Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._5330

Introduced by HON. JOHN MARVIN “YUL SERVO” NIETO and HON. EDWARD VERA
PEREZ MACEDA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this representation respectfully
re-files this bill, which has constantly been receiving support from the past and present
congress

Speech Language Pathology is a profession devoted to study and help individuals who may
have difficulty with speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and
swallowing disorders.

This bill seeks to promote development of the profession of speech pathology and increase the
competence of speech pathologists by institutionalizing preventive regulatory measures,
programs, and activities that will foster their continuing professional growth.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

PPX
SERVO” NIETO EDWARD VERA PEREZ MACEDA

:. 3° DISTRICT OF REPRESENTATIVE, 4” DISTRICT OF

MANILA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. D339

Introduced by HON. JOHN MARVIN “YUL SERVO” NIETO and HON. EDWARD VERA
PEREZ MACEDA

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

ARTICLE |
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Speech Language Pathology
Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the important role of speech
language pathologists in nation building and promotes the sustained development of a reservoir
of speech language pathologists whose competence have been determined by honest and
credible licensure examinations whose standards of professional practice and service are world-
class and internationally-recognized, globally competitive through preventive regulatory
measures, programs, and activities that foster their continuing, professional growth.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act

a)

“Speech Language Pathology” shall mean an allied health profession devoted to the
evaluation, diagnosis, management and prevention of human communication disorder.

b)

"Speech Language Pathologist” shall mean a person who is registered and licensed to
practice speech language pathology and who holds a valid certificate of registration


professional license and professional identification card issued by the Professional
Regulation Commission under the provisions of this Act.

¢) “Communication Disorder shall mean impairment in the ability to (1) receive and/or
process symbol systems; (2) represents concepts in systems; (3) transmit and use
symbol systems. The impairment may be observed in the disorders of hearing, language
and/or speech processes.

d) “Evaluation” shall mean the global appraisal of the significance and implications of a
diagnostic assessment that shall include formal and informal assessment.

) “Diagnosis” shall mean the act of identifying a human communication or swallowing
abnormality or disorder by analyzing the symptoms presented. It may also include a
study of the origin and development of the symptoms.

f) “Language” is any socially and culturally accepted, structured, symbolic system for
interpersonal communication composed of sounds, letters, manual sign or other symbols
arranged in ordered sequences or strings that express thoughts, intentions, experiences
and feelings comprised of orthographic, phonological, syntactical, semantic and
pragmatic components.

9) “Speech” shall mean the medium of oral communication that employsa linguistic code
(language); through this medium, one can express thoughts and feelings and
understand those of others who employ the same code.

ARTICLE I
THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF SPEECH
PATHOLOGY

SEC. 4. Creation and Composition of the Board. Within ninety days after the

effectivity of this Act, there shall be created the Professional Regulatory Board of Speech
Language Pathology, hereinafter referred to as the Board under the administrative control and
supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the
Commission, to be composed of a Chairperson and two members who shall be appointed by
the President of the Philippines from the three (3) recommendees for each vacant position
chosen from the five nominees of the integrated and accredited national organization of speech
language pathologist.

SEC. §. Qualifications of the Members of the Board. ~ To be the Chairperson or a

member of the Board, one must at the time of higher appointment be:

a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines and an actual resident thereof for at least five (5)
years before his/her appointment;

b) A duly registered and licensed allied health professional holding a valid certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card. in active practice for


the past five (5) years and a member in good standing of the accredited integrated
national organization of speech language pathologists prior to his/her appointment,
‘except if appointed the first Chairperson/ member,

c) Of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any offense involving
moral turpitude; and

d) Must not have pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any school, academy, college,
university or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for administration to
the practice of speech language pathology or where review classes in preparation for the
licensure examination are being offered or conducted, nor shall he/she be a member of
the faculty or of the administration thereof at the time of his/her appointment to the
Board

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Board. — The Board shall have the authority to:

a) Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for carrying out the
provisions of this Act;

b) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;

c) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of speech language
pathology in the Philippines;

d) Adopt an official seal of the Board;

e) Maintain a roster of speech language pathologists indicating therein the basic
information about the registered professionals;

f) Study the conditions affecting the practice of speech language pathology in the
Philippines and adopt measures for the enhancement of the professional ethical and
technical standards therein;

9) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that all
educational institutions offering speech language pathology education comply with the
policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas
of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities;

h) Prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for the
practice of speech language pathology;

i) Standards for the practice of speech language pathology; Issue, reinstate, suspend,
revoke certificate of registration and/or professional license or cancel special permits for
the practice of speech language pathology;


j) Prescribe guidelines and criteria in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
program for speech language pathologist;

k)_ In consultation with the duly accredited organization of speech language pathologist and
the duly recognized association of Schools conferring a Bachelors or other entry level
degree in Speech Language Pathology, prescribe the area of competence to be included
in the computerized licensure examination and their relative weights, determined the
syllabi of the subjects, construct the test questions in licensure examination, score and
rate examination papers;

1) Hear or investigate any violations of this Act, its implementing rules and regulations and
the Code of Ethics for speech language pathologists, and for this purpose, to issue
subpoena duces tecum and/or ad testificandum to secure the appearance of the
witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith: Provided, that the
decision of the Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and
executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of the judgment or decision;

m) Adopt a program for the full computerization of the licensure examination;

n) Grant registration without examination subject to the approval by the Commission;

©) Issue and/or cancel special permits to persons admitted to the practice of speech
language pathology for a specific duration of time, and certificates of recognition for
advanced studies, researches and accomplishments that contribute to the enrichment of
the profession; and

p) Perform such other powers and functions as it may deem necessary to carry out the
objectives of this Act.
The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the Board shall
be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.

SEC. 7. Term of Office. — The Chairperson and members of the Board shall hold office
for three (3) years after appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed and
duly qualified; Provided, that members of the first Board to be appointed after the approval of
this Act shall hold office for the following terms: Chairperson for three (3) years, one member for
two (2) years, and the other member for one (1) years: Provided further, that the Chairperson or
any member may be re-appointed for another term of three (3) years but in no case shall he/she
serve continuously for more than six (6) years. Vacancy in the Board shall be filled for the
unexpired term only. Each member of the Board shall automatically be registered as speech
language pathologists and issued certificate of registration/professional license and professional
identification card and shall take the proper oath of office prior to assumption

SEC. 8. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Boards. —
The chairperson and members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances
comparable to that being received by the Chairpersons and members of existing regulatory
boards under the Commission as provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 9. Suspension and/or Removal of Board Members. - Any member of the Board
may be suspended or removed from office for gross neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice,
unprofessionalism, immorality, unethical or dishonorable conduct, final judgment of crimes
involving moral turpitude, and manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination results,
disclosure of secret and confidential information in the examination questions prior to the
conduct of the said examination or tampering of grades.

The administrative proceedings shall be heard by the Commission, whose
recommendation shall be submitted to the Office of the President. During the investigation, the
respondent shall be placed under preventive suspension by the Commission and another
designated to fill the temporary vacancy in the Board.

SEC. 10. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and
Support Services. - The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the
Commission. All records of the Board, including applications for examination, and administrative
and other investigative cases conducted by the Board shall be under the custody of the
Commission.

The Commission shall designate the secretary of the Board and shall provide the
‘secretariat and other support services to implement the provision of this Act.

SEC, 11, Annual Report. - The Board shall submit an annual report to the Commission
after the close of each calendar year, giving a detailed account of the proceedings of the Board
during the year and recommending measures to be adopted, with the end in view of upgrading
and improving the conditions affecting the practice of speech language pathology in the
Philippines.

ARTICLE Ill
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 12. Examination Required. — All applicants for registration for the practice of
speech language pathology shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be given by
the Board in such places and dates as the Commission may designate subject to compliance
with the requirements prescribed by the Commission

SEC. 13. Qualification for Examination. — \n order to be allowed to take part in the
licensure examination, an applicant must, at the time of filing of higher application, establish to
the satisfaction of the Board that he/she has met the following qualifications:

a) A Filipino citizen or a foreign citizen whose state/country has reciprocity agreement with
the Philippines in the practice of speech language pathology;

b) Good moral character;

c) Has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and


d) A graduate of a Bachelor's degree in speech language pathology from a duly recognized
school, college or university in the Philippines or abroad and recognized/ accredited by
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SEC. 14. Scope of Examination. — The subjects in the licensure examination for
Speech Language Pathologists shall cover the following:

a) Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism
b) Neurological bases of speech and hearing disorders

©) Articulation and phonological disorders

d) Hearing impairment and aural habilitation

e) Language and cognitive communication disorders

f) Fluency disorders

9) Voice disorders

h) Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Conditions

i) Dysphagia

j) Medical and neurological disorders that may cause communication and swallowing
disorders

k)_ Normal development and function of speech, language, hearing and swallowing

1) Principles of assessment and intervention for speech, language, hearing and/or
swallowing conditions
The Board may recluster, rearrange, modify, add or exclude any subject or change the
percentage or weight given to said subjects, as the need arises so as to conform to
technological changes

Sec. 15. Registration Without Examination as Speech Language Pathologist. - A
person who possesses the pertinent qualifications required for admission in the examination for
registration as a speech language pathologist pursuant to the provisions of this Act may be
registered without examination, Provided, that the applicant files with the Board within six (6)
months after the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and Regulations, an application for
registration and issuance of a certificate of registration/professional license and professional
identification card by submitting credentials showing that the applicant before the effectivity of
this Act is a bachelor's degree holder of speech language pathology from a college or university
accredited by the CHED. Provided further, that the applicant is a member of the Accredited
Integrated Professional Organization of speech language pathologists.

SEC. 16. Ratings in the Examination. - To be qualified as having passed the licensure
examination for speech language pathologists, a candidate must have obtained a weighted
general average of seventy-five (75%), with no grade lower than fifty (50%) in any given subject.


A candidate who obtained grade/s below fifty percent (50%) must take the examination in the
subject or subjects where he/she obtained a grade below fifty percent (50%) within two (2) years
from the date of his/her last examination. The topic or subjects retaken must have each a rating
of no less than seventy-five percent (75%) in order to qualify as having passed the examination.

SEC. 17. Report Ratings. - The Board shall submit to the Commission the ratings
obtained by each candidate within ten (10) calendar days after the examination unless extended
for just cause.

SEC. 18. Oath of Speech Language Pathologist. — All successful examinees qualified
for registration and all qualified applicants for registration without examination shall be required
to take an oath of profession before any member of the Board or any authorized officer of the
Commission to administer oaths, prior to entering into the practice of speech language
pathology in the Philippines.

SEC. 19. Issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional License and
Professional Identification Card. - A certificate of registration/professional license and
professional identification card shall be issued to all successful examinees and registrants either
with or without examination upon compliance with all the legal requirements including payment
of fees prescribed by the Commission. The certificate of registration/professional license shall
bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission and the Chairperson and members of
the Board, indicating that the person named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession
with all the privileges appurtenant thereto. The said certificate shall remain in full force and
effect until withdrawn, suspended or revoked in accordance with this Act.

A professional identification card bearing the registration number, date of issuance,
expiry date, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be issued to every
registrant who has paid the prescribed fee

SEC. 20. Indication of Certificate of Registration/Professional Tax Receipt. - The
speech language pathologist shall be required to indicate his/her certificate of
registration/professional license number and date of issuance, including the professional tax
receipt number on the documents he/she signs, uses or issues in connection with the practice of
his/her profession.

SEC. 21. Refusal to Register. — The Board shall refuse to register and shall not issue a
certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card to any person
convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction or a criminal offense involving moral turpitude or
guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound mind. In the event of
Tefusal to issue the certificate for any reason, the Board shall give the applicant a written
statement setting forth the reason for such action, which statement shall be incorporated in the
record of the Board.

SEC. 22. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration/Professional
License and Professional identification Card and Cancellation of Special Permit. - The
Board may, after giving proper notice of hearing to the party concerned, revoke the practitioner's
certificate of registration/professional license or suspend him/her from the practice of his/her
profession or cancel his/her permit for any of the causes or grounds mentioned in Section 21 of

this Act or for any unprofessional or unethical conduct, malpractice, violation of any of the
provisions of this Act, its rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics and the Standards for speech

language pathologists.


SEC, 23. Reinstatement, Re-issuance or Replacement of Certificate of
Registration/Professional License. — A person may apply to the Board for reinstatement of a
certificate of registration/professional license at any time after two (2) years from the date of
revocation of said certificate. The application shall be in writing and shall conform with the
requirements as provided by the Board. No certificatellicense shall be reinstated unless the
Board is satisfied that a good cause exists to warrant such reinstatement.

SEC. 24, Roster of Speech Language Pathologist. - The Board shall prepare, update
and maintain a roster of speech language pathologist in coordination with the integrated and
accredited professional organization, which shall contain the name of each registration and
issuance of certificates, and other data which the Board may deem pertinent. The roster shall be
open to the public, copies of which shall be mailed to each person listed therein.

SEC. 25. Issuance of Special/Temporary Permit. - Special/Temporary permit may be
issued by the Board subject to the approval by the Commission and payment of the fees the
latter has prescribed and charged thereof to the following persons:

a) a foreign speech language pathologist called for consultation for a specific purpose
which, in the judgment of the Board, is essential for the growth of the profession:
Provided, however, that his/her activities shall be limited only to the particular work, for
which he/she is being engaged: Provided, further, that he/she is qualified to practice
his/her profession in his/her state or country. Provided. finally, that there is no Filipino
speech language pathologist qualified for such consultation or specific purpose;

b) a foreign speech language pathologist who is an internationally recognized expert or
specialist in any branch of speech language pathology and his/her service is essential
for the advancement of speech language pathology in the Philippines; and

¢c) a foreign speech language pathologist to be engaged as professor, lecturer, or critic in
fields essential to speech language pathology education in the Philippines is confined to
teaching only.

The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and conditions: the same
shall be valid for a period of not more than one (1) year subject to renewal; the branch or
specialty of speech language pathology which permit holder can practice in: and the specific
place of practice such as clinic, hospital, center, School/college/university offering the course of
speech language pathology. The Board, subject to the approval by the Commission, shall
prescribe rules and regulations for the implementation of this particular section.

ARTICLE IV
PRACTICE OF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

SEC. 26. Scope of the Practice of Speech Language Pathology. — The Scope of the
Practice of Speech Language Pathology shall embrace, but shall not be limited to the
performance, in collaboration with other professionals, families and the community of any of the
following

a) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, manage and prevent disorders of speech such as,
but not limited to articulation, fluency. Voice, hearing and language;


b) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, manage and prevent disorders of oralpharyngeal
functions such as, but not limited to dysphagia and related disorders,

c) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose and manage cognitive communication systems and
provide training in their use;

d) Assess, select and develop augmentative and altemative communication systems and
provide training in their use;

) Screen hearing acuity for the purpose of speech language evaluation and aural
rehabilitation;

f) Plan, teach and carry out home programs and training for patients and their families;

9) Plan, conduct and evaluate teaching-learning activities for students of speech language
pathology and other related courses; for other health professionals, patients and their
families;

h) Plan, conduct and evaluate researches in pursuit of new knowledge for the growth of
speech language pathology in the Philippines;

i) Provide consultancy to government and non-government organization regarding the field
of speech language pathology;

j) Perform administrative duties in speech language pathology clinics/units in hospitals,
schools and other rehabilitation centers; and

k) Teaching, lecturing and reviewing subjects given in the licensure examination.

SEC, 27. Prohibition on the Practice of Speech Language Pathology. ~ No person
shall practice or offer to practice speech language pathology in the Philippines or offer
himself/herself as speech language pathologist, or use the title, word, letter figure, or a sign
tending to convey the impression that he/she is a speech language pathologist, or advertise or
indicate in any manner whatsoever that he/she is qualified to perform the Work of a speech
language pathologist unless he/she has satisfactorily passed the licensure examination given by
the Board, except as otherwise provided in this Act, and is a holder of a valid certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card or a valid temporary/special
permit duly issued to him/her by the Board and the Commission.

SEC. 28. Prohibited Acts. - No person shall
a) Engage in the practice of speech language pathology by representing himself herself as

‘a speech language pathologist without a valid certificate of registration/professional

license or a valid temporary/special permit granted by the Board pursuant to this Act;

b) Practice his/her profession during the period of his/her suspension from the practice
thereof;

c) Allow an unqualified person to advertise or to practice the profession by using his/her
certificate of registration/professional license or temporary special permit; and


d) Use as his/her own the certificate of registration professional license or
temporary/special permit of another.

SEC. 29. Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Speech Language
Pathologist. — The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of
Technical Standards for speech language pathologist prescribed and issued by the Accredited
and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of speech language pathologists,

SEC. 30. Continuing Professional Development (CPD). — All speech language
pathologists shall abide by the requirements, rules, and regulation on continuing professional
education to be promulgated by the PRC Regulatory Board, subject to the approval of the
Commission, in coordination with the AIPO for speech language pathology and the
representative of duly accredited education institutions. For this purpose, the Board may create
a CPD Council to implement the CPD program subject to the guidelines as may be issued by
the Commission

SEC. 31. Integration of Speech Language Pathologist. - The speech language
pathology profession shall be integrated into one (1) national professional organization of
speech language pathologists which shall be duly registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, shall accredit the said
organization as the one and only Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of
registered speech language pathologists. All speech language pathologists whose names
appear in the Registry Book of Speech Language Pathologists shall ipso facto or automatically
become members thereof and shall receive all the benefits and privileges appurtenant thereto
upon payment of AIPO membership fees and dues.

Membership in the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) shall not be
a bar to membership in other organizations of speech language pathologists.

SEC. 32. Foreign Reciprocity. — No foreign speech language pathologist shall be given
a certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card or be entitled
to any of the privileges under this Act unless the country of which the foreign speech language
pathologist is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino speech language pathologists to
practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the subjects or citizens of said country or
state,

ARTICLE V
FINAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 33. Funding Provision. - The Chairman of the Professional Regulation
Commission shall immediately include in the Commission's programs the implementation of this
Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Acts and
thereafter.

SEC. 34. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this
Act or any of its implementing rules and regulations as promulgated by the Board subject to the
approval of the Commission shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20, 000.00) nor more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50, 000.00) or


by imprisonment of not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court.

SEC. 35. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — To implement the provisions of this
Act, the Board, shall, subject to the approval of the Commission, promulgate the rules and
regulations and the Code of Ethics for speech language pathologists within sixty (60) days after
the constitution of the first Board.

SEC. 36. Separability Clause. — If any section or provision of this Act shall be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or provision of this Act.

SEC. 37. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, issuances or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

SEC. 38. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) major newspaper of national circulation
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,