HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) RECEIVED
OF THE PHILIPPINES ) pate: 15 AUG 2016
Asan
First Regular Session ) sive 6400

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REGISTRATION UNIT

HOUSE OF REPRE ATIVE
H.B. No. B}

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L.

REGULATING THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY THERMOMETERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides:
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of

the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Mercury is an element which is highly toxic to the human nervous system and can
cause permanent impairment of speech, hearing, movement and vision even when
exposure occurs at very low levels. A very common use of mercury has been fever
thermometers, Mercury fever thermometers are easily broken and the result is exposure
to mercury. A home fever thermometer contains 1.59 grams of mercury.

Some hospitals in the United States such as Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC

and Strong Memorial have instituted mercury-free policies, replacing various sources of

' http://assembly state ny.us/?bn=A01563



mercury with alternatives. There are a number of alternatives to mercury fever
thermometers, including electronic battery operated and infrared aural thermometers.”

To prevent instances of unnecessary exposure to mercury caused by broken
mercury fever thermometers, this bills aims to regulate the sale and purchase of mercury

thermometers? CL CYf

H, HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

2
Id.
2 This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session., and subsequently
refiled in the Sixteenth Congress, Second Regular Session,

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HB. No.

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYES TO PROVIDE NOTICE ON ANY
CHARGES OR CONVICTION AGAINST THEM TO THEIR DEPARTMENT OR
AGENCY HEAD

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

SECTION 1, Short Title. — This Act shall be referred to as the “Notification of

Charges or Conviction Act.”

SECTION 2. Duty to Report. - An employee in Government service who is
charged in an information or criminal complaint with any crime in any court or who is
convicted of a crime in any court shall immediately provide the head of the department or

agency employing the employee with notice of the charges or the conviction

SECTION 3. Notice. ~ The written notice shall in no case be later than thirty (30)
calendar days from knowledge thereof and shall identify the date that the charge or

conviction occurred.


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SECTION 4. Penalties, - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall
be subject to a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) and suspension

from service for a period of not less than six (6) months without pay.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause, ~ If any provision or part hereof is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other

provisions hereof.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause, ~All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or
portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby

repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SECTION 7, Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,