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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Ang 
The Constitution mandates the State to protest and promote the right to 
health of the people (Article II, Section 15) and to undertake appropriate health 
human resource development responsive to the country's needs and problems 
(Articles XI I I , Section 12). 
Moreover, the Philippines joined the other countries at the 1978 Alma Ata 
Conference in USSR in adopting the Primary Health Care Approach to providing . 
health service. 
At present, however, lack of proper dental health practices of the general 
population continues to be a nation 
Almost entire communities in the country suffer from two of the most 
prevalent of dental diseases: Too decay and gum diseases. 
Tooth decay 
affects 96% of our urban children and 87% of those in the rural areas. 
The 
magnitude of the dental problem is reflected in its being the highest in the 
morbidity picture of the country. In economic terms, every tooth affected means 
the loss of productivity of two days, lost opportunities, recurring pain and severe 
discomfort as well as increased cost of dental treatments. 
The bill proposes to create a dental unit in each of the 2,299 rural health 
units as part of the human resource development to meet the needs of the 
Primary Health Care strategy in the delivery of health services. 
At present, there are 881 rural health dentists in plantilla of the 
Department of Health distributed in the twelve regions. 
By providing for one 
dentist position in each of the 2,299 rural health units under the Department of 
Health, the priority targets of dental health services - pre-school children, school 
children, pregnant and non-pregnant mothers and adults - will be adequately 
served. It will cost more in their services, but the benefits to be derived from their 
services will be tremendous. More children, mothers and adults can be properly 
attended to. With a dentist at every rural health unit, the ratio of dentist to the 
population -will approach the standard ratio of 1 :20,000 population, similar to that 
of physician. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is strongly recommended. 


OF THE PHILIPPI 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by 
rdo J. Angara 
CREATING A DENTAL UNIT I 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 
APPROACH IN THE DELIVE 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senafe and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:. 
1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State: 
a) To pursue the Primary Health Care Appro ch in the delivery of health 
services and to undertake the appropriate health human resource 
development for this policy; and 
b) To promote preventive dental healthcare in the rural areas as part of 
the Primary Health Care strategy. 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - 
( 4  
Rural Health Unit - also known as 
Ith Center. 
It is 
composed of a doctor, a nurse and a midwife. Its function is to 
carry out the public health functions of the 
rtment of Health 
which includes both preventive 
Dental Unit - composed of a public health dentist and 
Barangay Health Worker as a dental aide. 
(b) 
SEC. 3. Creation of Dental Unit. - As part of the Primary Health Care 
Approach, there is hereby created a dental unit in every rur 
alth unit under 
the supervision of the Department of Health. 


SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations - The Department of Health shall issue 
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 5. 
Fundinq - The amount necessary for the purpose of this Act 
shall be funded out of the appropriations of the Department of Health under 
Republic Act Numbered sixty-six hundred and forty two. 
Thereafter, such 
amount as may be necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriation Act. 
SEC. 6. 
Effectivitv. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (I 
5) days after 
publication in the Official Gazette and in any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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