FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-IE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENAT~24~ 
S.No. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution under Article 2, Section 15 provides: 
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SEC. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instil health consciousness among them. 
Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a relentlessly progressive, ultimately fatal disease that affects 
the lungs, gradually robbing a person of the ability to breathe. Prevalence of PF has increased 
more than 150 per cent since 2001, and is expected to continue rising. The median survival rate 
for a person with PF is 2.8 years. 
The cause of PF is not well understood, and in most cases is unknown, though there is 
growing evidence that one cause of PF may be environmental or occupational exposure· to 
pollutants. Public awareness of PF remains low compared to rare diseases of lesser prevalence, 
despite PF's increasing prevalence. 
This bill provides for means to expand the research, prevention, and awareness activities 
ofthe Department of Health with respect to pulmonary fibrosis. 
Ltwl.. 4k~~ J~ 
. MIRIAM DE~NSOR ifNTIIGO 
(#I 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENA~246 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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TO EXPAND THE RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES OF THE 
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO PULMONARY FIBROSIS, AND FOR 
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OTHER PURPOSES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as Pulmonary Fibrosis Research 
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Enhancement Act. 
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SECTION 2. Establishment - Not later than 90 days after the effectivity of this Act, the 
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Secretary of the Department of Health (Secretary) shall establish a board to be known as the 
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National Pulmonary Fibrosis Advisory Board (Advisory Board). The board shall be composed of 
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seven members the following agencies and sectors -. 
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A. National Epidemiology Center; 
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B. National Center for Disease Prevention and Control; 
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C. Patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) or their family members and other individuals 
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with an interest in developing and maintaining the National PF Registry; 
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D. Patient advocates, including organizations representing such advocates; 
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E. Clinicians with expertise on PF and related diseases; 
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F. Epidemiologists with experience working with data registries; and 
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G. Geneticists or experts in genetics who have experience with the genetics of PF or 
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other interstitial I ung diseases. 
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SECTION 3. Duties - The Advisory Board shall -
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(A) review information and make recommendations to the Secretary concerning--
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(1) the development and maintenance of the National PF Registry; 
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(2) the type of information to be collected and stored in the National PF 
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Registry; 
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(3) the manner in which such data is to be collected; 
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(4) the use and availability of such data, including guidelines for such use; 
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and 
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(5) the collection of information about diseases and disorders that 
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primarily affect the lungs that are considered essential to furthering the 
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study and cure of PF; and 
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(B) consult with the Secretary to prepare the National Pulmonary Fibrosis 
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Education and Awareness Plan. 
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SECTION 4. Report - Not later than I year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
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Advisory Board shall submit to the Secretary, and the appropriate committees in the Senate and 
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the House of Representatives a report on the review conducted under Section 3 of this Act, 
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including the recommendations of the Advisory Board resulting from such review. 
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SECTION 5. Establishment of a Registry - Not later than I year after the receipt of the 
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report required under Section 4 of this Act, the Secretary in consultation with patients, patient 
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advocates, and others with expertise in research and care ofPf<', shall-
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A. develop a system to collect data on PF and other interstitial lung diseases that are 
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related to PF, including information with respect to the incidence and prevalence of 
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the disease in the Philippines; and 
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B. establish a national registry (in this section referred to as the 'National PF Registry') 
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that-
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I. is used for the collection and storage of data described in Section SeA); and 
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2. includes a population-based registry of cases in the Philippines of PF and 
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other interstitial lung diseases that are related to PF. 
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SECTION 6. National Pulmonary Fibrosis Education and Awareness Plan. - The 
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Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Board shall formulate a National Pulmonary 
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Fibrosis Education and Awareness Plan (PF Plan). The Secretary shall submit the same to the 
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appropriate committees in the Senate and House of Representatives within one year from the 
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effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Contents of the PF Plan. - The National Pulmonary Fibrosis Education and 
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Awareness Plan shall -
lOA. focus on strategies to increase public education and awareness of pulmonary fibrosis; 
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B. accelerate patient education strategies, with respect to pulmonary fibrosis, 
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nationwide; 
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C. address the need for new physician education strategies to improve diagnosis and 
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treatment standards with respect to pulmonary fibrosis; 
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D. assess and monitor the costs of pulmonary fibrosis and its burden on patients and 
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fm'nilies; and 
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E. develop such strategies in partnership with patients, patient advocates, and others 
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with expertise in resem"Ch and care of pulmonary fibrosis. 
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SECTION 8. Research. - The Secretary shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the 
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activities ofthe Institute with respect to research on pulmonary fibrosis, as he deems appropriate. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in lull force and effect. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circnlation. 
Approved, 
apm080212 
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