SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENbT.P. 
S. No. 
1:J62 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Constitution Article 13, Section 12 mandates the State to undertake appropriate 
health manpower development and research responsive to the country's health needs and 
problems. 
Breasts implants have been widely suspected to increase the risk of a range of problems, 
including cancer, connective tissue disease, implant rapture, and hematoma. Despite reports and 
conjectures showing adverse health impacts of breast implants, there are still women who 
consider breast implant surgery. 
Women need complete and accurate information about the potential health risks and 
advantages of breast implants, in order to know what to expect if they decide to undergo implant 
surgery. 
This bill seeks to promote research to identify and evaluate the health effects of breast 
implants and to ensure that women .and their .doctors receive accurate information about such. 
implants.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
'13 
SEP -5 1'5 :31 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
J 562 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING RESEARCH ON THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF 
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BREAST IMPLANTS 
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 "Breast Implant Research and 
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Information Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution, Article 13, Section 12 mandates 
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the State to appropriate health manpower developm()nt and research responsive to the country's 
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health needs and problems. Taking into account this mandate, the State shall promote research 
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to identify and evaluate the health effects of breast implants, and to ensure that women and their 
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doctors receive accurate information about such implants. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Health; 
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(B) 
"Breast implants" means implants filled with silicon gel, saline, or a combination 
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ofthe two; and 
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(C) 
"Committee" means the Committee on Breast Implants Research. 
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SECTION 4. Breast Implant Research. - The Secretary shall conduct or support rese;lrch 
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to expand the understanding of the health implication of breast implants. Such research shall: 
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(A) 
If deemed to be scientifically appropriate, include multidisciplinary, clinical, case-
controlled study of women with breast implants; 
(B) 
Involve women who have had such implants in place for at least eight (8) years, 
focusing on typical disease presentation, neurological dysfunction, and immune system 
irregularities; and 
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(C) 
Evaluate to what extent if any, their health differs from a woman who has or has 
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not had breast implant. 
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SECTION 5. Committee on Breast Implants Research. - To assist the Secretary in 
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receiving accurate and complete information about the risks of breast implants, there shall be 
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established a committee, to be known as the Committee on Breast Implants Research, to ensure 
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the strategic management, communication, and oversight of the policy formation, research, and 
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activities of the government regarding breast implants. 
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SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members: 
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(A) 
Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health; 
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(B) 
Four (4) physicians with established credentials in the area of breast implants; and 
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(C) 
One (1) representative from a non-government organization advocating women's 
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health. 
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The Secretary shall act as chair of the Committee. He or she shall convene the meetings 
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of the Committee, not less than twice each year. 
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SECTION 7. Meetings. - The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public, and 
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public witnesses shall be given the opportunity to speak and make presentations at such 
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meetings. 
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SECTION 8. Term. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term of three (3) 
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years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for the three (3) years, three (3) 
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members for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (1) year. 
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Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
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the original appointment. 
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Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with procedures 
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established by the Committee. 
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SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions: 
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(A) 
Advice the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the 
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Committee with respect to research on the health impacts of breast implants; 
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(B) 
Report to the Secretary on such research; 
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(C) 
Provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding activities of the Committee; 
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(D) 
Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee; and 
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(E) 
Ensure that materials concerning breast implants provided by the Department are 
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available, up to date, and responsive to the problems with breast implants, and timely aggregate 
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data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public upon request and consistent 
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with existing confidentiality standards. 
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SECTION 10. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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is necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National treasury. Thereafter, the 
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amount necessary for the continuation of the research shall be included in the annual 
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appropriation of the Department of Health. 
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SECTION 1l. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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