THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
. 
- 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the State's responsibility to deliver basic health services to the 
underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, as mandated by the 
Constitution in Article XIII, Section 1 1. 
One of the basic services that have been proven to be "difficult" to avail of, 
especially in the rural areas, is oral and dental health care. Children in these areas are 
not taught about the importance of this much-needed care. Even the adults do not pay 
much attention to oral hygiene. And it is not enough though that the barangay health 
centers have one or two dentists who will perform dental treatments on the people. 
Hence, this bill is being proposed. It seeks to provide free dental services in the 
rural areas. It addresses the concern that dental consultations and other services can 
be costly. For this purpose, it shall require all graduates of dental schools who have 
taken licensure examination, prior to the issuance of the licenses, to render free dental 
services. This practice shall surely benefit rural population for whom such services are 
not readily available and at the same time instill in the new dental practitioners a sense 
of unselfish service to the public. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill earnestly recommended. 
EJ-ERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
~ 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
~~ 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL DENTISTS TO GIVE FREE DENTAL SERVICES IN RURAL 
AREAS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPUSE RA 4419 ALSO KNOWN AS THE 
PHILIPPINE DENTAL ACT OF 1965, AN FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. Section 2, Article II of RA 4419 is hereby amended and is read as: 
SECTION 2. Objectives - This Act provides for: 
a) 
The regulation, control, and supervision of the practice of dentistry 
in the Philippines; 
b) 
The giving of licensure examinations to graduates of recognized 
dental schools for the purpose; 
c) 
The regulation and standardization of dental education; 
d) 
The promotion and development of dental research in the country; 
e) 
THE CONDUCTING OF FREE DENTAL SERVICE IN RURAL 
GRADUATESI IN ADDITION TO SUCCESSFULLY PASSING THE 
LICENSURE EXAMINATION; AND, 
The stipulation of penalties for infractions or violations of this Act, 
[andl 
AREAS AS 
ANOTHR PRE-REQUISITE FOR DENTISTRY 
9 
SECTION 2. Section 9 is amended as follows: 
SECTION 9. Powers Vested in Board. - The Board of Dental Examiners 
is vested witti authority, conformably with the provisions of this Act, to 
issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration for the practice of 
dentistry, or to reissue the same, subject to the approval of the President 


i 
of the Philippines. The Board shall have the power to administer oaths, to 
investigate violations for this Act or other laws and regulations within the 
jurisdiction of the Board, and for this purpose, it may, under the hand of its 
chairman and seal of the Board, issue a sumvons, subpoena or 
subpoena duces tecum to alleged violators of this Act and witnesses . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . IMPLEMENTATION OF FREE DENTAL SERVICE 
PROGRAM IN THE RURAL AREAS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY ALL 
GRADUATES OF DENTAL SCHOOLS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY 
PASSED THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL 
BE IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THEIR LICENSE. 
The Board shall exercise the power conferred upon it by this Act, shall 
from time to time look into the conditions affecting the practice of dentistry 
in the Philippines, and whenever necessary, adopt or recommend such 
measures, or discharge such duties, as may be deemed proper for the 
advancement of the profession, the maintenance of accepted ethical and 
technical standards, and the vigorous enforcement of this Act. 
SECTION 3. A new Section 13 shall be inserted and be read as: 
SECTION 13. FREE DENTAL SERVICE PROGRAM IN THE RURAL 
AREAS. - ALL GRADUATES OF DENTAL SCHOOLS WHO HAVE 
SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION, PRIOR 
TO THE ISSUANCE OF SAID LICENSE, SHALL BE REQUIRED TO 
RENDER FREE DENTAL SERVICE IN THE RURAL AREAS FOR 
THREE MONTHS. 
THE BOARD OF DENTAL EXAMINERS SHALL 
PROMULGATE THE NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATION TO 
IMPLEMENT SUCH PROGRAM, IN COORDINATION WITH THE 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. 
SECTION 4. The succeeding provisions shall be re-numbered accordingly. 
SECTION 5. A new section 40 shall be inserted and be read as follows: 
SECTION 40. - APPROPRIATION FOR THE FREE DENTAL SERVICE 
PROGRAM IN THE RURAL AREAS. 
FOR THE PURPOSES OF 
IMPLEMENTATION, THE NECESSARY APPROPRIATION SHALL BE 
TAKEN FROM THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
HEALTH. 


SECTION 6. The succeeding provisions shall likewise be re-numbered: 
SECTION [39] 41. Enforcement of Act by offices of the law. - xxx 
SECTION 7. Sections 40 and 41 of RA 4419 shall be amended as follows. 
SECTION [40] 42. Repealing1 Clause. - All laws, rules, and regulations or 
parts ‘thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION [41] 43. Separability clause. - If any part, section or provision 
of this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or 
provision thereof shall be affected thereby. 
SECTION 44. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect for a period of two 
(2) years commending upon its publication in at least two (2) newspapers 
of general circulation. 
Approved ,