FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) en
Third Regular Session ) ee

EL

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 6833

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution provides, among others that "the State shall
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development
which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services available to all people at affordable cost.”

Drugstores are normally non-existent in barangays outside of the
town proper and most of our people in the countryside are deprived of
access even to basic drugs and medicines when they are in need.

This bill, by institutionalizing the Botica sa Barangay Program,
should provide the answer to this basic need of our people in the
countryside. Within a period of three (3) years, the Department of Health
is enjoined to establish drugstores in every barangay so as to make
available drugs and medicines for common illnesses such as fever, pain,
cough/colds, and others, including vitamin and mineral preparations.

Eventually, the list of drugs could be expanded to better respond to
the needs of every barangay and community in the country.

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

MA. THERESA BONOAN-DAVID
4th District, City of Manila


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No. 6833

Introduced by: MA. THERESA B. BONOAN-DAVID
4% District, City of Manila

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BARANGAY
DRUGSTORES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "BOTICA SA
BARANGAY" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. - This Act shall be known and cited as
the “Botica sa Barangay Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among
them, Towards this end, the State shall provide adequate social services
and endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services
available to every barangay at affordable cost.

SECTION 3. Botica sa Barangay - The Department of Health (DOH)
shall, within thirty (30) days after the approval of this Act, undertake a
three (3)-year program for the establishment of barangay drugstores or
Botica sa Barangay, in every barangay, giving priority to barangays on
the basis of population, poverty incidence, extent of medical and health
care and/or services, geographical conditions, financial and other socio-
economic factors and such other considerations as may be deemed
necessary in undertaking the program within the context of the national
plans and policies on social services, health and medical care.

SECTION 4. Establishment Priority. - The Department of Health shall, in
the establishment of the Botica sa Barangay, undertake prior
consultations with the Municipal Development Council concerned:
Provided, that in the establishment of the Botica sa Barangay, highest
priority shall be given to those economically depressed barangays.

Existing Botica sa Barangays shall be maintained and shall be
covered by relevant provisions of this Act.


SECTION 5. Drugs Available. - The Botica sa Barangay shall make
available, only those drugs included in the "core list" of the national drug
formulary, and the names thereof listed in their respective generic and
trade names made available to the public.

SECTION 6. Botica sa Barangay Aide. - Sale of medicines at the Botica
sa Barangay shall be facilitated by an aide, known as the Botica sa
Barangay Aide, who shall be chosen by and trained under the direction
of the Department of Health.

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Guidelines. - The Department of
Health shall issue the necessary rules and guidelines as may be needed
to fully implement the provisions of this Act. In addition, the DOH shall
also embark on a sustained promotional campaign to increase the
community's awareness of the Botica sa Barangay through its personnel,
non-governmental organizations, barangay official and the print and
broadcast media.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees and other
executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved.