Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 2654

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON THE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH,
HEALTH CARE COORDINATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, CREATING AN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH
CENTER AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIII, Section 11, of our Constitution provides that “The State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at
affordable cost. There shall be priority for the needs of the under-privileged, sick,
elderly, disabled, women, and children. The State shall endeavor to provide free
medical care to paupers.”

In the same vein, Article XV Section 4 of the Constitution states that “The family
has the duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through just
programs of social security.”

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia which is characterized
by a serious loss of cognitive ability. This is so because of the gradual destroying of
cells in the brain which results to gradual memory loss, decline in the ability to perform
routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss of language skills, impairment of
judgment, and personality changes. As the disease progresses, people with
Alzheimer's disease become unable to care for themselves. Said loss of brain cells


eventually leads to the failure of other systems in the body. It is unfortunate that such
disease is diagnosed mostly and prevalent in people over 65 years of age.

Statistics would bear out that there are about 758.7 million elderly (those with 65
years of age and above) worldwide. Based on a study conducted by Alzheimer's
Disease International, there will be an estimated 35.6 million people with dementia by
2010 which is expected to double every 20 years. In South East Asia alone, there is an
estimated 51.2 million elderly people, 5% of which are suspected of having dementia
This number is expected to increase by more than double (134-146%) over the next 20
years. It has also been predicted that this disease will affect 1 in 85 people globally by
2050

As a progressive and irreversible brain disorder with no known cause or cure yet,
it is regrettable that this disease and other forms of dementia are one of the main
causes of disability for the elderly. Worse, the worldwide cost of dementia is already
prohibitive — this amounts to US $315 billion per year — with an annual cost per person
with dementia at US $ 1,521 for low income families to US $ 17,964 for high income
families per year. Hence, this disease and the corresponding cost of caring for the
elderly afflicted with Alzheimer's and/or dementia will eat up a huge portion of each
family’s disposable income and likewise on the government's coffers for social and
health care services.

This bill therefore aims for the government and the public to be fully aware of the
disease, to devise ways to significantly reduce its prevalence and to educate the public
on ways to properly care for a loved one afflicted with the disease. More importantly,
the proposal’s goal is to uplift the lives of our elderly by giving proper recognition for
their contribution and efforts for the development of our country.

Given the importance of such a proposal, we urge our colleagues to ensure its
immediate passage into law.

I)
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO evo Kscnenons ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No._2654

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL INITIATIVE ON THE CONDUCT OF
RESEARCH, HEALTH CARE COORDINATION AND TREATMENT OF
PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, CREATING AN ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE RESEARCH CENTER 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 "Treatment of
Alzheimer's Disease Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among
them. Although the family has the duty to care for its elderly members, the State
may also do so through just programs of social security

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

A. Alzheimer’s Disease -is a disorder that destroys cells in the brain can
cause dementia, a condition that involves gradual memory loss, decline in
the ability to perform routine tasks, disorientation, difficulty in learning, loss
of language skills, impairment of judgment, and personality changes. As
the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's disease become unable


to care for themselves. The loss of brain cells eventually leads to the
failure of other systems in the body

B. Department -shall refer to the Department of Health (DOH)
C. Secretary -shall refer to the DOH Secretary

D. Director -shall refer to the Director of the Office Of Alzheimer's
Research Center

E. Advisory Council -shall refer to the Advisory council to the Office of
Alzheimer's Research Center

SECTION 4. Establishment of the office of Alzheimer's Disease Research
Center. — The Secretary of Department of Health (DOH) shall establish an office
to be known as the Office of Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

SECTION 5. Purpose. — The Office shall have the following functions

A. Identification and/or initiation of projects, programs and/or studies that
will prevent Alzheimer's DiseaS5e such as but not limited to the
development of treatments that would prevent, halt, or reverse the course
of Alzheimer's;

B. Identification of clinical research projects on the Alzheimer's Disease
that should be conducted or supported by the government;

C. Creation and maintenance of an integrated national plan to overcome
Alzheimer's;

D. Study the prevalence of the disease throughout the country and
coordinate the health care and treatment of citizens with Alzheimer's;

E. Coordinate with international bodies to integrate and inform the fight
against Alzheimer's globally;

F, Pioneer a National Summit on Alzheimer's disease to be conducted
every three (3) years or as often as necessary as determined by the
Office; and

G. Conduct information campaign regarding the Alzheimer's disease
SECTION 6. Director. - The Office shall be headed by a Director who

shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall have the following
functions:


A. To oversee the creation and updating of the national plan described in
subparagraph Section 5 (C);

B. Carry out an annual assessment of the Nation's progress in preparing
for the escalating burden of Alzheimer's, including-both implementation
steps and recommendations for priority actions based on the assessment;

C. Coordinate with the Department of Science and Technology in order to
promote research efforts into mechanisms to slow and stop the
development of Alzheimer's for those at risk of developing the disease;

D. Coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in
order to promote the status and care of individuals suffering from
Alzheimer's Disease; and

E. Provide an annual report to the President, Congress and the Secretary
that will include an evaluation of all funded efforts in Alzheimer's research,
clinical care, institutional, and home-and community-based programs and
their outcomes.

SECTION 7. Advisory Council. — There is established in the Office an
Advisory Council to Alzheimer’s Research Center.

A. The functions of the Advisory Council are to:
1) Report to the Secretary on the results of the studies/researches:

2) Provide recommendations to such Secretary regarding activities
of the Office.

3) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Council
B. Membership — The Advisory Council shall be composed of 7 members
with the Director as an ex Officio member. The six (6) other members shall
be comprised of the following:
1) One (1) representative from the Department
2) One (1) representative from the Department of Science and Technology

3) One (1) representative from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development

4) One (1) representative from a non-governmental organization which
conducts research on the elderly, preferably on Alzheimer's disease;


5) One (1) representative from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
6) One (1) representative of the Philippine Medical Association

SECTION 8. Meetings. — The Advisory Committee shall determine the
number, time, place and conduct of meetings, except that it shall hold at least
one (1) public meeting each year at which the general public is given an
opportunity to express views concerning the conduct of research on the
Alzheimer's Disease by the Office.

SECTION 9. Term. — Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a
term of three (3) years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve
for three (3) years, and the last three (3) members for two (2) years.

SECTION 10. Expiration of the Office. - The Office shall expire after 10
years from its creation.

SECTION 11. Appropriation. — To carry out the provisions of this Act, such
amount as maybe necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the
National Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous
operation of the Office of Alzheimer's Research Center shall be included in the
Annual Appropriations of the Department of Health

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting

SECTION 13. 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 of this Act is hereby
repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,