SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT 14 P5 :33 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1851 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides that: 
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instil health consciousness among them. 
Umbilical cord blood is human blood from'the placenta and umbilical cord, collected 
after the cord has been detached from the newborn baby. Cord blood is utilized as a source of 
stem cells for transplantation, being rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Hematopoietic stem cells 
(HSCs) are stem cells that give rise to all the blood cell types including myeloid (monocytes and 
macrophages, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, erythrocytes, megakaryocytes/platelets, 
dendritic cells), and lymphoid lineages (T-cells, Bcells, NK-cells).2 Cord blood has more stem 
cells which can adjust themselves easily when injected into any organ, heart, spleen, nerves or 
any other body part. Stem cell is a new technology that uses human embryo cells to treat 
diseases. The embryo cells are called "stem cells" becal!se they can be stimulated to develop into 
any type of tissue or system. Stem cells are nascent cells that can develop into replacement cells 
that researchers believe could help treat damaged organs and illnesses. 
Most cells can make copies of themselves, but only of the same type. In this respect, stem 
cells axe special. Unlike other cells, they don't have one specific job. They are like a "blank" 
cell. They don't die and can split to form several different types of cells: It is for this reason that 
umbilical cord blood is collected. The blood is rich hematopoietic stem ceUs. They can produce 
red blood cells, white blood cells and blood clotting cells. These stem cells can be saved and 
transplanted into other people to treat deadly diseases. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood can 
be used to treat a wide variety of blood, bone, genetic, and immune system diseases in children, 
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including: Lymphoma, Leukemia, Adrenoleukodystrophy (a degenerative brain disease), 
Krabbe's Disease (genetic brain disease), Sickle Cell Anemia, and Osteopetrosis among others. 
Recently, there has been a lot of public debate on the collection of other types of stem 
cells. These cells come from aborted' fetuses or human embryos grown in a'iab called embryonic 
stem cells. This debate does not include stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood which are 
Adult or Non-Embryonic Stem Cells, There is absolutely no health risk associated with 
collection, and the process does not interfere with childbirth in any way. Usually, collection 
takes less than ten minutes. Most healthy women, 18 years of age or older, who undergo a 
complication-free pregnancy can donate their child's umbilical cord blood. Exceptions to 
donation of umbilical cord blood include: parents who have a family history of blood, immune 
system or genetic disorders; women who were prescribed certain medications during pregnancy; 
and parents who have tested positive for sexually transmitted infection. 
The umbilical cord blood that is not donated is merely thrown out as medical waste. 
Thus, it would be prudent to tell the patient that there is another use for the umbilical cord blood. 
, 
, 
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This bill aims to give parents the option of donating their child's. umbilical cord blood for the 
reasons previously stated. It also aims to establish storage facilities in all hospitals for storing 
umbilical cord blood.' 
~\,. ~~.~-J~ 
W,WRIAM DEF~SOR S 
T1AfO' 
• This bill was originaJly filed in the 14'h Congress, 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1851 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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UCT 14 P5 :33 
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ESTABLISHING CORD BLOOD STORAGE FACILITIES IN ALL HOSPITALS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
•. 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as rhe "Umbilical Cord Blood 
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Collection Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Principle. - It is hereby declar¢d the policy of the State to 
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protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
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them. For this reason, the state aims to develop new technologies to provide cure for existing 
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diseases. 
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SECTION 3. Requirement to Advice of Option to Donate Umbilical Cord Blood. - All 
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health care practitioners who provide health care services to a pregnant woman during the last 
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trimester of her pregnancy, which services are directly related to the pregnancy, shall advise her 
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that she has an option to donate umbilical cord blood following the birth of her child. 
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SECTION 4. Definition of Umbilical Cord Blood. - For purposes of this Act "umbilical 
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cord blood" means the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a 
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child. 
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SECTION 5. Establishment of Cord Blood Storage Facilities. - One (1) year after the 
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effectivity of this Act, all hospitals should have a facility where cord blood can be stored. 
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However, if existing hospital blood storage· facilities are capable of storing cord blood, the -
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hospital involved is deemed to have complied with the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Health shall 
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promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days following 
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its effectivity. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherWise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential <,i6cree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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