Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE DRUG PRICE REGULATORY BOARD TO REGULATE THE PRICES 
OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IN THE PHILIPPINES AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9502, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE 
CHEAPER AND QUALITY MEDICINES ACT OF 2008" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This proposed measure seeks to create a Drug Prices Regulatory Board which shall have the 
responsibility of regulating the process of drugs and medicines in the Philippines. The proposed 
Drug Prices Regulatory Board shall be composed of seven members which shall hail from various 
agencies (such as the Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Food and Drugs 
Administration, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) and representatives from the 
academe (economist) and consumers’ sector. This inter-agency composition of the board is 
proposed to ensure a broad spectrum of ideas, viewpoints, and administrative powers in 
addressing the issue of affordability and accessibility of drugs and medicines in the country. 
This measure shall likewise strengthen the procurement of cheaper drugs and medicines by the 
government through the creation of a trust fund to be utilized for parallel drug importation and 
other procurement arrangements. The Board is empowered to require pharmaceutical distributors 
to buy or obtain under any other form of arrangement, a reasonable quantity of drugs and 
medicines procured by the government. The Board can also mandate up to 15% of a drug or 
medicine procurement of large pharmaceutical distributors to be allotted to a particular generic 
drug and medicine, thereby ensuring affordability and accessibility of medicines for our 
countrymen. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 1, 2022
9:40 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE DRUG PRICE REGULATORY BOARD TO REGULATE THE PRICES 
OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES IN THE PHILIPPINES AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9502, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE 
CHEAPER AND QUALITY MEDICINES ACT OF 2008" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
SECTION 1. Chapter 3 of Republic Act No. 9502 will now be titled, “Drugs and Medicines Price 
Regulatory Board” 
SEC. 2. Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 17 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
“SEC. 17. CREATION AND COMPOSITION OF THE DRUG PRICES 
REGULATORY BOARD. 
a) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE DRUGS PRICES REGULATORY
BOARD, WHICH SHALL BE ATTACHED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND COMPOSED OF SEVEN (7) MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
1. SECRETARY OF HEALTH OR HIS DULY DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVE AS CHAIRPERSON;
2. SECRETARY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY OR HIS DULY
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE AS VICE-CHAIRPERSON;
3. DIRECTOR, FOOD AND DRUGS ADMINISTRATION OR HIS
DULY DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE AS MEMBER;
4. CHAIRMAN, 
PHILIPPINE 
HEALTH 
INSURANCE
CORPORATION AS MEMBER;
5. ONE (1) ECONOMIST FROM THE ACADEME AS A MEMBER;
AND
6. TWO (2) REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CONSUMERS'
SECTOR AS MEMBERS.
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b) THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD REPRESENTING THE ACADEME 
AND THE CONSUMERS’ SECTOR SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE 
PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES AND SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM 
OF TWO (2) YEARS: PROVIDED, THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES 
FROM THE CONSUMERS' SECTOR SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR 
REAPPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER TERM.” 
 
SEC. 3. Section 18 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 18 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 18. POWERS OF THE BOARD. – THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE 
FOLLOWING POWERS: 
 
a) POWER TO DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE OF DRUGS OR 
MEDICINES SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION. – 
 
(1) UPON APPLICATION OR MOTU PROPIO WHEN THE PUBLIC 
INTEREST SO REQUIRES, THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER 
TO REGULATE THE RETAIL PRICES OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES 
LISTED UNDER SECTION 26 HEREOF, INCLUDING THEIR 
DOSAGE FORM AND PACKING, AND, SO THAT THEY SHALL BE 
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT AFFORDABLE RETAIL 
PRICE FROM THE DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS, 
TRADERS, DISTRIBUTORS, WHOLESALERS OR RETAILERS AND 
AFTER A PROPER DETERMINATION AS THE BOARD MAY DEEM 
FIT, FIX FROM TIME TO TIME, BY PUBLICATION THE MAXIMUM 
RETAIL PRICE AT WHICH SUCH FORMULATIONS SHALL BE 
SOLD; 
 
(2) NO RETAILER SHALL SELL DRUGS AND MEDICINES AT A RETAIL 
PRICE EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE FIXED BY THE 
BOARD: PROVIDED, THAT UNTIL THE MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE 
OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION IS 
FIXED BY THE BOARD, THE RETAIL PRICE THEREOF SHALL BE 
THE PRICE WHICH PREVAILED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE 
EFFECTIVITY 
OF 
THIS 
ACT 
AND 
NO 
MANUFACTURER, 
IMPORTER, 
TRADER, 
DISTRIBUTOR, 
WHOLESALER 
OR 
RETAILER OF SUCH DRUG OR MEDICINE SHALL SELL THE SAME 
AT A RETAIL PRICE EXCEEDING THE PRICE PREVAILING 
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT.  
 
FOR PURPOSES HEREOF, DRUGS AND MEDICINES SHALL 
INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SINGLE- AND MULTI-
INGREDIENT MEDICINES INCLUDED IN THE PHILIPPINE 


NATIONAL DRUG FORMULARY (PNDF) ESSENTIAL DRUG LIST 
AND SOLD UNDER THEIR GENERIC AND BRAND NAMES. 
 
b) POWER TO INCLUDE OTHER DRUGS OR MEDICINES IN THE UST 
SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION. – UPON APPLICATION OR MOTU 
PROPIO WHEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST SO REQUIRES AND AFTER 
PROPER DETERMINATION, THE BOARD MAY ORDER THE INCLUSION 
OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES TO THE LIST SUBJECT TO PRICE 
REGULATION UNDER SECTION 26 HEREOF. 
 
c) POWER 
TO 
IMPLEMENT 
COST-CONTAINMENT 
AND 
OTHER  
MEASURES. –  
 
(1) THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE FAIR 
PRICE OF DRUGS OR MEDICINES FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC 
HEALTH INSURANCE AND GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT; AND 
 
(2) THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO IMPLEMENT ANY 
OTHER MEASURES THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY AVAIL OF TO 
EFFECTIVELY REDUCE THE COST OF DRUGS OR MEDICINES 
THAT SHALL INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, COMPETITIVE 
BIDDING, PRICE-VOLUME NEGOTIATIONS, PARALLEL DRUG 
IMPORTATION, AND OTHER APPROPRIATE MECHANISMS THAT 
INFLUENCE SUPPLY, DEMAND, AND EXPENDITURES ON DRUGS 
AND MEDICINES. 
 
(3) THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO MANDATE UP TO 15% 
OF A 
DRUG 
OR 
MEDICINE 
PROCUREMENT 
OF 
LARGE 
PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTORS TO BE ALLOTTED TO A 
PARTICULAR 
GENERIC 
DRUG 
AND 
MEDICINE 
AND/OR 
REQUIRE PHARMACEUTICAL DISTRIBUTORS TO BUY OR 
OBTAIN UNDER ANY OTHER FORM OF ARRANGEMENTS, 
REASONABLE 
QUANTITY 
OF 
DRUGS 
AND 
MEDICINES 
PROCURED BY THE PHILIPPINE PHARMA PROCUREMENT, INC. 
SUCH DRUGS AND MEDICINES SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO 
ALL BRANCHES OF THE SAID DISTRIBUTOR WHICH SHALL 
INFORM 
ANY 
BUYER 
OF 
THE 
AVAILABILITY, 
WITH 
CORRESPONDING PRICES, OF THESE DRUGS AND MEDICINES 
SO THAT THE BUYER MAY ADEQUATELY EXERCISE HIS/HER 
OPTION. THE LIST OF THESE DRUGS AND MEDICINES SHALL BE 
POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN THE SAID BRANCHES. 
 
d) POWER TO IMPOSE ADMINISTRATIVE FINES AND PENALTIES. – 
AFTER DUE NOTICE AND HEARING, THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE 
POWER TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE THE LICENSE TO OPERATE (LTO), 


PROFESSIONAL OR BUSINESS LICENSE, AS THE CASE MAY BE, OF 
ANY PERSON, MANUFACTURER, IMPORTER, TRADER, DISTRIBUTOR, 
WHOLESALER, RETAILER, OR ANY OTHER ENTITY, AND IMPOSE 
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES IN SUCH AMOUNT AS IT MAY DEEM 
REASONABLE WHICH SHALL IN NO CASE BE LESS THAN TWO 
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P 200,000.00) NOR MORE THAN FIVE 
MILLION PESOS (P 5,000,000.00) FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE 
MAXIMUM RETAIL PRICE FIXED UNDER THIS SECTION. 
 
e) OTHER POWERS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT PROVISIONS OF THIS 
CHAPTER. – THE BOARD SHALL EXERCISE SUCH POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT AND ENFORCE 
THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER OF THIS ACT, INCLUDING THE 
POWER TO REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION AND SUBMISSION OF 
RECORDS, DOCUMENTS, BOOKS OF ACCOUNT, BILLS OF LADING, 
INPUT DOCUMENTS, RECORDS OF PURCHASE AND SALE, FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS, AND SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS, INFORMATION, AND 
PAPERS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE BOARD TO CARRY 
OUT 
ITS 
FUNCTIONS, 
DUTIES, 
AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES. 
ACCORDINGLY, EVERY DECEMBER 31st OF  EVERY YEAR, EVERY 
MANUFACTURER, 
IMPORTER, 
 
DISTRIBUTOR, 
TRADER, 
WHOLESALER, AND RETAILER OF DRUG AND MEDICINE WHETHER 
INCLUDED IN OR EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST OF DRUGS AND 
MEDICINES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION SHALL 
FURNISH THE BOARD A LIST, CONTAINING ON THE MINIMUM THE 
CORRESPONDING PRICES AND INVENTORY, OF ALL DRUGS AND 
MEDICINES IT MANUFACTURES, IMPORTS,  DISTRIBUTES, TRADES, 
WHOLESALES, OR RETAILS  ALL NECESSARY AND INFORMATION 
THAT THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE.” 
 
SEC. 4. Section 19 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 19 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 19. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD – THE BOARD SHALL HOLD 
REGULAR MEETINGS EVERY QUARTER AND SUCH SPECIAL MEETINGS 
AS MAY BE NECESSARY UPON THE REQUEST OF THE CHAIRMAN OR 
UPON THE REQUEST OF AT LEAST TWO (2) OF ITS MEMBERS. THE 
BOARD MAY INVITE CONCERNED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES OR 
ENTITIES TO PARTICIPATE, COMPLIMENT, AND ASSIST IN THE 
PERFORMANCE OF ITS FUNCTIONS.” 
 
SEC. 5. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 20 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 20. CREATION OF A SECRETARIAT – THERE IS HEREBY CREATED 
A SECRETARIAT TO BE HEADED BY AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO 


SUPPORT THE BOARD IN CARRYING OUT ITS FUNCTIONS. THE BOARD 
SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL SETUP, QUALIFICATIONS, 
AND 
COMPENSATION 
OF 
THE 
EMPLOYEES 
COMPOSING 
THE 
SECRETARIAT BY EXISTING CML SERVICE AND CAREER EXECUTIVE 
SERVICE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CONSISTENT WITH THE 
PROVISION 
OF 
THE 
SALARY 
STANDARDIZATION 
LAW 
FOR 
GOVERNMENT 
PERSONNEL, 
AND 
DETERMINE 
THE 
SIZE 
AND 
COMPOSITION OF THE SECRETARIAT.” 
 
SEC. 6. Section 21 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 21 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 21. PROCEDURES FOR INQUIRIES, STUDIES, HEARINGS, 
INVESTIGATIONS, AND PROCEEDINGS. – ALL INQUIRIES, STUDIES, 
HEARINGS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED BY THE 
BOARD SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE RULES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD, 
AND IN THE CONDUCT THEREOF SHALL NOT BE BOUND BY THE 
TECHNICAL RULES OF EVIDENCE.” 
 
SEC. 7. Section 22 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 22 is hereby 
inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 22. EFFECTIVITY AND REVIEW OF THE DECISIONS OR ORDERS OF 
THE BOARD. – ALL DECISIONS OR ORDERS OF THE BOARD UNDER 
SECTION 18 HEREOF, SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY OPERATIVE.  
 
A PARTY ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY A DECISION, ORDER, OR RULING OF 
THE BOARD MAY, WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM NOTICE OF SUCH 
DECISION, ORDER OR RULING, OR IN CASE OF A DENIAL OF A MOTION 
FOR RECONSIDERATION THEREOF, WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER 
NOTICE OF SUCH DENIAL, FILE AN APPEAL WITH THE COURT OF 
APPEALS, WHICH SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION TO REVIEW SUCH 
DECISION, ORDER OR RULING.  
 
THE FILING OF A PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR OTHER 
SPECIAL REMEDIES IN THE SUPREME COURT SHALL IN NO CASE 
SUPERSEDE OR STAY ANY DECISION, ORDER, OR RULING OF THE 
BOARD UNLESS THE SUPREME COURT SHALL SO DIRECT, AND THE 
PETITIONER MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE SUPREME COURT TO GIVE 
BOND IN SUCH FORM AND OF SUCH AMOUNT AS MAY BE DEEMED 
PROPER.” 
 
SEC. 8. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 9502 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SECTION 26. Display of Maximum Retail Price Fixed [and approved by order of 
the President of the Philippines] by the BOARD for Drugs or Medicines Subject to 
Price Regulation. – 
 


a) Within a reasonable period as may be determined by the [Secretary of the 
Department of Health] BOARD, and: Provided, That it conforms to existing 
drug product labeling requirements, every manufacturer, importer, distributor, 
wholesaler, trader, or retailer of a drug and medicine intended for sale shall 
display the retail price which shall not exceed the maximum retail price fixed 
by the Board. The maximum retail price shall be printed on the label of the 
immediate container of the drug and medicine and the minimum pack thereof 
offered for retail sale with the words “RETAIL PRICE NOT TO EXCEED” 
preceding it, and “UNDER DRUG PRICE REGULATION" on a red strip 
PROVIDED THAT IN CASE OF A CONTAINER CONSISTING OF 
SMALLER SALEABLE PACKS, THE RETAIL PRICE OF SUCH SMALLER 
PACK SHALL ALSO BE DISPLAYED ON THE LABEL OF EACH SMALLER 
PACK AND SUCH PRICE SHALL NOT BE MORE THAN THE PRO-RATA 
RETAIL PRICE OF THE MAIN PACK ROUNDED OFF TO THE NEAREST 
CENTAVO.” 
 
b) Within a period as may be determined by the [Secretary of the Department of 
Health] BOARD from time to time, every manufacturer, importer, or trader 
shall issue a price list to wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and to the 
[Secretary of the Department of Health] BOARD, indicating the retail price, 
the maximum retail price, and such other information as may be required by 
the [Secretary of the Department of Health] BOARD. 
 
SEC. 9. A new Section 26-A is hereby inserted to read as follows: 
 
“SECTION 26-A. DISPLAY OF PRICE AND PRICE LIST OF DRUGS OR 
MEDICINES 
EXCLUDED 
FROM 
THE 
LIST 
SUBJECT 
TO 
PRICE 
REGULATION. 
– 
EVERY 
MANUFACTURER, 
IMPORTER, 
TRADER, 
DISTRIBUTOR, WHOLESALER, OR RETAILER OF A DRUG OR MEDICINE 
EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST SUBJECT TO PRICE REGULATION UNDER 
SECTION 23 HEREOF SHALL DISPLAY IN INDELIBLE PRINT MARK ON 
THE LABEL OF THE IMMEDIATE CONTAINER OF THE DRUG OR MEDICINE 
AND THE MINIMUM PACK THEREOF OFFERED FOR RETAIL SALE, THE 
WORDS “NOT UNDER PRICE REGULATION” ON GREEN STRIP.” 
 
SEC. 10. Section 28 of R.A 9502 is hereby deleted and a new Section 28 is hereby inserted to 
read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 28. CREATION OF A TRUST FUND – A TRUST FUND FOR FIVE 
HUNDRED 
MILLION 
PESOS 
(P 
500,000,000.00) 
IS 
HEREBY 
ESTABLISHED TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BOARD. THE FUND SHALL 
SERVE AS A REVOLVING FUND TO BE UTILIZED FOR PARALLEL DRUG 
IMPORTATION AND OTHER PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENTS TO LOWER 
THE COST OF DRUGS AND MEDICINES THROUGH THE PHILIPPINE 
PHARMA PROCUREMENT, INC.” 
 


SEC. 11. Section 30 of R.A. 9502 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 
“SEC. 30. Reportorial and Public Notice Requirements. – 
 
a) The [Secretary of the Department of Health] BOARD shall submit a bi-annual 
Monitoring Report of its performance on the implementation of this Act to the 
Office of the President. This report submitted to the Office of the President 
shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within thirty (30) days 
upon submission. 
X x x x 
 
c) The order of the [President of the Philippines] BOARD imposing maximum 
retail prices on drugs and medicines, including the conditions implementing it, 
shall be published within fifteen (15) days from issuance in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. All wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, 
importers, or traders shall have a copy of the order of the [President of the 
Philippines] BOARD and provide the same to their clients and customers for 
every transaction. 
X x x x” 
 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. – The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos (P 500,000,000.00) as 
a trust fund under Section 28 hereof and the amount necessary to carry out the functions of the 
Board shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – Should any provision herein be declared unconstitutional, the 
same shall not affect the validity of other provisions of this Act.  
 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or other 
issuances of parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly.  
 
SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,