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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPmLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciQusness among them. 
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Hazardous chemicals and substances that can threaten the health and safety of workers are 
being transported out of industries on workers' clothing and persons. 
These chemicals and substances have the potential to pose an additional threat 
and welfare of workers and their families. 
Hence, this bill seeks to prevent or mitigate hture incidents of home contamination that 
could adversely affect the health and safety of workers and their families, by providing information 
concerning issues related to employee transported contaminant releases and formulating regulations 
in order to prevent future releases of this type. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
, 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE 
PREVaENCE AND ISSUES RELATED TO CONTAMINATION OF WORKERS’ HOMES 
WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES TRANSPORTED FROM THEIR 
WORKPLACE ANL, TO ISSUE OR REPORT ON REGULATIONS TO PREVENT OR 
MITIGATE THE FUTURE: CONTAMINATION OF WORKERS’ HOMES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. ShoFrTitle. - This Act shall be known as the “Workers’ Family Protection 
Act.” 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act to - 
(1) increase understanding and awareness concerning the extent and possible health 
(2) prevent or mitigate future incidents of home contamination that coul adversely 
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impacts of the problems and incidents described in this Act; 
affect the health and safety of workers and their families; 
(3) clarify regulatory authority for preventing and responding to such incidents; and 
(4) assist workers in redressing and responding to such incidents when they occur. 
SECTION 3. Evaluation of employee transported contaminant releases. - 
(1) STUDY - 
(A)IN GENERAL - Not later than eighteen (18) months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Health (hereinafter in this 
Act referred to as the “Secretary’”), in coordination with the Secretruy of the 
Department of Labor and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, shall conduct a study to evaluate the potential for, the prevalence of, and 
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the issues related to the contamination or workers’ homes with hazardous 
and substances, including infectious agents, transparted &om the workp 
workers.” 
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chemicals 
aces of such 
including 
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(a) the effectiveness of workplace housekeeping practices and 
personal protective equipment in preventing such incidents; 
(b) the health effects, if any, of the resulting exposure on 
workers and their families. 
(c) the effectiveness of normal house cleaning nd laundry 
procedures for removing hazardous materials and 
gents from 
workers’ homes and personal clothing; 
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(d) indoor air quality, as the research concerning such pertains 
to the fate of chemicals transported from a workplace into the home 
environment; and 
(e) methods for differentiating exposure health effects and 
relative risks associated with specific agents from other sources of 
exposure inside and outside the home; 


(c); and 
(v) study home contamination incidents and issues and 
and 
worker. and 
(d) if additional data are determined by the Task Force to be 
needed, develop a recommended investigative strategy for use in 
obtaining such information. 
(ii) INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY - 


(a) CONTENT - The investigative strategy developed under 
subparagraph (i)(d) shall identify data gaps that can and cannot be 
filled, assumptions and uncertainties associated with various 
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components such strategy, a timetable for the implementation of such 
strategy, and methodologies used to gather any required data. 
(b) PEER REVIEW - The Secretary shall 
ublish the 
proposed investigative strategy under subparagraph 
l)(d) shall 
identify .for public comment and utilize other method ; including 
technical conferences or seminars, for the purpose of obtaining 
comments concerning the proposed strategy. I 
(c) FINAL STRATEGY - After the peer review and public 
comment is conducted under subparagraph (b), the Secretary, in 
consultation with the heads of other government agencies, shall 
propose a final strategy for investigating issues related to home 
contamination that shall be implemented by concerned agencies for 
the period of time necessary to enable such agencies to obtain the 
information identified under paragraph (A)(iii). 
(2) CONSTRUCTION -Nothing in this section shall be construed as precluding any 
government agency from investigating issues related to home contamination using existing 
procedures until such time as a final strategy is developed or from taking actions in addition 
to thos&proposed ii-the strategy after its completion. 
(3) IMPLEMENTATION OF INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY - Upon completion 
of the investigative strategy under paragraph (B)(iii), each agency or department 
shall fulfill the role assigned to it by the strategy. 
SECTION 4. Regulations. - 
(1) IN GENERAL - Not later than four (4) years after that date of 
Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary of Labor, based on the 
under section 3 and on other information available to the Secretary, shall - 


(A)detennine if additional education about, emphasis on, or if additional 
regulations or standards is needed and will be sufficient, or if additional regulations 
or standards are needed to protect workers and their families from employee 
transported releases of hazardous materials; and 
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(B) prepare and submit to the appropriate c ommittees o f C ongress a report 
concerning the results of such determination. 
(2) ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS - If the Secretary of Labor 
determines that additional regulations or standards are needed under subsection (I), the 
Secretary shall promulgate such regulations or standards as determined to be ap 
later than three (3) years after such determination, 
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SECTION 5. Authorization of appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated for 
each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutiona1, the remainder of the law o f  the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
SECTlON 7. 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 repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in Xleast two (5) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
FN: 1551