, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
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AUG 29 P5:11 
SENATE 
___________ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
In the United States, it is estimated that 300,000 people suffer from 
scleroderma, 80 percent of whom are women often diagnosed during their child 
bearing years. Scleroderma is a chronic, disabling and often fatal autoimmune 
disease in which the body's soft tissues contract and harden due to an over 
production of collagen. It causes damage to one or more of the body's organ 
systems, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and blood 
vessels. l 
Based on a study conducted by some UP-PGH doctors, 2 there seems to be 
also a female predominance (97.5%) in the case of scleroderma in the Philippines, 
with a mean age of onset at 34 years and a mean duration of 4 years prior to 
consult. 
I http://WWW.gR9.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113s1239is/pdtlBlLLS-113s 1239is.pdf. 
2 International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases (Vol. 15, September 2012) entitled "Clinical Profile 
of Filipino Patients with Scleroderma (Systemicsclerosis): An II-year retrospective review of 40 cases" 
by UP-PGH Doctors Lo, Racaza and Penserga 


The study shows that limited type was most commonly observed, and some 
of the manifestations noted were skin tightness, joint complaints, weight loss, 
Raynaud's, hyperpi~~mentation and reduced oral aperture. 
The study also suggests that disease features involving Raynaud's 
phenomenon, skin, joints, heart and lungs, are common among Filipinos and other 
racial groups. But renal involvement appears to be less common among Filipinos 
and its Asian counterparts compared with Caucasians and Africans. 
Scleroderma is repOltedly very hard to diagnose due to different 
combination of symptoms; thus, there should be more research on the disease. 
This bill aims to expand the research and awareness activities of the Department of 
Health with respect to scleroderma. 
Lw\. 41-t: .... .v-. A~ 
MIRlAM DEFliS'SOR si\NTtAGO 
QJJ(. 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
1443 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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AUG 29 P5 :11 
2 
EXPANDING THE RESEARCH AND AWARENESS ON SCLERODERMA OF 
3 
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines, 
in Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Scleroderma 
5 
Research and Awareness Act". 
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SECTION 2. Research on Scleroderma. - The Department of Health shall 
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expand and intensifY its activities with respect to scleroderma, with particular 
8 
emphasis on the following areas: 
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(1) Research focused on the etiology of scleroderma and the development 
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of new treatment options. 
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(2) Clinical research to evaluate new treatments options. 
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(3) Basic research on the relationship between scleroderma and secondary 
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conditions 
such 
as 
pulmonary 
hypertension, 
gastroparesis, 
Raynaud's 
14 
phenomenon, Sjogren's Syndrome, and other diseases as determined by the 
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Department of Health. 
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(4) Establishment of scleroderma patient registries, including family and 
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childhood onset registries. 


(5) Support for training of new clinicians and investigators with expertise 
2 
in scleroderma. 
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SECTION 3. Promoting Public Awareness of Scleroderma. -
The 
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Department of Health shall carry out an educational campaign to increase public 
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awareness of scleroderma. Print, video, and web-based materials distributed may 
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include: 
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(1) basic information on scleroderma and its symptoms; 
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(2) information on the incidence and prevalence of scleroderma; 
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(3) diseases and conditions affiliated with scleroderma; or 
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(4)the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. 
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SECTION 4. Report to Congress. - The Secretary of Health shall report to 
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the Committee on Health and. Demography of the Senate and the House of 
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Representatives on the status of activities under this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. ~ There are authorized to be appropriated t<;> 
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carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years starting 
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2014 through 2016. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
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, 
,~ 
contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
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modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3