THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
2293 
Senate Bill No: __ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Parkinson's disease is a debilitating, painful and incurable neurological 
disorder of unknown origin that disrupts and can end the lives of those who 
suffer from it. 
Parkinson's disease causes diverse symptoms, including rigidity, 
slowness of movement, poor balance and tremors, which lead to an impaired 
ability to walk, speak, swallow and even breathe, so that the end result can be 
a clear mind trapped inside a body that has lost its ability to function. The 
visible symptoms of Parkinson's disease are often mistaken to be a normal 
part of the aging process. 
It has been estimated that thousands of Filipinos have been diagnosed 
with Parkinson's disease, there are more diagnosed nationally each year, and 
most of them have never seen a neurologist. 
The bill shall include programs such as development of a public education 
and outreach campaign to promote Parkinson's disease awareness and 
education, including, but not limited to, the cause and nature of the disease, 
diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their use, lifestyle issues 
relating to how a person copes with Parkinson's disease, environmental safety 
and injury prevention and availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic and 
treatment services in the community. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
,' 
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S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 
INTRODUCED BPI SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING "PARKINSON'S DISEASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND 
EDUCATION ACT." 
Be, enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
il- 
SECTION 1. Title- This Act shall be known and cited as the "Parkinson's 
Disease Public Awareness and Education Act". 
SECTION 2. The Commissioner of Health shall establish a Parkinson's 
disease public awareness and education program. 
SECTION 3. The purpose of the program shall be to promote public 
awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection and 
possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The 
Department may accept, for that purpose, any special grant of monies, 
services or property from the government or any of its agencies, or from any 
foundation, organization or medical school. 
SECTION 4. 
1. Development of a public education and outreach campaign to 
promote Parkinson's disease awareness and education, including, but not 
limited to, the following subjects: 
The program shall include the following: 
a. the cause and nature of the disease; 
b. diagnostic procedures and appropriate indications for their 
use; 
c. lifestyle issues relating to how a person copes with Parkinson's 
disease, including, but not limited to, nutrition, diet and physical 
exercise; 
d. environmental safety and injury prevention; and 
e. availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic and treatment 
services in the community. 
2. Development of educational materials to be made available to 
consumers through local the local government, physicians, hospitals and 
clinics. 


3. Development of professional education programs for health care 
providers to assist them in understanding research findings. 
4. Development of educational programs for other personnel, including 
judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters and social services and emergency 
medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of 
Parkinson's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of 
persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties, including 
dissemination of the informational booklet prepared; and 
5. Development and maintenance of a list of current providers of 
specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of 
Parkinson's 
disease. Dissemination of the list shall be accompanied by a description of 
diagnostic procedures, appropriate indications for their use, and a cautionary 
statement about the current status of Parkinson's disease research and 
treatment. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Department of 
Health shall promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from its approval. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause.- Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation. 
Approved.