.',
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The prevention and control of diseases that threaten  Filipinos today depend primarily
on   the   proper  implementation   of  environmental   sanitation.     Thus,   the   role  of  sanitary
inspectors  or  sanitarians  is  very  much  indispensable.    Since  their job  is  more  preventive
rather than  curative,  and  they are the first contact  persons  in  the community,  they occupy
key positions in the delivery of health care by the Department of Health.
Sanitarians  mingle  with  the  people  and  are  undoubtedly  in  a  position  to  mold  their
sanitary habits and practices.   Moreover, they translate sanitary principles and theories into
everyday  usage,  disseminate  and  explain  health  rules  and  arrest the  health  hazards  and
dangers faced by the community.
However,   many   sanitarians   are   not   equipped   with   the   knowledge   and   skills
necessary to effectively and efficiently carry out the duties and  responsibilities attendant to
their jobs.   Further, no particular agency of the government is tasked to regulate the practice
of sanitation  and  hygiene  in  the  country  and  to  control  or  prevent  unethical  practices  and
substandard services, thereby putting at greater jeopardy the health of the public.
This  bill  therefore  seeks  to  give  due  acknowledgment to  the  efforts  of sanitarians,
and  to  institute  mechanisms  to  guarantee  the  fitness  of the  individuals  entrusted  with  the
prime  duty  of  ensuring  the  health  and  welfare  of  the   Filipinos  by  professionalizing  the
practice of sanitation and hygiene.
With  the  aim  of  rendering  quality  service,  ensuring  the  health  of  the  public  and
providing  an  elevated  social  and  professional  status  to  sanitarians,  approval  of this  bill  is
earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                           )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus a. Rodriguez
House Bii, -No.  52fil    'tr6ut,:,
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION, SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONALIZATION OF
THE PRACTICE, LICENSING AND REGISTRATION OF SANITARIANS
ARTICLE I
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sec.1.  7+-I/e.  -This Act shall  be  known  as the  "The  Sanitarians  Professionalization
Act."
See. 2. Sfafemenf of po/i.cy.   -The State recognizes the vital role of sanitarians in
promoting the  health and  general welfare of the  people.   Towards this end,  the State shall
ensure and  promote the professional growth and development of sanitary inspectors for the
improvement of public health.
See.  3.   Objecti.res.  -  The  Act  has  the  following  objectives:  (a)  the  promotion,
development  and  professionalization  of  sanitary  inspection;  and  (b)  the  supervision  and
licensing of sanitary inspectors/sanitarians.
mean:
See.  4.  Defini.fi.on  of Terms.  - For purposes of this Act,  the following  terms  shall
(a)  "Sanitation and Hygiene Profession or Practice of Sanitation and Hygiene"- refers
to  the  profession  concerned  primarily  wit  education,  prevention  and  control  of
diseases   and   other   public   health   concerns   using   scientific   methods   and
paramedical measures related to sanitation and hygiene.
(b)  "Sanitarians"  -  any  person  engaged  in  the  practice  of  Sanitation  and  Hygiene
Profession.   This can be used interchangeably with the term "Sanitary lnspector'
currently used by the government in the classification of position title.
(c)  "Board"  -  refers  to  the  Board  for  Sanitarians  duly  established  and  constituted
under this Act.
(d)  "Commission" -refers to the Professional Regulation Commission.
See...5: .De5crip.tior\  ?.n4 S?ope_ Of l^!Ork of Sanitary Inspectors. - The Sahiltary
Inspectors  field  of  work  shall  involve  the  education  and  research,  technical  supervision,
inspection  of establishment and  public places,  monitoring,  issuance  of permits,  control  and
prevention in the fields of:
a)   waste management;
b)   food and water supply sanitation;
c)   vermin and vector control;
d)   industrial hygiene;
e)   epidemiology;


f)     pollution control;
g)   environmental     health     planning     and     program     development     and
implementation; and
h)   other community level activities that pertain to public hygiene.
ARTICLE  11
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL SANITARY INSPECTORS
See.  6.  Creafr.on and Compos/.I/-or) of the Board. -Within sixty (60) days after the
approval  of this Act,  there  shall  be  created  a  Board  of Professional  Sanitary  Inspectors,  a
collegial  body  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  Professional  Regulation  Commission,
herein referred to as the Board, to be composed of a Chairman and three (3) members, who
shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  among  the  recommendees  chosen  from  the  list  of
nominees selected  by the accredited  association of Sanitary  Inspectors:  Provr.bed,  that the
members of the  First Board appointed shall  be automatically registered  as Sanitarians and
issued  certificates  of  registration  and  professional  license  upon  payment  of  the  fees  for
registration and other fees prescribed by the commission.
See.  7.  Powers and Dufi.es  of the Board.  - The  Board  shall  have  the following
powers and duties:
(a)  Promulgate,  administer and enforce rules and  regulations necessary for carrying
out the  provisions of this Act in  accordance with the  charter of the  Professional
Regulation Commission;
(b)  Prepare a curriculum for the sanitation and  hygiene degree to be officially known
?.s the..``P?cpe.Ior of_ Science  in  Sanitation  and  Hygiene" (`BSSH') and drescr.ibe
the syllabi of the subjects and their relative weight in the licensure examination;
(c)  Prepare  examination  questions and  determine  and fix the frequency,  dates and
places  of  examination,  appoint  supervisors,   proctors  and  other  personnel  as
needed who shall be entitled a daily allowance as determined by the Board;
(d)  Issue,  suspend or revoke certification of registration for the practice of sanitation
and hygiene;
(e)  Promulgate   rules   and   regulations   including   a   Code   of  Ethics,   administrative
policies, orders and issuances to carry out the provisions of this Act;
(f)   Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;
(g) Supervise  and  regulate  the  registration,  licensure  and  practice  of  professional
sanitarians in the Philippines;
(h) Adopt an official seal of the Board;
(i)   Investigate the violations of this Act; and
ti)   Discharge  such  other  powers,  duties  and  functions  as  the  Board  may  deem
necessary   for   the   practice   of   the   sanitation   and   hygiene   profession   and
upgrading, enhancement, development and growth of sanitarians.
See. 8. Qualifications Of Chairman and Board Members. -
The Chairman and each member of the Board must at the time of his appointment:
(a)                Be a  Filipino citizen and  resident of the  philippines for at least five
(5) consecutive years;
Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity and high
moral values in his personal as well as professional conduct;
Not have been convicted by final judgment of any offense involving
moral turpitude;
Be a  holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in  Sanitation and
Hygiene from a university, school, college, academy, or institutions
duly   constituted,   recognized   and   accredited   by   the   Philippine
government:  Prov/.ded, that this provision shall not apply within the
first fifteen (15) years after the approval of this Act;


Be  a  registered  Sanitarian  with  a  valid  Certificate  of  Registration
and a valid license to practice sanitation and hygiene;
Have practiced sanitation and hygiene for a period of not less than
ten (10) years prior to his appointment; and
Not  be  an  official  member  of  the  faculty,  nor  have  a  pecuniary
interest in any university,  college,  school or institution conferring a
bachelor's degree in sanitation and hygiene or its equivalent for at
least three (3) years  prior to  his appointment,  nor connected with
any review center or with any group where lectures in  preparation
for the licensure examination are offered or conducted.
See. 9. Remowa/ of the Members of the Board -The Chairman and any member
of the Board may be removed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation
of the  Commissioner for neglect of duty;  incompetence;  unprofessional,  unethical,  immoral
or  dishonorable  conduct;  commission  or  tolerance  of  anomalies  in  the  examination;  and
other similar grounds after having  been  given the opportunity to defend  himself in a  proper
administrative investigation.
See.  10.  Compensation  of  the  Chairman  and  the  Board  Members.  -  The
Chairman  and  the  members  of the  Board  shall  receive  compensation  comparable  to  the
compensation  received  by  existing  regulatory  boards  under  the  Professional    Regulation
Commission, computed on the basis of the number of examinees or candidates,
See.   11.Supervision   Of  the   Board   and   Custodian   of  its   Records.  -  The
Commissioner shall  be the executive officer of the Board and shall conduct the examination
given by the Board.  He shall designate any subordinate officer of the Commission to act as
Secretary  or  custodian  of  all  records  including  all  examination  papers  and  minutes  of the
deliberations of the Board.
ARTICLE Ill
EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION
S€c. 1.2. Exemin?tion_, Registration, and License Required. -Exicep+ as otherw.ise
specifically   allowed   under  the   provisions   of  this   Act,   all   applicants   for   registration   as
professional  sanitarian  shall  be  required  to  undergo  a  written  examination  which  shall  be
given at least once a year in  such  places and  on  such  dates as the  Board  may determine
upon  approval  by the  Commission.  A valid  certificate  of  registration  and  valid  professional
license  from  the  Commission  shall  be  required  before  any  person  is  allowed  to  practice
sanitation and hygiene in the Philippines except as otherwise allowed under this Act.
See.  73.  Eirami.nafi.on Fees.  - All  applicants for written  examination  for registered
sanitary inspectors shall be subject to payment of fees prescribed by the Commission.
See.  74. Scope of Eirami.r]afi.on. -The examination to be given to the applicants for
licensure  shall  include  the  Code  of  Sanitation  and  its  implementing  rules  and  regulations
together with  topics  on  Arithmetic,  Chemistry,  Biology,  Microbiology and  Parasitology,  Bio-
statistics  and  Epidemiology,  Food  and  Milk  Sanitation,  Household  and  Industrial  Hygiene,
Waste  Management,  Environmental  Health  Planning,   Pollution  Assessment  and  Control,
Occupational Health, Practical Problems and others determined by the Board.
See-.1.5. ..Qualific?tior\  Requirements  of  Applicants.  -No  appl-icant  shall  be
admitted to take the examination  unless,  on the date of the filing of the application,  he shall
have  established  to  the  satisfaction  of the  members  of the  Board  that  he  possesses  the
following qualifications:


A citizen of the  Philippines or an alien whose country has  reciprocity with
the Philippines in the practice of sanitation and hygiene;
At least twenty (20) years of age;
ln good health and good reputation with high moral values;
Not  finally   convicted   by  final  judgment   by  the   court   of  any   offense
involving moral turpitude; and
A   holder  of  the  degree   of  BSSH   from   a   university,   college,   school.
Academy or institution duly constituted,  recognized and  accredited  by the
Philippine  government.  Toward  this  end,  all  government  universities  and
state colleges are encouraged to offer this course.
See.16. Report of Resu/fs of E]raminafi.on. -The Board shall within One Hundred
Twenty (120) days after the examination.  report the  ratings obtained  by each  candidate to
the Commission.
See.  77.  Re-exam/.nat/-on.  - An  applicant,  who  for the  third  time  fails  to  pass  the
examination,  shall  not be allowed to take another examination, except upon showing to the
members  of the  Board  a  certificate  of attendance  of  review classes  and  a  certificate  duly
signed  by the proctors that he obtained at least a grade of seventy percent (70°/o) in all the
review examinations.
See.  78.  Oath.  -All  successful  candidates  in  the  examination  shall  be  required  to
take a professional oath before the Board.
See.  19.  Issuance of Certificate of Registration  and  Professional  Licenses. -
The registration as a sanitarian shall commence from the date his name is entered in the roll
of registrants or licenses for his profession.
A   professional   license   signed   by  the   Commission   and   bearing   the   registration
number and date of issuance and date of expiry shall be issued to every registrant who has
paid  the annual  registration fee for three (3) consecutive years.  This license shall  serve as
evidence that the licensee can lawiully practice his profession until the date of expiry.
See. 20. /nfegrafi-on of the Sani.fary Professi-or]. -The sanitary profession shall be
integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board as the sole
integrated and accredited association of registered sanitarians. Membership in the integrated
organization shall not be a bar to membership in other organizations.
See.. .31.  _Rev.pcatign  pf trle  Certificate  of  Registration,  Suspension  from  the
Pr=ftic_e Of .thf S?nitary Profession and Cancellatiorfof Temporary -or Special Periri{.
-The Board shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the
certification  of any  registrant,  to  reprimand  or to  cancel  the  temporary/special  permit of a
holder thereof who is exempt from registration, for any of the following causes:
(a)                 Conviction for any criminal offense  involving  moral turpitude  by any court
of competent authority;
(:)             |#oTa°tjr:|' :Tpar:;e:i[?hnea`par:tj:]!:::no°fr#i': a°cT,druit:s and  regulations and
(d)             Bt::,:Pa°t`jj:|e3y°fat::uBrt°::dc3#teht:n?°adu:h°ofriptyr°ffoers3i# :tehi:asi;iy unsound
or insane;
(:))              a:[3::%tji::boietthye°5r:ieb:ts|:|Tse of drugs; and
The  decision  of  the  Board  to  revoke  or  suspend  a  certificate  shall  be  final  and
executory  unless  appealed  by  the  respondent  to  the  Commission  within  fifteen  (15)  days
from  the  receipt of such  decision.  The  Board's or Commission's  decision  is  appealable  by
the  respondent  to  the  Regional  Trial  Court  of the  place  where  the  Board  or  Commission


holds  office  within  twenty  (20)  days  from  receipt  of  said  decision  or  of  the  denial  of  the
motion for reconsideration filed in due time
Se.c.   2_2..   R_e-issuance   Of  Revoked   Certificates   and   Replacement   of   Lost
Cerfi.ri.cake. -The Board, subject to the approval of the Commission may, after one (1 ) year
after the  revocation  of the  Certificate of Registration,  re-issue  such  certificate  in  the  same
manner as an application for an original one.  It may however, exempt the applicant from the
necessity of undergoing an examination.
A  new  certificate  of  registration  may  be  issued  to  replace  any  certificate  that  has
been lost, destroyed or mutilated subject to the rules issued by the Board.
See. 23. Roster of Proressi.ona/ Sani.fart.ans. -A roster of professional sanitarians
containing  the  names  and  addresses  of the  professional  sanitarian,  date  of registration  or
issuance of certificate and other data which  in the opinion of the  Board  is pertinent shall  be
maintained.  Copies  of the  roster shall  be  provided  by the  Commissioner to the  Board,  the
Department  of  Education  and  the  integrated  and  accredited  organization  of  professional
sanitarians.
ARTICLE IV
PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE
OF THE SANITARY PROFESSION
See.  24.  Fi.e/d of Pracfi.ce.  - The field  of practice for sanitarians  shall  include  the
sole authority to sign and  seal  sanitary plans,  etc.  and to practice sanitation and  hygiene in
its full scope as defined in Article I of this Act.
S£_c:   2.5:__P.!ppi_bifi.on   Agai.pst  tpe   Era?tics   Of  the   Sanitation   and   Hygiene
Proressi.on, - Except as otherwise allowed under this Act, no person shall practice or offer to
practice the Sanitation  and  Hygiene  Profession  in  the  Philippines without having  previously
obtained   a   valid   certificate   of   registration   and   a   valid   professional   license   from   the
Commission.
See.  26.  Personne/ Requi.red.  -  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in  this  Act,  every
industrial  plant  or  factory,  commercial  establishment  or  any  government  institution  which
shall  require  the  services  of a  sanitarian,  shall  only employ a  duly  registered  sanitarian  to
ensure safe operation and to safeguard the public welfare, health and hygiene.
See. 27. Enforeemenf of fAe Act by Officers of fAe Law. - lt shall be the duty of all
constituted officers of the law of the National Government or any provincial, city or municipal
government to  prosecute  any  person  violating  the  provisions  of this  Act.  The  Secretary of
Justice  or  his  assistant  shall  act  as  legal  adviser  of  the  Board  and  render  such  legal
assistance as may be necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act.
See.  28.  Pena/fy C/ause.  - Any person who shall violate any provision  of this Act
shall be guilty of misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to a fine of not more
than  One  Hundred  Thousand  Pesos  (P100,000)  but  not  less  than  Ten  Thousand  Pesos
(P10,000) and/or imprisonment for a period not less than Thirty (30) days but not more than
two (2) years at the discretion of the court.
Sec.  29. Appropr]-af/-ons.  -The sum of Ten  Million  Pesos (P10,000,000)  is  hereby
initially   appropriated   out   of   any   of  the   funds   in   the   National   Treasury   not   otherwise
appropriated,   to   be  disbursed   by  the   Chairman   of  the   Board   in   accordance  with   the
provisions of this Act. Thereafter, it shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.


See.  30.  /mp/emenfi.ng  Gwi.de//-nes.  -  The  Board  shall  formulate  and  adopt  the
necessary  guidelines  for  the  effective  implementation  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act  within
ninety (90) days of its approval.
See.   37.   Separabi'//-fy   C/ause.   -   lf  any   provision   of  this   Act   shall   be   held
unconstitutional or invalid,  the other provisions shall  not be affected  and  shall  remain  in full
force and effect.
See.  32.  Repea/i'r]g  C/ause.  -  All  laws,  executive  orders,  rules  and  regulations
inconsistent  with   or  contrary  to  this  Act  are  thereby  deemed   accordingly   repealed   or
amended.
See  33.  Effecfi.yi.ty  C/ause.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect fifteen  (15)  days  from  its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.
Approved'