SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 9 5 8 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15 provides: 
'1) 
NGV 27 P 3 :08 
"Tile State sllall protect and promote tile rigllt to Ilealtll of tile 
people and instil/Ilealtll consciousness among tllem." 
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne pathogen that is a major cause of chronic 
liver disease, which according to the American Liver Foundation, is common 
among emergency response employees and volunteers due to the unique nature 
of their jobs. 
Since there is no known cure for hepatitis C, the government should 
expend efforts to prevent emergency response employees from getting infected 
with the disease. 
Hence, this bill seeks to provide for a study to determine the prevalence of 
hepatitis C among firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and 
other emergency response employees and. undertake demonstration projects to 
provide training, testing, and treatment regarding cases of the disease among 
such employees and volunteers. 
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
NOV 27 P 3 :OB 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1958 
RECEIVED lIy:···r 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FOR A STUDY AND FOR 
REGARDING 
CASES 
OF 
HEPATITIS 
PARAMEDICS, 
EMERGENCY 
MEDICAL 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE EMPLOYEES 
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS 
C 
AMONG 
FIREFIGHTERS, 
TECHNICIANS 
AND 
OTHER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Emergency 
Response Employees Disease Protection Act". 
SEC. 2. Study and Demonstration Projects Regarding Cases of 
Hepatitis C among certain emergency response employees. -
(A) 
Study Regarding Prevalence Among Certain Emergency Response 
Employees -
(1) In General - The Secretary of Health (referred to in this Act as the 
"Secretary"), in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and Employment, shall 
conduct a study to determine-
(a) 
an estimate of the prevalence of hepatitis C among 
designated emergency response employees; and 
(b) 
the likelymeans through which such employees become 
infected with such disease in the course of performing 
their duties as such employees. 
(2) Designated Emergency Response Employees - For purposes of this 
section, the term "designated emergency response employees" means 
firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians, 
(3) Submission of Completion Report to Congress - The Secretary 
shall commence the study under paragraph (1) not later than ninety (90) days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later that one (1) year after such 
date, the Secretary shall complete the study and submit to the Congress a report 
describing the findings of the study and the recommendations of the Secretary 


for administrative or legislative initiatives regarding the activities described in 
paragraph (1). 
(4) Demonstrations Projects Regarding Training and Treatment - The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall carry out each of the 
following activities: 
a) Training designated emergency response employees in minimizing the 
risk of infection with hepatitis C in performing their duties as such 
employees. 
b) Testing such employees for infection with the disease. 
c) Treating the employees for the disease. 
(5) Evaluation - The Secretary shall provide for an evaluation of each 
demonstration project under paragraph (1) in order to determine the extent to 
which the project has been effective in carrying out the activities described in 
such paragraph. 
SEC. 3. Authorization of Appropriations. - The appropriation of such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act is hereby 
authorized. 
SEC. 4. 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. 
SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,