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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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0. 
Second Regular Session 
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S. No. sENt??fi32- 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11 provides that: 
SEC. 11. The State shall adopt and integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the 
people at affordable cost. There shall be a priority for the needs of 
the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children. 
The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
The World Health Organization estimates the number of Filipinos with disabilities at 
about one for every ten. Eighty percent live in rural areas where the benefit of development 
could hardly reach them.' 
In order to maximize our resources in fighting paralysis, we need to be able to coordinate 
our research activities and grants for programs to improve the quality of life for persons with 
paralysis and disabilities. By doing so, we will be able to prevent replication of efforts and build 
upon each other's successes instead and minimize wasted endeavors. 
We also need to encourage activities centered on assisting the daily lives of our 
countrymen with disabilities. By establishing a grant program to institutions providing help to 
our fellow Filipinos with disabilities, we will be able to increase the effectiveness of worthy 
programs. 
' hap://www.unescap.org/stat/meet/widd/pape~hilippinesZ.htm 
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This bill seeks to coordinate all paralysis research and programs across the country. This 
bill further empowers the Department of Health to provide grants for programs to improve the 
quality of life for persons with paralysis and physical disabilities. 
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I 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
) 
9 bqp i 7 i‘ i :.: 8 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ENHANCE AND FURTHER RESEARCH INTO PARALYSIS AND TO IMPROVE 
REHABILITATION AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH 
PARALYSIS AND OTHER PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Paralysis Act.” 
SECTION 2. PCHRD Research. - The Director of the Philippine Council for Health 
Research and Development (PCHRD), referred to in this Act as the “Director”, pursuant to the 
general authority of the Director, may develop mechanisms to coordinate all government funded 
paralysis research and rehabilitation activities in order to further advance such activities and 
avoid duplication of activities. 
SECTION 3. Paralysis Research Consortia. - The Director may make awards of grants 
to public or private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, improving, and 
providing basic operating support for consortia in paralysis research. 
SECTION 4. Research. -Each consortium under Section 3- 
A. may conduct basic, translational, and clinical paralysis research; 
B. may focus on advancing treatments and developing therapies in paralysis research; 
C. may focus on one or more forms of paralysis that result from central nervous system 
trauma or stroke; 
D. may facilitate and enhance the dissemination of clinical and scientific findings; and 
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E. may replicate the findings of consortia members or other researchers for scientific and 
translational purposes. 
SECTION 5. Coordination of Consortia. - The Director may, as appropriate, provide for 
the coordination of information among consortia under Section 3 and ensure regular 
communication among members of the consortia, and may require the periodic preparation of 
reports on the activities of the consortia and the submission of the reports to the Director. 
SECTION 6. Organization of Consortia. - Each consortium under Section 3 may use the 
facilities of a single lead institution, or be formed from several cooperating institutions, meeting 
such requirements as may be prescribed by the Director. 
SECTION 7. Public Input. - The Director may provide for a mechanism to educate and 
disseminate information on the existing and planned programs and research activities of the 
PCHRD with respect to paralysis and through which the Director can receive comments from the 
public regarding such programs and activities. 
SECTION 8. Research with Implications for Enhancing Daily Function for Persons with 
Paralysis. - The Director, pursuant to the general authority of the Director, may make awards of 
grants to public or private entities to pay all or part of the costs of planning, establishing, 
improving, and providing basic operating support to multicenter networks of clinical sites that 
will collaborate to design clinical rehabilitation intervention protocols and measures of outcomes 
on one or more forms of paralysis that result from central nervous system trauma, disorders, or 
stroke, or any combination of such conditions. 
SECTION 9. Clinical Site Network. - A multicenter network of clinical sites funded 
through this section may-- 
A. focus on areas of key scientific concern, including- 
1. improving functional mobility; 
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2. promoting behavioral adaptation to fwnctional losses, especially to prevent 
secondary complications; 
3. assessing the efficacy and outcomes of medical rehabilitation therapies and 
practices and assisting technologies; 
4. developing improved assistive technology to improve function and 
independence; and 
5. understanding whole body system responses to physical impairments, 
disabilities, and societal and functional limitations; and 
B. replicate the findings of network members or other researchers for scientific and 
translation purposes. 
SECTION 10. Coordination of Clinical Trials Networks. - The Director may, as 
appropriate, provide for the coordination of information among networks funded through this 
section and ensure regular communication among members of the networks, and may require the 
periodic preparation of reports on the activities of the networks and submission of reports to the 
Director. 
SECTION 11. Programs to Improve Quality Of Life for Persons with Paralysis and 
Other Physical Disubilities. - The Secretary of Health (in this title referred to as the “Secretary”) 
may study the unique health challenges associated with paralysis and other physical disabilities 
and carry out projects and interventions to improve the quality of life and long-term health status 
of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities. The Secretary may carry out such 
projects directly and through awards of grants or contracts. 
SECTION 12. Activities under the Program. -Activities under Section 11 may include- 
A. the development of a national paralysis and physical disability quality of life action 
plan, to promote health and wellness in order to enhance full participation, 
independent living, self-sufficiency, and equality of opportunity in partnership with 
voluntary health agencies focused on paralysis and other physical disabilities; 
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B. support for programs to disseminate information involving care and rehabilitation 
options and quality of life grant programs supportive of community-based programs 
and support systems for persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities; 
C. in collaboration with other centers and national voluntary health agencies, the 
establishment of a population-based database that may be used for longitudinal and 
other research on paralysis and other disabling conditions; and 
D. the replication and translation of best practices and the sharing of information across 
the country, as well as the development of comprehensive, unique, and innovative 
programs, services, and demonstrations within existing local government unit (LGU) 
disability and health programs which are designed to support and advance quality of 
life programs for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities focusing 
on- 
1. caregiver education; 
2. promoting proper nutrition, increasing physical activity, and reducing tobacco 
use; 
3. education and awareness programs for health care providers; 
4. prevention of secondary complications; 
5. home- and community-based interventions; 
6. coordinating services and removing barriers that prevent full participation and 
integration into the community; and 
7. recognizing the unique needs of underserved populations. 
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SECTION 13. Grants. - The Secretary may award grants in accordance with the 
A. To LGU health and disability agencies for the purpose of- 
1. establishing a population-based database that may be used for longitudinal and 
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other research on paralysis and other disabling conditions; 
2. developing comprehensive paralysis and other physical disability action plans 
and activities focused on the items listed in Section 12 (D); 
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3. assisting LGU-based programs in establishing and implementing partnerships 
and collaborations that maximizc the input and support of people with 
paralysis and other physical disabilities and their constituent organizations; 
4. coordinating paralysis and physical disability activities with existing LGU- 
based disability and health programs; 
5. providing education and training opportunities and programs for health 
professionals and allied caregivers; and 
6. developing, testing, evaluating, and replicating effective intervention 
programs to maintain or improve health and quality of life. 
B. To private health and disability organizations for the purpose of- 
1. disseminating information to the public; 
2. improving access to services for persons Iiving with paralysis and other 
physical disabilities and their caregivers; 
3. testing model intervention programs to improve health and quality of life; and 
4. coordinating existing services with LGU-based disability and health 
programs. 
SECTION 14. Appropriations. -The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Education under the 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and 
separate item. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is inconsistent 
with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 17. Eflectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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