Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6546

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Speech language pathology is the allied profession devoted to the evaluation,
diagnosis, management, and prevention of human communication disorder. Simply put,
speech language pathologists work with children and adults with speech, language, voice,
fluency, and other related communication disorders. They attend to individuals with
conditions that affect communication like Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, cerebral palsy, hearing impairment, cleft lip and palate,
stuttering, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological disorders.

‘To ensure that the individuals in need of such services receive quality care, the State
must ensure that our allied professionals have the proper education, training, and
certification in their field, this bill seeks to regulate the practice of speech language
pathology in the Philippines

Through this initiative, the State can guarantee that individuals with various
developmental and behavioral conditions are provided with high standards of care to
improve their speech and communication skills which will further contribute to the
improvement of the individual's overall development and social function.

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

‘ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular SH 4g

HOUSE BILL NO.__

INTRODUCED BY CONGRESSMAN ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY IN THE
PHILIPPINES AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

ARTICLE |
TITLE AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION 1, Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the “Speech Language
Pathology Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy, - The State recognizes the important role of speech
language pathologists in nation building and promotes a reservoir of speech language
pathologists whose competence have been determined by honest and credible licensure
examinations whose standards of professional practice and service are world-class and
internationally-recognized, and ensure global competitiveness through preventive
regulatory measures, programs, and activities that foster their continuing professional
growth,

SEC. 3. Definitions. - As used in this Act:

(a) “Speech Language Pathology” shall mean an allied medical profession devoted
to the evaluation, diagnosis, management, and prevention of human
communication disorder.

(b) “Speech Language Pathologist” shall mean a person who is registered and
licensed to practice speech language pathology and who holds a valid certificate
of registration/professional license and professional identification card issued
by the Professional Regulation Commission under the provisions of this Act.

(©) Communication Disorder shall mean impairment in the ability to (1) receive or
process symbol systems; (2) represent concepts in systems; (3) transmit and use
symbol systems. The impairment may be observed in the disorders of hearing,
language, or speech processes,


(d) Swelling Disorders, as addressed by speech pathologists, shall include
difficulties In management of a solid or liquid bolus in the oral, pharyngeal, or
laryngeal stages of feeding.

(e) Evaluation shall mean the global appraisal of the significance and implications
of a diagnostic assessment that shall include formal and informal assessment.

(0) Diagnosis shall mean the act of identifying a human communication or
swallowing abnormality or disorder by analyzing the symptoms presented. It
may also include a study of the origin and development of the symptoms.

(g) Language is any socially and culturally accepted, structured, symbolic system
for interpersonal communication composed of sounds, letters, manual sign or
other symbols arranged in ordered sequences or strings that express thoughts,
intentions, experiences and feelings comprised of orthographic, phonological.
syntactical, semantic and pragmatic components.

(h) Speech shall mean the medium of oral communication that employs a linguistic
code (language); through this medium, one can express thoughts and feelings
and understand those of others who employ the same code.

ARTICLE IL
‘THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY

Sec. 4. Creation and Composition of the Board. - Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, there shall be created the Professional Regulatory Board of Speech
Language Pathology, hereinafter referred to as the Board of Speech Language Pathology,
hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative control and supervision of
the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, The
Board shall be composed of a chairperson and two (2) members who shall be appointed by
the President of the Philippines from the three (3) recommendees for each vacant position
chosen from the five (5) nominees of the integrated and accredited national organization of
speech language pathologist.

Sec. 5. Qualification of the Members of the Board, ~ To be the chairperson or a
member of the Board, at the time of higher appointment, the individual must be:

a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines and an actual resident thereof for at
least five (5) years before the appointment;

b

‘A duly registered and licensed allied health professional holding a valid
certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification
card, in active practice for the past five (5) years and a member in good standing
of the accredited integrated national organization of speech language
pathologists prior to the appointment, except if appointed as the first
chairperson or board member;

¢) Of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any offense
involving moral turpitude; and


d) Must not have a pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any school, academy
college, university, or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for
administration to the practice of speech language pathology or where review
classes in preparation for the licensure examination are being offered or
conducted, nor shall the individual be a member of the faculty or of the
administration thereof at that time of appointment to the Board.

Sec. 6, Powers and Functions of the Board. ~ The Board shall have the authority to:

a) Promulgate administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for carrying
out the provisions of this Act;

b) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;

c) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of speech
Janguage pathology in the Philippines;

d

Adopt an official seal of the Board;

e) Maintain a roster of speech language pathologists indicating therein the basic
information about the registered professionals;

f) Study the conditions affecting the practice of speech language pathology in the
Philippines and adopt measure for the enhancement of the professional ethical
and technical standards therein;

) Ensure, in coordination with the Commission on Higher and Technical Education
(CHED), that all educational institutions offering speech language pathology
education comply with the policies, standards, and requirements of the course
prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library, and facilities;

h

Prescribe or adopt a Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for the
practice of speech language pathology;

i) Standards for the practice of speech language pathology; Issue, reinstate,
suspend, revoke certificate of registration and/or professional license or cancel
special permits for the practice of speech language pathology:

{) Prescribe guidelines and criteria in the Continuing Professional Education
(CPED) for speech language pathologists;

k

In consultation with the duly accredited organization of speech language
pathologist and the duly recognized association of schools conferring a
Bachelor's or other entry level degree in Speech Language Pathology, prescribe
the area of competence to be included in the computerized licensure
examination and their relative weights, determined the syllabi of the subjects,
construct the test questions in licensure examination, score, and rate
examination papers;


1) Hear of investigate any violations of this Act, its implementing rules and
regulations, and the Code of Ethics for speech language pathologists, and for this
purpose, to issue subpoena duces tecum or ad testificandum to secure the
appearance of the witnesses and the production of documents in connection
therewith: Provided, That the decision of the Board shall, unless appealed to the
Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of
the judgment of decision;

m) Adopt a program for the full computerization of the licensure examination;

n) Grant registration without examination subject to the approval by the
Commission;

0) Issue and/or cancel special permits to persons admitted to the practice of speech
language pathology for a specific duration of time, and certificates of recognition
for advanced studies, researches, and accomplishments that contribute to the
enrichment of the profession; and

p) Perform such other powers and functions as it may deem necessary to carry out
the objectives of this Act.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations issued or promulgated by the
Board shall be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.

Sec. 7. Term of Office. - The chairperson and members of the Board shall hold office
for three (3) years after appointment or until their successors shall have been appointed
and duly qualified: Provided, That members of the first Board to be appointed after the
approval of this Act shall hold office for the following terms: chairperson for three (3) years,
one (1) member for two (2) years, and the other member for one (1) year: Provided, further,
‘That the Chairperson or any member may be re-appointed for another term of three (3)
years but in no case shall the individual serve continuously for more than six (6) years.
Vacancy in the Board shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Each member of the Board
shall automatically be registered as speech language pathologists and issued certificate of
registration/professional license and professional identification card and shall take the
proper oath of office prior to assumption.

‘Sec. 8. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Board, - The
chairperson and members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances
comparable to that being received by the chairpersons and members of existing regulatory
boards under the Commission as provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 9. Suspension or Removal of Board Members. ~ Any member of the Board of
the Board may be suspended or removed from office for gross neglect of duty,
incompetence, malpractice, unprofessionalism, immorality. unethical or dishonorable
conduct, final judgment of crimes involving moral turpitude, and manipulation or rigging of
the licensure examination results, disclosure of secret and confidential information in the
examination questions prior to the conduct of the said examination, or tampering of grades.

The administrative proceedings shall be heard by the Commission, whose
recommendation shall be submitted to the Office of the President. During the investigation,


the respondent shall be placed under preventive suspension by the Commission and an
individual shall be designated to fill the temporary vacancy in the Board,

Sec. 10. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and
Support Services. - The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the
Commission. All records of the Board, including applications for examination, and
administrative and other investigative cases conducted by the Board shall be under the
custody of the Commission.

‘The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the
secretariat and other support services to implement the provision of this Act.

Sec. 11. Annual Report. - The Board shall submit an annual report to the
Commission after the close of each calendar year, giving a detailed account of the
proceedings of the Board during the year and recommending measures to be adopted, with
the end in view of upgrading and improving the conditions affecting the practice of speech
language pathology in the Philippines.

ARTICLE Ill
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

Sec. 12. Examination Required. - All applicants for registration for the practice of
speech language pathology shall be required to undergo a licensure examination to be given
by the Board in such places and dates as the Commission may designate, subject to
compliance with the requirements prescribed by the Commission.

Sec. 13. Qualification for Examination. - \n order to be allowed to take part in the
licensure examination, an applicant must, at the time of higher application, establish to the
satisfaction of the Board that the following qualifications were met:

a) A Filipino citizen or a foreign citizen whose state or country has reciprocity
agreement with the Philippines in the practice of speech language pathology;

b) Good moral character;
©) Has not been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude; and
d) A graduate of a Bachelor's degree in speech language pathology from a duly

recognized school, college, or university in the Philippines or abroad, recognized
or accredited by the CHED.

Sec. 14. Scope of Examination. - The subjects in the licensure examination for
Speech Language Pathologists shall cover the following:

a) Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanism;

b) Neurological bases of speech and hearing disorders;

©) Articulation and phonological disorders;

6


d) Hearing impairment and aural habilitation;
e) Language and cognitive communication disorders;
f) Fluency disorders;

Voice disorders;

es

‘h) Cleft lip and palate and craniofacial conditions;
i) Dysphagia;

}) Medical and neurological disorders that may cause communication and
swallowing disorders;

k) Normal development and function of speech, language, hearing, and swallowing;

1) Principles of assessment and intervention for speech, language, hearing, and
swallowing conditions; and

m) Research, Professional Ethics, and Community Development.

The Board may recluster, rearrange, modify, add, or exclude any subject or change
the percentage or weight given to said subjects, as the need arises so as to conform to
technological changes.

Sec. 15, Registration Without Examination as Speech Language Pathologist. ~ A
person who possesses the pertinent qualifications required for admission in the
examination for registration as a speech language pathologist pursuant to the provisions of
this Act may be registered without examination: Provided, That the applicant files with the
Board, within six (6) months after the effectivity of the implementing rules and regulations,
and application for registration and issuance of a certificate of ‘registration/professional
license and professional identification card by submitting credentials showing that the
applicant before the effectivity of this Act is a bachelor’s degree holder of speech language
pathology from a college or university accredited by the CHED: Provided, further, That the
applicant is a member of the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization of speech
language pathologists.

Sec. 16. Ratings in the Examination. ~ To be qualified as having passed the
licensure examination for speech language pathologists, a candidate must have obtained a
weighted general average of seventy five percent (75%), with no grade lower than fifty
percent (50%) in any given subject. A candidate who obtained a grade below fifty percent
(50%) must take the examination in the subject or subjects where the applicant obtained a
grade below fifty percent (50%) within two (2) years from the date of last examination. The
topic or subjects retaken must have each a rating of no less than seventy five percent (75%)
in order to qualify as having passed the examination.

Sec. 17. Report Ratings. - The Board shall submit to the Commission the ratings
obtained by each candidate within ten (10) days after the examination unless extended for
just cause.


Sec. 18 Oath of Speech Language Pathologists, - All successful examinees
qualified for registration and all qualified applicants for registration without examination
shall be required to take an oath of profession before any member of the Board or any
authorized officer of the Commission to administer oaths, prior to entering into the practice
of speech language pathology in the Philippines.

Sec. 19. Issuance of Certificate of Registration/Professional License and
Professional Identification Card. - A certificate of registration/professional license and
professional identification card shall be issued to all successful examinees and registrants
either with or without examination upon compliance with all the legal requirements
Including payment of fees prescribed by the Commission. The certificate of
registration/professional license shall bear the signature of the chairperson of the
Commission and the chairperson and members of the Board, indicating that the person
named therein is entitled to the practice of the profession with all the privileges
appurtenant thereto. The said certificate shall remain in full force and effect until
withdrawn, suspended, or revoked in accordance with this Act.

A professional (dentification card bearing the registration number, date of issuance,
expiry date, duly signed by the chairperson of the Commission, shall likewise be Issued to
every registrant who has paid the prescribed fee,

Sec. 20, Indication of Certificate of Registration/Professional Tax Receipt. ~The
speech language pathologist shall be required to indicate his/her certificate of
registration/professional license number and date of issuance, including the professional
tax receipt number on the documents he/she signs, uses, or Issues in connection with the
practice of his/her profession.

Sec. 21, Refusal to Register, ~ The Board shall refuse to register and shall not issue a
certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card to any
person convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction or a criminal offense involving moral
turpitude or guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct or to any person of unsound mind,
In the event of refusal to issue the certificate for any reason, the Board shall give the
applicant a written statement setting forth the reason for such action, which statement shall
be incorporated in the record of the Board.

Sec. 22, Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration/Professional
License and Professional Identification Card and Cancellation of Special Permit. - The
Boar may, after giving proper notice of hearing to the party concerned, revoke the
practitioner's certificate of registration/professional license or suspend him/her from the
practice of his/her profession or cancel his/her permit for any of the causes or grounds
mentioned in Section 21 of this Act or for any unprofessional or unethical conduct,
malpractice, violation of any of the provisions of this Act, its rules and regulations, the Code
of Ethics, and the Standards for speech language pathologists.

Sec, 23, Reinstatement, Re-issuance or Replacement of Certificate of
Registation/Professional License. - A person may apply to the Board for reinstatement of
a certificate of registration/professional license at any time after two (2) years from the
date or revocation of said certificate. The application shall be in writing and shall conform
with the requirements as provided by the Board, No certificate/license shall be reinstated
unless the Board is satisfied that a good cause exists to warrant such reinstatement.


Sec. 24. Roster of Speech Language Pathologists. - The Board shall prepare,
update, and maintain a roster of speech language pathologists in coordination with the
Integrated and accredited professional organization, which shall contain the name of each
registration, and issuance of certificates, and other data which the Board may deem
pertinent. The roster shall be open to the public, copies of which shall be mailed to each
person listed therein.

Sec. 25, Issuance of Special or Temporary Permit. ~ Special or Temporary permit
may be issued by the Board subject to the approval by the Commission and payment of the
fees the latter has prescribed and charged thereof to the following persons:

a) A foreign speech language pathologist called for consultation for a specific
purpose which, in the judgment of the Board, is essential for the growth of the
profession: Provided, however, That the activities shall be limited only to the
particular work, for which the speech language pathologist is being engaged:
Provided, further, That foreign speech language pathologist is qualified to
practice the profession in own state or country; Provided, finally, That there is no
Filipino speech language pathologist qualified for such consultation or specific
purpose;

b) A foreign speech language pathologist who is an internationally recognized
expert or specialist in any branch of speech language pathologist and his/her
service is essential for the advancement of speech language pathology in the
Philippines: and

¢) A foreign speech language pathologist to be engaged as professor, lecturer, or
critic in fields essential to speech language pathology education in the
Philippines is confined to teaching only.

The permit shall, among other things, include these limitations and conditions: the
same shall be valid for a period of not more than one (1) year subject to the renewal; the
branch or specialty of speech language pathology which the permit holder can practice in;
and the specific place of practice such as clinic, hospital, center, school/college/university
offering the course of speech language pathology. The Board, subject to the approval by the
Commission, shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the implementation of this
particular section.

ARTICLE IV
PRACTICE OF SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Sec. 26. Scope of the Practice of Speech Language Pathology. ~ The Scope of the
Practice Speech Language Pathology shall embrace, but shall not be limited to the
performance, in collaboration with other professionals, families, and the community of any
of the following:

a) Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, manage, and prevent disorders of speech such
as, but not limited to articulation, fluency, voice, hearing, and language;


b)

¢q

@

e)

hi

k)

Screen, identify, assess, diagnose, manage, and prevent disorders of oral-
pharyngeal functions such as, but not limited to, dysphagia and related
disorders;

Screed, identify, assess, diagnose, and manage cognitive communication systems
and provide training in their use:

Assess, select, and develop augmentative and alternative systems and provide
training in their use;

Screen hearing acuity for the purpose of speech language evaluation and aural
rehabilitation;

Plan, teach, and carry out home programs and training for patients and their
families;

Plan, conduct, and evaluate teaching-learning activities for students of speech
language pathology and other related courses for other health professionals,
patients, and their families;

Plan, conduct, and evaluate researches in pursuit of new knowledge for the
growth of speech language pathology in the Philippines;

Provide consultancy to government and non-government organization regarding
the field of speech language pathology;

Perform administrative duties in speech language pathology clinics or units un
hospitals, schools, and other rehabilitation centers; and

Teaching, lecturing, and reviewing subjects given in the licensure examination,

Sec. 27, Prohibition on the Practice of Speech Language Pathology. ~ No person

shall practice or offer to practice speech language pathology in the Philippines or offer
himself/herself as speech language pathologist, or use the title, word, letter figure, or a sign
tending to convey the impression that he/she is a speech language pathologist, or advertise
or indicate in any manner whatsoever that he/she is qualified to perform the work of a
speech language pathologist unless he/she satisfactorily passed the licensure examination
given by the Board. except as otherwise provided in this Act , and is a holder of a valid
certificate of registration/ professional license and professional identification card or a valid
special or temporary permit duly issued by the Board and the Commission.

Sec. 28. Prohibited Acts, ~ No person shall:

a)

b)

Engage in the practice of speech language pathology by representing
himself/herself as a speech language pathologist without a valid certificate of
registration/professional license or a valid temporary or special permit granted
by the Board pursuant to this Act;

Practice his/her profession during the period of his/her suspension from the
practice thereof;

10


©) Allow an unqualified person to advertise or to practice the profession by using
his/her certificate of registration/professional license or special or temporary
permit; and

d) Use as his/her own the certificate of registration/professional license or
special/temporary permit of another.

Sec. 29. Code of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards for Speech Language
Pathologists. - The Board shall adopt and promulgate the Code of Ethics and Code of
Technical Standards for speech language pathologists prescribed and issued by the
Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) of speech language
pathologists.

Sec, 30. Continuing Professional Development (CPD). ~ All speech language
pathologists shall abide by the requirements, rules, and regulation on continuing
professional education to be promulgated by the PRC Regulatory Board, subject to the
approval of the Commission, in coordination with the AIPO for speech language pathology
and the representative of duly accredited education institutions. For this purpose, the Board
may create a CPD Council to implement the CPD program subject to the guidelines as may
be issued by the Commission.

Sec. 31. Integration of Speech Language Pathologist. - ‘The speech language
pathology profession shall be integrated into one (1) national professional organization of
speech language pathologists which shall be duly registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). The Board, subject to approval by the Commission, shall
accredit the said organization as the one and only Accredited and Integrated Professional
Organization (AIPO) of registered speech language pathologists. All speech language
pathologists whose names appear in the Registry Book of Speech Language Pathologists
shall ipso facto or automatically become members thereof and shall receive all the benefits
and privileges appurtenant thereto upon payment of AIPO membership fees and dues.

Membership in the AIPO shall not be a bar to membership in other organizations of
speech language pathologists.

Sec. 32. Foreign Reciprocity, - No foreign speech language pathologist shall be
given a certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card
or be entitled to any of the privileges under this Act unless the country of which the foreign
speech language pathologist is a subject or citizen specifically permits Filipino speech
language pathologists to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as the
subjects or citizens of said country or state.

ARTICLE V
FINAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 33. Funding Provision. - ‘The Chairman of the Commission shall immediately
include in the Commission's programs the implementation of this Act, the funding of which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and thereafter.

Sec. 34, Penal Provision. - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this
‘Act or any of its implementing rules and regulations as promulgated by the Board subject to

n


the approval of the Commission shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
twenty thousand pesos (Php20,000.00) but not more than fifty thousand pesos
(Php50,000.00) or by imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not more five (5)
years, or both, at the discretion of the court.

Sec. 35, Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To implement the provisions of
this Act, the Board shall, subject to the approval of the Commission, promulgate the rules
and regulations and the Code of Ethics for speech language pathologists within sixty (60)
days after the Constitution of the first Board.

Sec. 36. Separability Clause. - \f any section or provision of this Act shall be
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such shall not invalidate any other section or provision
of this Act.

Sec. 37. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

Sec. 38. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) major newspaper of national
circulation whichever comes earlier.

Approved,

R