SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2666 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Scnator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
"15 
FEB 25 P 1 :22 
SUPPORTING COLLABORATIVE ACADEMIC RESEARCH EFFORTS FOR 
TOURETTE SYNDROME I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article, Section 15 states: 
Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of 
the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous 
system. Complications in the nervous system, particularly in certain parts ofthe brain, are 
believed to cause tics such as eye blinking, head turning, and facial grimacing. Symptoms 
usually appear between the ages of7 and 10.
2 
In the past, Tourette Syndrome was considered a rare and bizarre syndrome. 
Today, Tourette Syndrome is no longer considered a rare condition; however, it is not 
always correctly identified because most cases are mild and the severity of tics decreases 
for most children as they pass through adolescence. The prevalence of other tic disorders 
in school-age children is higher, with the more common tics of eye blinking, coughing, 
throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.3 
I This bill was originally filed in the United States House of Representatives as H.R. No. 146. 
2 VERA files. "Conquerring Tourette Syndrome." https:llph.news.yahoo.com/blogs/the-inbox/conguering-tourette-
syndrome-031421162.html. Accessed last 15 February 2015. 
3 Tourette Syndrome. http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiiTourette syndrome. Last accessed 15 February 2015. ' 
1 


This bill therefore aims to intensify and expand the programs of the Department of 
Health on Tourette Syndrome, and promote activities aimed at combating and diagnosing 
Tourette Syndrome. 
~~~)~ 
MIRIAM DEF~SOR SANTI~GO 
~ 
2 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
, 
", 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
°15 mZ5 ?1 :22 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2666 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
SUPPORTING COLLABORATIVE ACADEMIC RESEARCH EFFORTS FOR 
3 
TOURETTESYNDROME 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Collaborative 
5 
Academic Research Efforts for Tourette Syndrome Act of2015." 
6 
SECTION 2. Expansion, intensification, and Coordination of Activities with 
7 
Respect to Tourette Syndrome in General. - The Secretary of Health, acting through the 
8 
Director of the National Institute of Health, shall expand, intensify, and coordinate the 
9 
programs and activities of the National Institute of Health with respect to scientific and 
10 
clinical research on Tourette syndrome. 
11 
SECTION 3. Data Collection.-
12 
(A) System. - In carrying out Section 2, the Secretary shall develop a system to 
13 
collect data on Tourette syndrome, including epidemiologic information with respect to 
14 
the incidence, prevalence, and impact of Tourette syndrome in the Philippines. 
15 
(B) Broad and Narrow Definitions. - The data collection system under Section 3, 
16 
paragraph (A) shall provide for the collection of primary data on Tourette syndrome, 
17 
including related data on the various conditions known to be comorbid with Tourette 
18 
syndrome. 
1 
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1 
(C) Collection by Population and Geographical Region. ~ The data collection 
2 
system under Section 3, paragraph (A) shall provide for the collection of data on the 
3 
availability of medical and social services for individuals with Tourette syndrome and 
4 
their families and the disaggregation of such data by population and geographical region. 
5 
SECTION 4. Collaborative Research Centers for Tourette Syndrome. ~ 
6 
(A) In General. ~ In carrying out Section 2, the Secretary shall award grants and 
7 
contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to pay all or part of the cost of planning, 
8 
establishing, improving, and providing basic operating support for Collaborative 
9 
Research Centers for T ourette Syndrome. 
10 
(B) Research. ~ Each center under Section 4 paragraph (A) shall conduct basic and 
11 
clinical research into Tourette syndrome. Such research should include investigations into 
12 
the cause, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of Tourette 
13 
syndrome. The research conducted by such centers, as a group, shall include research in 
14 
the fields of developmental neurobiology, neuroscience, genetics, psychology, and 
15 
pharmacology. 
16 
SECTION 5. Services for Patients. ~ 
17 
(A) In General. ~ A center under Section 4 paragraph (A) may expend amounts 
18 
provided under such paragraph to carry out a program to make individuals aware of 
19 
opportunities to participate as subjects in research conducted by the centers. 
20 
(B) Referral and Costs. ~ A program under Section 5 paragraph (A) may, in 
21 
accordance with such criteria as the Secretary may establish, provide to the subjects 
22 
described in such subparagraph, referrals for health and other services, and such patient 
23 
care costs as are required for research. 
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1 
(C) Availability and Access. - The extent to which a center can demonstrate 
2 
availability and access to clinical services shall be considered by the Secretary in 
3 
decisions about awarding grants and contracts to applicants which meet the scientific 
4 
criteria for funding under this subsection. 
5 
SECTION 6. Organization 0/ Collaborative Research Centers for Tourette 
6 
Syndrome. -
7 
(A) III General. - A center under Section 4 paragraph (A) may-
8 
(i) use the facilities of a single institution; or 
9 
(ii) be formed from a consortium of cooperating institutions and patient 
10 
advocacy groups in order to maximize the scope of the center's services and 
11 
geographic coverage. 
12 
(B) Eligibility Requirements. - To be eligible to make facilities so available (as 
13 
described in Section 6, paragraph (A)(i)) or participate in such a consortium (as described 
14 
in Section 6, paragraph (A)(ii)), an institution or group shall meet such requirements as 
15 
the Secretary may prescribe. 
16 
SECTION 7. Number o/Centers; Duration o/Support.-
17 
(A) In General. - Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall 
18 
provide for the establishment of not fewer than four and not more than six centers under 
19 
Section 4. 
20 
(B) Geographical Distribution. - The Secretary shall-
21 
(i) ensure that each of the centers established under Section 4 is located in a 
22 
different region of the Philippines than the other such centers; and 
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1 
(ii) encourage the formation of such centers from a consortium of entities 
2 
(as described in Section 6, paragraph (A)(ii» covering multiple regions or 
3 
provinces. 
4 
(C) Duration. - Support for a center established under Section 4 may be provided 
5 
under this section for a period of not exceeding five years. Such period may be extended 
6 
for one or more additional periods not exceeding five years if the operations of such 
7 
center have been reviewed and approved by an appropriate technical and scientific peer 
8 
review group established by the Secretary and if such group has recommended to the 
9 
Secretary that such period should be extended. 
10 
SECTION 8. Research on Symptomology and Treatment. - In carrying out this 
11 
Act, the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis for research 
12 
on-
13 
(I) the full range of symptomology within the Tourette syndrome clinical 
14 
spectrum; and 
15 
(2) the efficacy of treatment options for particular patient subpopulations. 
16 
SECTION 9. Funding. - Of the amounts made available to carry out the programs 
17 
and activities of the National Institutes of Health for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
18 
designate a portion of such amounts for carrying out the programs and activities of the 
19 
National Institutes of Health with respect to Tourette syndrome. 
20 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
21 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
22 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
23 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
24 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
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1 
or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended 
2 
accordingly. 
3 
SECTION 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
4 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
imamtl 6February20 I 5 
5