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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4489
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL
Malabon City, Lone District

EXPLANATORY NOTE

At present, our country does not provide adequate transportation facilities and in-
frastructures to our countrymen with special physical needs. And to make matters worse is the
absence of holistic hospice care and other medical care or treatments.

‘The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities states that Persons
With Disabilities (PWDs) include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sen-
sory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective
participation in society on an equal basis with others!. According to the World Health Organiza-
tion (WHO) statistics, 15% of the world’s population have some form of disability and about
80% of the world’s PWDs live in low-income countries, wherein majority are poor and cannot
access basic services. Not only that, but affordability of health services and poor transportation
facilities are the two main reasons why people with disabilities around the world feel that they
are taken for granted. 51-53% of people with disabilities globally are unable to afford health
care?,

According to the results of the 2010 National Population and Housing Census, it
showed that out of the 92,100,000 Filipinos, 1,443,000 or 1.57% are disabled, and out of the
1,443,000 PWDs, 59.0% or 851,000 are within the working age group of 15-64 years old’

In order to provide assistance to the growing number of indigent PWDs in the
country, in 1992, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons was entered into force which made the
Philippines a pioneer in advocating the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

1 Persons with Disabilities - https://www.doh. gov.ph/persons-with-disabilities
2 Disability and Health - https://www.who. int/news-room/fact-sheets/ detail/disability-and-health
3 Persons with Disability - https:/ /psa.gov.ph/tags/persons-disability


However, there is still yet an institution easily accessible to all Filipino PWDs
which focuses on the full rehabilitation, self-development, self-reliance, and their integration into
mainstream society without any discrimination, as pronounced by the 1987 Constitution

In 2006, the Philippines expressed its intention to further promote the welfare of
Persons with Disabilities internationally by being a signatory to the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as to the ILO Convention No. 159, otherwise
known as “Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability” which aims at
ensuring that appropriate vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories
of disabled persons and at promoting employment opportunities for disabled persons in the open
labor market’

Further, in order to discharge its mandate to promote the rehabilitation of Persons
with Disabilities (PWDs) as embodied in the 1987 Constitution, specifically Article XIII, Sec. 13
which states that: “the State shall establish a special agency for the disabled person for their re-
habilitation, self-development, and self-reliance, and their integration into the mainstream soci-
ety”. Congress since has taken measures in order to promote and protect the welfare of persons
with disabilities. These measures are: (1) RA No. 7277 or the “Magna Carta for Disabled Per-
sons”, (2) RA No. 9442 also known as “An Act Amending RA No. 7277”, and (3) RA No. 10754,
also known as “An Act Expanding The Benefits And Privileges Of Persons With Disabilities”.
The National Council for Disabled Affairs (NCDA) was also created to ensure the formulation of
policies and to coordinate the activities of all agencies concerning matters relating to disabili-
ties’

Unfortunately, these laws did not fully cover the true need that our differently
abled brethren require.

It is the earnest desire of this bill to promote holistic hospice care to PWDs
through the establishment of rehabilitation and physiotherapy centers in every province, city, and
other strategic locations throughout the country. These proposed Rehabilitation and Physiothera-
py Centers, together with concerned agencies, would enable the government to conduct physical
or mental therapy to PWDs which would help them to be more at par with our capable brethren
in terms of sports, academics and employment. Thus, this bill would enable Persons with Dis-
abilities to become more independent and productive members of our society.

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, immediate ¢ of this bill is earnestly sought.

JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL

41LO Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled) Convention (No.159) and Recommendation (No. 168), (2008)
5 National Council for Disability Affairs -huips:/www.ncda gov ph about/


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4489

Introduced by HON. JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL
Malabon City, Lone District

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A NATIONAL REHABILITATION AND PHYSIOTHERAPY
CENTERS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (NRPCPWD) THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCESSIBLE PWD REHABILITATION CENTERS IN EVERY
PROVINCE, CITY, AND OTHER STRATEGIC AREAS
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assem-
bled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National Rehabilita-
tion and Physiotherapy Center for PDs Act of 2019”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ The state recognizes the importance of
providing a comfortable life to all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The passage of the Magna
Carta for Disabled Persons and its subsequent amendments have done well to achieve this end.
However, these laws focus mainly on socioeconomic privileges for PWDs. The state shall there-
fore intensify its efforts to fulfill its duty to provide quality life to all PWDs as mandated by the
1987 Constitution.

‘Toward this end, the state shall exert efforts to enable Persons with Disabilities
(PWDs) become more confident, independent and self-reliant through the active participation of
the government in their rehabilitation and possible integration to mainstream society.


SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the terms shall be de-
fined as follows:

a. Rehabilitation Centers - refers to institutions owned and operated by the govern-
ment of the Philippines, specifically the DOH, which offers various therapies to
help a person restore function after illness or injury. These therapies can include:
(1) Physical therapy, (2) Occupational therapy, (3) Speech therapy®

b. Qualified PWDs - refers to Persons with Disabilities whose disability may be
cured or improved, depending on the pre-rehabilitation examination conducted by
the physician of the Department of Health or other partnered health institutions
tasked to conduct such examination

c. Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Program — refers to the program of the Na-
tional Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Center that addresses the physical, senso-
ry and mental disabilities of qualified PWDs through various rehabilitation treat-
ments and physiotherapy conducted by Department of Health (DOH) physicians
and other partnered medical institutions.

SECTION 4. Establishment of National Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Cen-
ter for Persons with Disabilities (NRPCPWD). — There is hereby established in all capital cities
of provinces, highly urbanized cities, and other strategic areas throughout the country National
Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centers for Persons with Disabilities (NRPCPWD) herein re-
ferred to as “NRPCPWD”, which shall be community-based and maintained through the cooper-
ation of their respective Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The Department of Health (DOH) shall accredit each of the rehabilitation and
physiotherapy centers in order to maintain quality medical services.

Medical employees shall be maintained by the Regional Offices of the Depart-
ment of Health (DOH) while non-medical employees of each institution shall be maintained by

the respective Local Government Units (LGUs).

In line with its mandate, the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) shall
supervise the NRPCPWD centers to:

(1) Receive applications for the Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Program of the
RPCPWD.

6 What is a rehabilitation center? - htips:/www.naric.com/?q=en/content/what-rehabilitation-center


(2) Assist PWDs on matters such as:

a. Location of the nearest NRPCPWD;

b. Informing the PWD of the documentary requirements needed for the Re-
habilitation and Physiotherapy Program;

c. Ifthe documentary requirements are unavailable to the PWD, assist in se-
curing such documents and;

. Other necessary assistance as would help the PWD in successfully apply-
ing for the Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Program.

SECTION 5. Objectives of NRPCPWD. — The Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy
Center for Persons with Disabilities shall ensure that qualified PWDs shall be given quality
treatment, training, and assistance as regards their personal disabilities.

More specifically, the NRPCPWD shall:

a. Provide qualified PWDs to receive quality rehabilitation, physiotherapy
and treatment from their physical, mental, or sensory disabilities.

b. Conduct physical, mental, or sensory examination by qualified medical
practitioners from the Department of Health (DOH) on whether their re-
spective disabilities are curable or treatable through extensive rehabilita-
tion and other necessary treatments available to the NRCPWD.

c. If the NRCPWD is unable to provide the necessary treatment, assist the
PWD in searching for an institution that could provide such treatment.

d. Provide data reporting to PDAO of the PWD information; and

e. Other matters relating to the rehabilitation, self-development, and self-re-
liance, and the integration into the mainstream society of PWDs.

SECTION 6. Functions of NRPCPWD. — the NRPCPWD shall have the follow-
ing functions:

Deliver free quality rehabilitation and treatment to PWDs.

b. Establish a computerized record of qualified PWDs in a single registry
and submit the said record to the Department of Health (DOH). The
record shall contain the following:

1. Name of the qualified PWD;


Specific disabili

. Treatment required;

. Duration of the treatment, and;

. NRPCPWD where the qualified PWDs are receiving or received
treatment.

wRwWN

c. Look for the best possible physician, whether from the Department of
Health (DOH), private companies, or partner medical institutions, that
could provide for the specific treatment needed.

d. If, after the successful treatment, the disability recurs, the NRPCPWD
shall again conduct an examination on whether the recurrence of the said
disability is treatable or curable. If it is found to be curable, then the NR-
PCPWD shall again provide for the necessary treatment. If it is found cur-
able but the NRPCPWD is unable to provide for the proper treatment, or
if it is found incurable, then the NRPCPWD shall assist the PWD in
searching for an institution that could provide for the necessary treatment.

SECTION 7. Other services of the NRPCPWD. — in addition to the functions
enumerated in the preceding section, every NRPCPWD shall also undertake the following pro-
grams:

I. Muling Pagbangon Program — These would allow PWDs from rural
areas to receive free medical check-up on their respective disabilities and
whether they are qualified to receive the treatment from the NRPCPWD.

Il. PWD Annual Statistics Report — In cooperation with the Department
of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), NR-
PCPWDs shall conduct every year an inquiry on the number of PWDs in
their specific areas, along with their respective disabilities. These sta-
tistics shall then be compiled and submitted to the Department of Health
(DOH) and to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

SECTION 8. Role of Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of
Health (DOH) ~ Upon request of the LGUs which do not have existing NRPCPWDs, the estab-
lishment, operation, and maintenance of NRPCPWDs shall be undertaken by the Department of
Health (DOH). The Department of Health (DOH) shall enter into Memoranda of Agreements
(MOAs) with the concerned LGUs for the establishment in their respective areas.


It shall be the responsibility of the Department of Health (DOH) to:

a. Provide for necessary equipment and supplies, as well as the necessary
physicians and assistants of the physician if needed

b. Conduct the necessary training, briefing, and assessment of physicians
assigned in NRPCPWDs

©. Undertake, monitor, assess, and evaluate the implementation of the NR-
PCPWD program

d. Compile the statistics on PWDs and their respective disabilities and re-
lease an annual report on the number of PWDs in the Philippines and the
leading disabilities of Filipinos.

It shall be the responsibility of the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) to:

a. Construction of an adequate facility wherein qualified PWDs shall con-
duct their respective treatments and rehabilitation in their respective NR-
PCPWDs.

b. Ensure that the construction of the said facility shall be on a Department
of Health (DOH) quality level

. Provide funds for the construction of the said facility

d. Responsible for the maintenance of the NRPCPWD facility in their re-
spective jurisdictions

SECTION 9. Administration of the NRPCPWD program — The administration
of the NRCPWD program shall be the responsibility of the Department of Health (DOH) through
its regional offices. The Secretary of Health shall, in consultation with proper NGOs concerned
and leading physicians in the country, accordingly promulgate, within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
program.

SECTION 10, Facilities of RPCs ~ the National Rehabilitation and Physiothera-
py Centers shall have the following facilities:
a. Clinics
Pool
Rehabilitation rooms
Gym

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Offices for Physicians and Nurses


SECTION 11. Appropriations. ~The construction of a quality rehabilitation and
physiotherapy center shall cost approximately P25,000 to P35,000 per square meter or
24,000,000 or P35,000,000 per center.

The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this program shall be
charged against the existing appropriations of the Department of Health (DOH). Thereafter, the
amounts needed for the full implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the De-
partment of Health (DOH) in the succeeding annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this act is subsequently
declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby, shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
orders, issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are
contrary to and inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or mod-
ified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general cir-

culation.

Approved,