ICCS/IPS)
and/or other ethnolinguistic groups in the
PHILIPPINES.
XXX
j) "COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE" - A BROAD SET OF
HEALTH CARE PRACTICES THAT ARE NOT PART OF 
THE COUNTRY'S OWN TRADITIONAL OR 
CONVENTIONAL MEDICIME AND ARE NOT FULLY 
INTEGRATED INTO THE DOMINANT HEALTH CARE 
SYSTEM. IT SHALL BE USED INTERCHANGEABLY 
WITH THE TERM ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.
k) "TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE" -
MERGES THE TERMS TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND 
COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE, ENCOMPASSING 
PRACTICES, PRACTITIONERS AND PRODUCTS.
Sec. 2. Section 6 of the same Act, is hereby amended by inserting additional 
powers and functions and the same is hereby renumbered accordingly.
"Sec. 6. Powers and Functions. - In furtherance of its purposes 
and objectives, the Institute shall the following functions.


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i) 
To formulate a code of ethics, [and] ESTABLISH standards 
AND PRESCRIBE RULES, REGULATIONS, and 
REQUIREMENTS for the practice of traditional and 
alternative health care modalities. FOR THIS PURPOSE, 
PITAHC SHALL BE VESTED WITH QUASI JUDICIAL 
POWER [for approval and adoption by the appr-eprlate 
profcsGional and government ogonaes};
j) 
TO INSPECT AND MONITOR ALL T&CM FACILITIES 
TO ENSURE THEIR CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH 
THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THIS ACT AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS 
FOR THE CORRECTION OF DEFICIENCIES FOUND 
DURING INSPECTION AND MONITORING.
k) TO PROMULGATE AND IMPLEMENT RULES AND 
REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE LICENSURE OF T&CM 
PRACTICES AND OPERATION OF T&CM FACILITIES AND 
TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW AND AMEND THE SAME, 
SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SECTORS 
CONCERNED.
l) 
TO GRANT LICENSE FOR THE PRACTICE OF T&CM 
MODALITIES AND FOR THE OPERATION AND 
MAINTENANCE OF T&CM FACILITIES, AND TO SUSPEND 
OR REVOKE THE SAME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 
PROVISION OF THIS ACT.
m) 
TO PRESCRIBE THE NECESSARY GUIDELINES, 
CRITERIA, PRODUCT STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS 
TO BE COMPLIED WITH IN THE REGISTRATION OF T&CM 
PRODUCTS.


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n) TO ASSUME PRIMARY AUTHORITY TO INSPECT, 
COLLECT AND ANALYZE SAMPLES OF ALL T&CM 
PRODUCTS COVERED BY THIS ACT;
o) TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE OR
GRANTS OF AUTHORITY TO MANUFACTURERS, 
IMPORTERS, 
EXPORTERS, 
DISTRIBUTORS,
WHO! ESALERS, AND OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS AND 
FACILITIES OF T&CM PRODUCTS AFTER SPOT- CHECK 
AND/OR AFTER THEIR DUE COMPLIANCE WITH 
TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. 
THESE CERTIFICATES OR GRANTS SHALL SERVE AS 
LICENSE OF THE COVERED ENTITIES TO OPERATE 
AND/OR TO CONTINUE OPERATING;
[0] P) To formulate standards and guidelines for the 
manufacture, marketing and quality control of different 
traditional and alternative health care materials and products 
for approval and adoption by the Bureau of Food and Drugs;
q) To coordinate with other institutions and agencies 
involved in the research on herbal medicines;
[0] r) To adopt and use a corporate seal;
S) To sue and be sued in its corporate name;
[(ft)] t) To succeed by its corporate name;
u) To adopt its bylaws and promulgate such rules and 
regulations as may be necessary or proper to implement this Act, 
and to amend or repeal the same from time to time;
[^] v) To enter into, make and execute contracts and 
agreements of any kind or nature;
[(q)] w) To borrow, raise or obtain funds, or to enter into any 
financial or credit arrangement in order to support or carry 
out its research programs, finance its capital and operating 
expenses, subject to pertinent laws governing public debts 
and expenditure;


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[^] x) To invest in, purchase or otherwise acquire, own, hold, 
use, mortgage, pledge, encumber, sell, assign, convey, 
exchange, or otherwise deal in real and/or personal properties 
of whatever kind and nature, or any interest therein, including 
shares of stock, bonds, notes, securities and other evidences of 
indebtedness of natural or juridical persons, whether domestic 
or foreign and whether government or private;
[^] y) To exercise all the powers of a corporation under the 
General Corporation Law, insofar as such powers are not in 
violation of the provisions of this Act; and 
Z) To exercise such other powers and functions, and 
perforin other acts as may be necessary, proper or incidental to 
the attainment of its purposes and objectives.
Sec. 3. New sections are hereby introduced to read as follows;
SECTION 7. SPECIAL RULES AND EXEMPTIONS. ~ 
RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE MANNER OF OBTAINING 
THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF TRADITIONAL 
MEDICINE, IT BEING HANDED DOWN FROM ONE 
GENERATION TO ANOTHER WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE 
OF FORMAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING, PRACTITIONERS 
BELONGING TO THIS CATEGORY SHALL BE EXEMPT 
from the STANDARD EXAMINATION REQUIRED BY 
THIS ACT. NONETHELESS, THEY ARE STILL MANDATED 
TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY GRANT OF AUTHORITY IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES TO BE 
PRESCRIBED BY PITAHC. IT SHALL BE NECESSARY FOR 
TRADITIONAL PRACTITIONERS TO ESTABLISH THE 
LENGTH OF TIME FOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN KNOWN 
TO HAVE PRACTICED TRADITIONAL MEDICINE AND
prove that, in the course of their practice, no


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RELATED COMPLAINT, WHETHER REPORTED OR NOT, 
WAS MADE AGAINST THEM. FURTHER, SHOULD THEY 
OFFER, WHETHER FOR A FEE OR NOT, OR USE AS A 
MODALITY, HEALTH PRODUCTS, PRACTITIONERS MUST 
SEEK FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE SAME.
SEC. 8. PROHIBITED ACTS. -
A. TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
MODALITIES
1) THE PRACTICE OF ANY OF THE APPROVED T&CM 
MODALITIES BY ANY PERSON OR T&CM 
FACILITIES WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE 
LICENSE OR GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO 
PRACTICE.;
2) THE CONTINUOUS PRACTICE OF ANY OF THE 
APPROVED T&CM MODALITIES BY ANY 
PRACTITIONER OR T&CM FACILITIES WHOSE 
ACCREDITATION OR GRANT OF AUTHORITY HAS 
ALREADY EXPIRED OR HAS BEEN CANCELED OR 
REVOKED;
3) THE PRACTICE OF ANY UNAPPROVED T&CM 
MODALITIES BY ANY PERSON, WHETHER 
CERTIFIED OR NOT, TO PRACTICE IN THE 
PHILIPPINES;
4) THE MERE ACT OF INTRODUCING TO THE 
PUBLIC BY ANY PERSON, CERTIFIED OR NOT, OF 
A T&CM MODALITY THAT IS NOT VALIDLY 
APPROVED BY PITAHC;
5) THE ACT OF A CERTIFIED PRACTITIONER OF 
ALLOWING A PERSON TO COMMIT AN 
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF T&CM


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B.
WHETHER IT BE UNDER HIS/HER DIRECT OR 
INDIRECT SUPERVISION;
6) THE ACT OF ASSISTING OR PERFORMING IN AN 
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF T&CM, WHETHER 
FOR PROFIT OR NOT;
7) THE ACT OF USING TMiM SERVICES TO CAUSE 
INJURY, ILLNESS OR DEATH TO A 
CONSUMER/CUSTOMER;
8) OFFERING T&CM PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS 
OR RENDERING T&CM SERVICES BY SCHOOLS 
OR TRAINING CENTERS WITHOUT THE 
APPROPRIATE LICENSE OR AUTHORITY FROM 
PITAHC;
9) RENDERING T&CM SERVICES BY ACCREDITED 
SCHOOLS OR TRAINING CENTERS THAT ARE 
BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THEIR APPROVED 
PROGRAMS AND TRAININGS;
10) THE ACT OF INTEr^TIONALLY COMMITTING 
FRAUD AND MISREPRESENTATION OR USE OF 
FALSIFIED OR FORGED DOCUMENTS IN 
OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PITAHC APPROVAL 
OR CERTIFICATE OR GRANT OF AUTHORITY;
TRADITIONAL AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
PRODUCTS
1) THE MANUFACTURE, IMPORTATION, 
EXPORTATION, SALE, OFFERING FOR SALE, 
DISTRIBUTION, TRANSFER, NON-CONSUMER 
USE, PROMOTIOM, ADVERTISING, OR 
SPONSORSHIP OF ANY T&CM PRODUCT THAT IS 
ADULTERATED, UNAPPROVED, UNREGISTERED 
OR MISBRANDED;


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C.
2) THE ADULTERATION OR MISBRANDING OF ANY 
T&CM PRODUCT;
3) FORGING, COUNTERFEITING, SIMULATING, OR 
FALSELY REPRESENTING OR, WITHOUT PROPER 
AUTHORITY, USING ANY MARK, STAMP, TAG, 
LABEL, OR OTHER IDENTIFICATION DEVISE 
AUTHORIZED OR REQUIRED BY REGULATIONS 
PROMULGATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 
THIS ACT;
4) THE USE, ON THE iJVBELING OF ANY T&CM 
PRODUCT OR IN ANY ADVERTISEMENT 
RELATING TO THE SAME, OF ANY FALSE OR 
MISLEADING REPRESENTATION OR 
SUGGESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE 
REGISTRATION OF SUCH PRODUCT;
5) THE SALE, OFFERING FOR SALE, IMPORTATION, 
EXPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION OR TRANSFER 
OF ANY T&CM PRODUCT BEYOND ITS 
EXPIRATION OR EXPIRY DATE, IF APPLICABLE;
6) THE ACT OF INTENTIONALLY COMMITTING 
FRAUD AND MISREPRESENTATION OR USE OF 
FALSIFIED OR FORGED DOCUMENTS IN 
OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PITAHC APPROVAL 
OR CERTIFICATE OR. GRANT OF AUTHORITY. 
THIS IS WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE EXERCISE 
OF PITAHC OF ITS POWER TO REVOKE OR 
CANCEL CERTIFICATES, GRANTS OR APPROVAL 
IT HAS ISSUED;
ANY OTHER ACT WHICH VIOLATES OR UNDERMINE
ANY OF THE EXPLICIT POWERS OF OR WHICH
TENDS TO IMPEDE PITAHC FROM EXERCISING ANY
OF ITS FUNCTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ACT.
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SEC. 9. PENALTIES. -
A. FOR ACTS PROHIBITED UNDER SECTION 8 (A)
AND (C)
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THE 
PROVISIONS OF SECTION 8 HEREOF SHALL, UPON 
CONVICTION, SUFFER THE PENALTY OF 
IMPRISONMENT RANGING FROM ONE (1) YEAR 
BUT NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS OR A FINE 
OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P50,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), OR 
BOTH, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT.
THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTIES UNDER 
THIS SECTION SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO 
1 HE ISSUANCE OF CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER OR 
TO THE EXERCISE OF PITAHC OF ITS POWER TO 
REVOKE OR CANCEL CERTIFICATES, APPROVALS OR 
GRANTS IT HAS ISSUED AND/OR TO THE FILING OF 
APPROPRIATE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL ACTION, 
WHENEVER APPROPRIATE OR NECESSARY.
IN CASE, HOWEVER, OF ILLNESS, INJURY 
OR DEATH AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER PARAGRAPH 
(A)(7) OF SECTION 8, THE INTENTIONAL USE OF 
TAHC SERVICES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A 
SEPARATE CRIME. RATHER, THE USE OR 
EMPLOYMENT OF SUCH SERVICE SHALL SERVE AS 
AN AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE TO QUALIFY 
THE APPLICABLE CRIME/S AS PROVIDED FOR BY 
THE REVISED PENAL CODE.
SHOULD THE OFFENSE BE COMMITTED BY A 
JURIDICAL PERSON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE


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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE PRESIDENT, GENERAL 
MANAGER, OR THE PARTNERS AND/OR THE 
PERSONS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE THEREFORE 
SHALL BE PENALIZED.
SHOULD THE OFFENSE BE COMMITTED BY A 
FOREIGN NATIONAL, HE/SHE SHALL, IN ADDITION 
TO THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED, BE DEPORTED 
WITHOUT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AFTER SERVICE 
OF SENTENCE.
B. FOR ACTS PROHIBITED UI4DER SECTION 8 (A)
ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY OF THE 
PROVISIONS OF PARAGiTAPH B OF SECTION 8 
HEREOF SHALL, UPON CONVICTION, SUFFER THE 
PENALTY OF IMPRISONMENT RANGING FROM ONE 
(1) YEAR BUT NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS OR 
A FINE OF NOT LESS THAN FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS 
(P50,000.00) BUT NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000.00), OR BOTH, AT THE 
DISCRETION OF THE COURT: PROVIDED, THAT IF 
THE OFFENDER IS A MANUFACTURER, IMPORTER 
OR DISTRIBUTOR OF ANY T&CM PRODUCT, THE 
PENALTY OF AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS 
IMPRISONMENT BUT NOT MORE THAN TEN (10) 
YEARS AND A FINE OF AT LEAST FIVE HUNDRED 
THOUSAND PESOS (P50(l>000.00) BUT NOT MORE 
THAN FIVE MILLION PESOS (P5,000,000.00) SHALL 
BE IMPOSED: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT AN 
ADDITIONAL FINE OF ONE PERCENT (1%) OF THE 
ECONOMIC VALUE/COST OF THE VIOLATIVE 
PRODUCT OR VIOLATION, OR ONE THOUSAND 
PESOS (P1,000.00), WHICHEVER IS HIGHER, SHALL 
BE IMPOSED FOR EACH DAY OF CONTINUING
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VIOLATION: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT T&CM 
PRODUCTS FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THE 
PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AND OTHER RELEVANT 
LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY BE SEIZED 
AND HELD IN CUSTODY PENDING PROCEEDINGS, 
WITHOUT HEARING OR COURT ORDER, WHEN THE 
DIRECTOR-GENERAL HAS REASONABLE CAUSE TO 
BELIEVE FROM FACTS FOUND BY HIM/HER OR AN 
AUTHORIZED OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE 
PITAHC THAT SUCH T&CM PRODUCTS MAY CAUSE 
INJURY OR PREJUDICE TO THE CONSUMING 
PUBLIC.
SEC. 10. HUMAN RESOURCE - THE PITAHC SHALL 
REVIEW ITS EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 
WITH ITS STAFFING PATTERN, POSITIONS, AND 
TITLES. NEW OR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, TITLES, OR 
RANKS, SHALL BE CREATED IF THERE BE A NEED FOR 
ADDITIONAL MANPOWER AS IDENTIFIED AND 
DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND 
APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
SEC. 11. RETENTION OF INCOME - PITAHC SHALL 
HAVE THE RIGHT TO RETAIN ALL OF ITS INCOME 
DERIVED FROM THE OPERATIONS OF THE HERBAL 
PROCESSING PLANTS AND ITS OTHER INCOME 
GENERATING SERVICES/ACTIVITIES AND SHALL BE 
UTILIZED TO AUGMENT ITS NEEDED MAINTENANCE 
AND OPERATING EXPENSES, CAPITAL OUTLAYS, 
UPGRADING AND MODERNIZATION.
SEC. 12. APPROPRIATION - THE AMOUNT NECESSARY 
FOR THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT 
SHALL BE CHARGED AGAINST THE CURRENT 
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF
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TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE. 
THEREAFTER, THE AMOUNT NEEDED FOR THE 
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PITAHC SHALL BE 
INCLUDED IN THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT.
Sec. 4. Section 8 (d) of this Act is hereby deleted:
"Section 8. Powers and Functions of the Board. ~ The Board shall 
exercise the following powers and functions:
XXX
{d) To appoint, transfer, prometersuspcnd. rcmove-or-ethefwise
discipline-any subordinateoffieer or ennployGeofthe-lRStite-tey
upon-fccemmendation-ofthe-Dirccter-Generel;-]- 
Sec. 5. Section 9 of this Act, is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 9. Director Genera! and Other Officers. - The Institute 
shall be headed by a Director General who shall be appointed by the 
President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary 
of Health for a term of six (6) years. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL 
SHALL ENJOY THE BENEFITS, PRIVILEGES AND EMOLUMENTS 
EQUIVALENT TO THE RANK OF UNDERSECRETARY.
AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE INSTITUTE, THE 
DIRECTOR GENERAL SHALL EXERCISE GENERAL 
SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OVER THE OPERATIONS OF THE 
INSTITUTE SAVE THOSE AFFAIRS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVELY 
WITHIN THE FUNCTION OF THE BOARD.
The Director General shall be assisted by such Deputy Director 
General(s) [and program managers/Geerdinaters-as the Beard-may 
determine to carry-eut the purposes and-objectives-ef4-his-Aet] WHOSE 
TERM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD. THE DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR GENERAL(S) SHALL BE CAREER OFFICIAL(S) AND 
SHALL ENJOY THE BENEFITS, PRIVILEGES AND EMOLUMENTS 
EQUIVALENT TO THE RANK OF AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL SHALL LIKEWISE BE ASSISTED 
BY DEPARTMENT MANAGERS/COORDINATORS AND SUCH
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OTHER OFFICERS AS THE BOARD MAY DETERMINE TO CARRY
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OUT THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS ACT.
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Sec. 6. A new subsection under Section 10 of this Act is hereby added:
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"Section 10. Powers Functions and Duties of the Director
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General. - The Director Genera! shall have the following powers,
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functions and duties:
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g) TO APPOINT, TRANSFER, PROMOTE, SUSPEND,
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REMOVE OR OTHERWISE DISCIPLINE 
ANY SUBORDINATE
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OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE INSTITUTE.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, PITAHC in collaboration with the concerned agencies and
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stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the
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provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Transitory Provision. - Within three (3) years from the effectivity of
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this Act, during the transformation of PITAHC into a regulatory body, the Food and
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Drug Administration (FDA) shall seive in a hold-over capacity the registration of T&CM
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products until PITAHC is reconstituted and capacitated.
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. If any portion of this Act is declared unconstitutional
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or invalid, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall continue to be in full
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force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. Chapter XIII of Presidential Decree No. 856,
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otherwise known as the "Code on Sanitation of the Philippines," is hereby repealed.
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All laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations or parts thereof which
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are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
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circulation.
Approved,
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