" 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 2966 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
SEP 23 P 4 :04 
RECEIVED BY:~' 
TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE, CREATING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE AN ACUPUNCTURE BOARD 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Section 15 provides that: 
The State shaH protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Acupuncture first became popular in the Philippines in the 1970s, after former US 
President Richard Nixon's China visit sparked a new openness to aH things Chinese. 
Since then, the study of acupuncture and interest in the art has grown steadily. Today, 
although orthodox Western medicine remains cautious about it, it is one of the most 
widely accepted among the "alternative" health systems, and numerous acupuncture 
clinics have emerged in recent years. 
This alternative medicine is favored because of the foHowing reasons: it has fewer 
side effects; it entails a simple procedure; it cures a wide range of diseases; and is known 
to have good curative effects compared with other mode of treatments. However, if the 
procedure is not performed accurately, it could be harmful for the patient. Hence, there is 
a need to regulate the practice of acupuncture in order to ensure that only licensed 
acupuncturists can perform the treatment. 
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, \ 
This bill seeks to regulate the practice of acupuncture for the purpose of protecting 
the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens while making this healing art available to 
those who seek it. 1 
1 This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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, , 
, , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session 
SENATE 
S,No. 2966 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
'15 
SEP 23 P 4 :04 
TO REGULATE THE PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE, CREATING FOR THIS 
PURPOSE AN ACUPUNCTURE BOARD 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Acupuncture Act". 
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SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the 
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right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. To this end, the 
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State shall regulate the practice of acupuncture for the purpose of protecting the health, 
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safety, and welfare of the citizens while making this healing art available to those who 
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seek it. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms, - As used in this Act unless the context 
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indicates otherwise, the following definition of terms shall be adopted: 
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(1) "Acupuncture" means a form of primary health care, based on 
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traditional Chinese medical concepts and modem oriental medical techniques, that 
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employs acupuncture diagnosis and treatment, as well as adjunctive therapies and 
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diagnostic techniques, for the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health 
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and the prevention of disease. Acupuncture shall include, but not be limited to, the 
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insertion of acupuncture needles, moxibustion or the burning of dried herbs on the 
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skin's surface, electroacupuncture, Qi Gong, oriental massage, herbal therapy, 
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dietary guidelines, and other adjunctive therapies, as defined by board rule; 
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(2) "Acupuncturist" means any person licensed to practice acupuncture as a 
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primary health care provider; 
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(3) "Board" means the Board of Acupuncture; 
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(4) "License" means the document of authorization issued by the 
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Department for a person to engage in the practice of acupuncture; 
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(6) "Oriental medicine" means the use of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, 
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Qi Gong, oriental massage, herbal therapy, dietary guidelines, and other adjunctive 
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therapies; and 
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(7) "Prescriptive rights" means the prescription, administration, and use of 
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needles and devices, restricted devices, and prescription devices that are used in 
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the practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine. 
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SECTION 4. Creation of the Board of Acupuncture. - The Board of Acupuncture 
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is hereby created within the Department of Health and shall consist of three members, to 
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be appointed by the Secretary of Health. Two members of the board must be licensed 
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acupuncturists while the remaining member must be a layperson who is not and who has 
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never been an acupuncturist or member of any closely related profession. Members shall 
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be appointed for 4-year terms or for the remainder of the unexpired term of a vacancy. 
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The Board has the authority to adopt rules in order to implement the pertinent 
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provisions of this Act. 
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The Board shall adopt rules relating to application procedures for inactive status, 
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renewal of inactive licenses, and reactivation of licenses. The Board shall prescribe by 
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rule an application fee for inactive status, a renewal fee for inactive status, a delinquency 
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fee, and a fee for the reactivation of a license. 
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SECTION 5. Licensure Requirements and Fees. - It is unlawful for any person to 
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practice acupuncture unless such person has been licensed by the Board. A person may 
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become licensed to practice acupuncture if the person applies to the Board and: 
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(a) Is 21 years of age or older and has good moral character; 
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(b) Has completed 60 hours of training and study in acupuncture and 
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oriental medicine from an accredited institution which meets standards established 
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by the Board; 
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(c) Has successfully completed a Board-approved national certification 
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process, passes an examination administered by the Board, which tests the 
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applicant's competency and knowledge of the practice of acupuncture and oriental 
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medicine. The examination shall include a practical examination of the knowledge 
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and skills required to practice modem and traditional acupuncture and oriental 
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medicine, covering diagnostic and treatment techniques and procedures; and 
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(d) Pays the required fees set by the Board by rule not to exceed the 
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following amounts: 
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1. Examination fee: P 500 per applicant. 
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2. Licensure fee: P 1,000 per qualified applicant. 
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SECTION 6. Prohibited Acts. - No person shall: 
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(a) Practice acupuncture unless the person is licensed by the Board pursuant 
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to this Act; 
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(b) Present as his or her own the license of another: 
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(c) Knowingly give false or forged evidence to the Board or a member 
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thereof; 
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(d) Use or attempt to use a license that has been suspended, revoked, or 
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placed on inactive or delinquent status; 
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SECTION 7. Penalties. - Any person who violates any provision of this Act shall 
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be punished with imprisonment of not less than three (3) years or more than eight (8) 
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years, or a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (I" 10,000.00), but not more than 
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Fifteen thousand pesos (I" 15,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the Court. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
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provisions hereof. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or 
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portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
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repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
iraptl6Septembe120 15 
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