Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1475.

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF WO!

N’S HEALTH RESEARCH

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Constitution mandates the State to prioritize the health needs of
women. However, decades later, there remains no dedicated national institution focused on

studying and addressing women’s health through science, data, and targeted policy.

Women face distinct health risks. According to the Department of Health, one
Filipino mother dies every six hours due to pregnancy-related complications. The Philippine
Statistics Authority reports that maternal mortality remains high, with 189 deaths per 100,000
live births as of 2022. Young mothers, women with closely spaced pregnancies, and those
with

ited access to care are at higher risk.

Beyond maternal health, other women-specific health concerns remain under-
researched. The Department of Science and Technology estimates that around 4.5 million
Filipinas are living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder with
significant reproductive and metabolic implications.

But physical health is only part of the issue. Filipino women shoulder multiple roles,
often simultaneously. Studies by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS)


show that women spend at least double the time on unpaid care work compared to men. This
imbalance contributes to fatigue, chronic stress, and unrecognized health burdens.

Despite these realities, much of the research on health in the Philippines is still male-

centric or gender-neutral. This leaves women’s unique needs overlooked.
This bill proposes the creation of a national Office of Women’s Health Research. An
institution that will lead, coordinate, and support health studies focused on women. With

evidence-based research, we can develop more effective policies and save more lives.

In view hereof, the early passage of this proposed measure is highly recommended.

CRISPIN DIEGO“PING” D. REMULLA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._1475

Introduced by Representative Crispin Diego “Ping” D. Remulla

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE OFFICE OF WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Para sa Kababaihan
Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to the
needs of women. Taking into account the inherent disparity between men and women, the
State shall undertake research focusing on women’s health, which shall be responsive to the
needs of every woman.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term:

(A) Secretary shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Health;
(B) Women’s health conditions shall refer to all diseases, disorders, and conditions:

() unique to serious, or more prevalent in women;

(ii) for which the factors of medical risk or types of medical intervention are
different for women, or for which it is unknown whether such factors or types
are different for women; or

(iii) with respect to which there has been insufficient clinical research involving
women as subjects or insufficient clinical data on women.

(C) Research on women’s health shall mean research on women’s health conditions,
including research on preventing such conditions; and,

(D) Committee shall refer to the Advisory Committee on Women’s Health.

1


SEC. 4. Establishment of the Office of Women’s Health Research. - There shall be

established

an office to be known as the Office of Women’s Health Research, which shall be

headed by the Secretary. The Secretary shall have the following functions:

(A)

(B)

(©
()

To identify projects of women’s health research that should be conducted or
supported by both the government and non-government agencies;

To promote coordination and collaboration among entities conducting research
identified under Paragraph A;

To recommend an agenda for conducting and supporting each research; and,

‘To encourage the conduct of such research.

SEC. 5. Advisory Committee on Women’s Health. - \n carrying out the provisions of

Section 4, the Secretary shall establish a Committee to be known as the Advisory Committee

‘on Women’

"s Health.

SEC. 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members
which shall include the following:

(A)
(B)
(©)

()
All

‘Two (2) representatives from the Department;
Four (4) physicians, practitioners, and other health personnel;
Two (2) representatives from a non-governmental organization which
conducts research on women;
One (1) representative from the general public

of the members of the Committee shall be women.

SEC. 7. Establishment of Women’s Health Research Centers. -
(A) _ There shall be established Regional Women's Health Research Centers whose

purpose is to conduct multidisciplinary research on environmental factors that
may be related to the development of women’s health conditions, including
hormonal disorders. The centers, to be placed in major regional government or
public hospitals, shall be under the management and supervision of the

Committee.

(B) Research, Training, and Information and Education —

(1) Each center shall:
(a) conduct basic and clinical research;
(b) develop protocols for training physicians, scientists, nurses, and other
health and allied health professionals;

(©) conduct training programs for such individuals;


(d) develop model continuing education programs for such professionals;
and,
(©) disseminate information to such professionals and the public.

SEC. 8. Meetings. - The Advisory Committee shall determine the number, time,
place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least one (1) public meeting each
year at which the general public is given an opportunity to express views concerning the
conduct of research on women’s health by the Office.

SEC. 9. Term of Office. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of
three (3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shalll serve for three (3) years,
three (3) members for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year.

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TT ‘Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be filled in the same manner
12 as the original appointment.

13 Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with
14 procedures established by the Committee.

1S SEC. 10. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions:

16 (A) Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the
17 Office with respect to:

18 (i) research on women’s health;

19 (ii) research on gender differences in clinical drugs trials, including
20 responses to pharmacological drugs;

21 (iii) research to gender differences in disease etiology, course and
22 treatment;

23 (iv) research on obstetrical gynecology health conditions, diseases and
24 treatment; and

25 (v) research on women’s health conditions which require a
26 multidisciplinary approach.

27 (B) Report to the Secretary on such research;

28 (C) Provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding activities of the Office;
29 and,

30 (D) _ Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee.

31 SEC. 10. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as

32 may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.
33 Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Office of the Research


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on Women’s Health shall be included in the annual appropriations of the Department of
Health.

SEC. 11. 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.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby amended or repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,