THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
I 
- 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15, provides: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them.” 
Each year, thousands of poisonings are reported of the Department of Health. More than 
eighty-five percent (85%)of these poisonings happen in the home, while majority of poisoning 
victims are children younger than six (6) years of age. 
These poisonings would have been prevented if people have access to emergency medical 
services and efficient health care services. 
Unfortunately, the public cannot afford the high cost of medical and liealth care services, 
which private entities provide. 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide assistance for poison prevention and to establish 
government-funded pollution control centers that will produce life-saving and cost-effective 
public health services. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
> 
,-J I) .7' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
*Ud /;p; 
-L/ 
j j 
.L I 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR POISON PREVENTION AND TO ESTABLISH POISON 
CONTROL CENTERS 
Be it enacted by Senate and House of Repvesentatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be cited as the "Poison Control Center 
Enhancement and Awareness Act." 
SECTION 2. Establishment of Nationwide Medin Campaign. - 
(1) IN GENERAL - The Secretary of Health shall establish a national media 
campaign to educate the public and health care providers about poison prevention and the 
availability of poison control resources in local communities. 
(2) CONTRACT WITH ENTITY - The Secretary may carry out subsection (1) 
by entering into contracts with one (1) or more nationally recognized media firms for the 
development and distribution of monthly television, radio, and newspaper public service 
announcements. 
SECTION 3. Establishment ofPoison Contvol Centers. - 
(1) REGIONAL POISON CONT 8 
OL CENTERS - The Secretary shall establish 
regional poison control centers for the purpose of providing the public with access to poisoning 
prevention and treatment. The regional poison control centers shall be attached centers of the 
regional offices of the department of health. 


(2) PROGRAMS - The Secretary, through the established regional poison control 
centers, shall - 
(A) 
develop standard patient management protocols for commonly 
encountered toxic exposures; 
(B) 
(C) 
(D) 
develop physicianimedical toxicologist supervision of poison 
improve and expand the poison control data collection system; 
improve national toxic exposure surveillance; and 
control centers. 
SECTION 4. Funding. - There is authorized such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
Section 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN 2091 IDC