REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 7102

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act 9288, otherwise known as the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, illustrates a
procedure to detect a genetic and metabolic disorder in newborns that may lead to mental
retardation and even death if left untreated.

In many countries, newborn screening has been a mechanism that protects babies from health
risks. In our country, the rules and regulations implementing the Newborn Screening Act
recommended the conditions to be included in the newborn screening panel of disorders.
According to the Philippine Pediatrics Society, the advancement of newborn screening has
succeeded in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with certain congenital disorders as it
allows timely medical intervention for diagnosed patients. Affected children identified through
newborn screening can lead normal lives with the help of prompt and appropriate medical

management.

Recognizing the importance of newborn screening, this bill expands the number of disorders for

which newborn infants in the country are required to be tested by law. Specifically, this bill
provides for the expansion of the prescribed list of disorders for which testing is required under
the implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 9288.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

fepresentative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7102

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

House Bill

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF DISORDERS INCLUDED IN THE NEWBORN
SCREENING PROGRAM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Newborn Screening Panel of
Disorders Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is hereby declared the policy of the State that in the
interests of public health, every effort should be made to detect in newborn infants,
hypothyroidism, galactosemia, phenylketonuria, and other biochemical disorders which may
cause mental retardation or other permanent disabilities and to treat the affected individuals.

SEC. 3. Newborn Screening Panel of Disorders. - All infants born in the country shall,
pursuant to the Newborn Screening (NBS) Act, be tested for the hereditary disorders such as, but
not limited to, the following:

a) congenital hypothyroidism;

b) galactosemia;

ic)

phenylketonuria;
4) cystic fibrosis;

©)

congenital adrenal hyperplasia;
f)_ maple syrup urine disease;
g) homocystinuria;

hy)

biotinidase deficiency;

i) medium chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency;

5) HIV seropositivity;

k) sickle cell disease; and

1) other blood abnormalities as determined by the Department.

The Secretary of the Department of Health, hereinafter referred to as the Secretary, shall
issue regulations to assure that newborns are tested in a manner approved by the same

1


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Department. The Secretary shall also ensure that treatment services are available to all identified
individuals. The provisions of this Act shall not apply if the parents of a newborn infant object to
the testing on the grounds that it would conflict with their religious tenets or practices.

SEC. 4. Tasks of the Department of Health. - The Department of Health, hereinafier
referred to as the Department, shall perform the following tasks:

a) may charge a reasonable fee for the tests performed pursuant to this Act, and
determine the procedures for collecting such;

b)

shall apply alll revenues collected from the fees to the testing and treatment
procedures performed pursuant to this Act;

a

may also require testing of newborn infants for other preventable biochemical
disorders if reliable and efficient testing techniques are available;

d)

shall provide a program of reviewing and following up on positive cases in order
that measures may be taken to prevent mental retardation or other permanent
disabilities; and

i)

shall conduct an intensive educational and training program among physicians,
hospitals, public health nurses and the public concerning biochemical disorders.

SEC. 5. Information Related to Disorders in the NBS. - Information on newborn infants
and their families compiled pursuant to this Act may be used by the Department and agencies
designated by the Secretary for the purposes of carrying out this Act; otherwise, the information
shall be confidential and not divulged or made public so as to disclose the identity of any person
to which it relates, except as provided by law. The program indicated in Section 3 (d) shall
include information concerning the nature of the disorders, testing for the detection of these
disorders and treatment modalities for these disorders.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - \f any provision of this Act shall at any time be found to
be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,