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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
"13 
SEP 17 P 3 :54 
SENATE 
S. No. 
] 698 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section 12, provides: 
The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug 
regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and 
research responsive to the country's health needs and problems. 
In the United States and other countries, a number of privately funded voluntary health 
agencies continue to research on possible treatment of dystonia. However, research on dystonia 
in our country remains minimal, or even negligible. 
Not a single treatment has been found to be universally effective, and doctors would 
normally resort to therapies to reduce or eliminate muscle spasms and pain that patients suffer. 
This bill seeks to aid and promote research on the causes of dystonia so that they can be 
prevented and that effective treatment can be found.' 
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pJIf MIRIAM D F~SOR S 
" This bill was originally filed during the Thit1eenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1698 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING RESEARCH ON DYSTONIA 
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°13 
SEP 17 P 3 :54 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Dystonia Research and 
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Information Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The Constitution provides that the State shall 
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undertake appropriate health manpower development and research responsive to the country's -
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health needs and problems. Pursuant to this policy, it shall promote research for the prevention 
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and treatment on dystonia. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
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(A) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of of Health; 
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(B) "Dystonia" shall refer to the movement disorder in which sustained muscle 
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contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The 
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movements, which are involuntary and sometimes painful, may affect a single 
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muscle, a group of muscles, such as those in the arms, legs, or neck, or the entire 
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body; and 
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(C) "Committee" refers to the Committee on Dystonia Re~earch. 
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SECTION 4. Dystonia Research. - The Secretary shall conduct or support research to 
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expand the understanding of dystonia. Such research shall: 
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(A) If determined to be scientifically appropriate, include a multidisciplinary, clinical, 
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and case-controlled study of dystonia patients; 
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(B) Involve families of persons who suffer from dystonia, focus on atypical disease ~ 
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presentation, neurological dysfunction, diminished intelligence, and emotional 
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imbalance; and 
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(C) Evaluate to what extent, if any, their health differs from other patients with 
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neurological disorders. 
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SECTION 5. Committee on Dystonia Research. - To assist the Secretary in receiving 
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accurate and complete information about dystonia, its symptoms, origin, classification, 
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prevention, and treatment, there shall be established a committee, to be known as the Committee 
lion Dystonia Research, to ensure the strategic management, communication, and oversight of the 
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policy formation, research, and activities of the government regarding dystonia. 
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SECTION 6. Composition. - The Committee shall be composed of nine (9) members: 
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(A) Two (2) representatives from the Department of Health; 
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(B) One (1) representative from any other government agency necessary to accomplish 
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the purpose of the Committee; 
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(C) Four (4) physicians or practitioners with established credentials in the area of 
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neurological disorders; and 
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(D) Two (2) iminediate relatives of dystonia patients to be appointed by the Secretary. 
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The Secretary shall act as chair of the Committee. He shall convene meetings of the 
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Committee, not less than twice a year, and compile information for the consideration of the full 
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Committee at such meetings. 
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SECTION 7. Meetings. - The meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public and 
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public witnesses shall be given opportunity to speak and make presentations at such meetings. 
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Each member shall make a presentation to the full Committee at each meeting concerning the 
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activities conducted by such member. 
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SECTION 8. Term. - Members shall be appointed by the Secretary for a term ofthree (3) 
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years. Of those first appointed, three (3) members shall serve for three (3) years, three (3) 
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members, for two (2) years, and the last three (3) members for one (I) year. 
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Any vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as 
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the original appointment. 
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Any member of the Committee may be removed for cause in accordance with procedures 
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established by the Committee. 
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SECTION 9. Functions. - The Committee shall have the following functions: 
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(A) Advise the Secretary on appropriate research activities to be undertaken by the 
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Committee with respect to research on dystonia, its p'revention~ and treatment; 
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(B) Report to the Secretary on such research; 
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(C) Provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding the activities of the 
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Committee; 
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(D) Prepare a report regarding the activities of the Committee; 
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(E) Ensure that materials concerning dystonia provided by the Department are 
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available, up to date, and responsive to reports of problems of dystonia, and that 
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timely aggregate data concerning such reports shall be made available to the public 
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upon request and consistent with existing confidentiality standards. 
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SECTION 10. Appropriation. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuons operation of the research shall be included 
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in the annual appropriation of the Department of Health. 
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SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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