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Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co - Pilar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic has been one of the world’s worst, with 
60 million people infected since the beginning of the pandemic and 25 million 
deaths. According to research and monitoring, our country is one of only nine 
countries in the world where the prevalence has increased more than 25% over 
the past decade.  
While the country has a comprehensive policy on Human 
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that established a national protocol for the 
prevention, treatment, care and support as stipulated in Republic Act No. 8504 or 
The Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998, it is a cause for alarm to 
see that according to a study published in the International Journal of Infectious 
Diseases, the Philippines has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the 
world.   
We have instigated policies and laws to criminalize the discrimination of 
HIV positive individuals. We have pushed for laws to make antiretrovirals and 
other forms of treatment against the said virus to be as affordable as possible. 
But, we have yet to establish a national hospital and a research institute to lead 
the charge in making sure that the Philippines is safe from HIV. It is about time 
that we take the fight seriously as we are in a losing battle.  
This bill proposes the creation of a national reproductive health research 
and treatment institute that will specialize in the treatment and research of 
HIV/AIDS. The establishment and maintenance of this hospital would primarily 
benefit HIV positive individuals and their families and would further enhance 
the noble undertaking of AIDS research, provide a state-of-the-art training of 
August 1, 2022
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medical and technical personnel as well as the prevention, control; and treatment 
of HIV/AIDS. It shall also develop programs that would support and augment 
the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control policy. 
Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought 


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Republic of the Philippines  
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City  
NINETEENTH (19th) CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.  _____ 
Introduced by: Hon. Ma. Victoria Co - Pilar 
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AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 
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RESEARCH AND TREATMENT INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1, Short Title – This Act shall be known as the “National 
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Reproductive Health Research Institute of the Philippines Act” 
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SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy – The state shall establish, maintain 
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and ensure adequate health services to guarantee the well – being of every 
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Filipino. 
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SECTION 3, Creation of the National Reproductive Health Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines – There is hereby created under the 
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supervision of the Department of Health, the National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 4, Board of Trustees - The National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. shall be governed and its 
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activities and properties be directed and controlled and managed, by a Board of 
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Trustees, which shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members, all of 
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whom to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the 
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recommendation of the Department of Health.  
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The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of five (5) 
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years and / or until their successors shall have been appointed to fill the vacancy 
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shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member. Whenever a vacancy shall 
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occur in the board, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for 
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the unexpired term of the member. 
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The Board shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be 
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the presiding officer of the Board of Trustees. The Medical Director of the HIV, 
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AIDS and STI Prevention and Control Program shall serve as Vice – Chairman of 
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the Board. 
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Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to 
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transact business and any decision of such four (4) members on any matter duly 
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presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the 
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National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines. 
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SECTION 5, Purpose and Objective – The National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. shall have the following 
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purpose and objectives: 
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(a) To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer and operate such 
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integrated medical institution or institutions that shall specialize in the 
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prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation, and / or relief of 
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HIV, AIDS and STI in all its kinds and forms; 
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(b) To promote medical and scientific research relative to the prevention 
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and treatment of HIV, AIDS and STI; 
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(c) To assist universities, colleges, hospitals and research institutions in 
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their studies of HIV, AIDS and encourage advanced training and 
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specialization of matters of, or affecting HIV, AIDS and STI 
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(d) To conduct fact-finding investigations on cancer related fields 
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throughout the country or elsewhere, and to report, publish and 
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disseminate information on the prevention and treatment of all forms 
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of HIV, AIDS and STI; 
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(e) To finance, sponsor, hold or participate in congresses, conventions, 
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conferences, seminars, workshops and training programs on cancer 
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and/or related fields in the Philippines or abroad; 
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(f) To encourage and assist in the education and training of physicians, 
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nurses, health officers, social workers, and medical and technical 
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personnel in the practical and scientific implementation of services to 
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HIV, AIDS patients; 
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(g) To assist universities, hospitals and research institutions in their 
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studies on cancer, oncology and other related fields, to encourage and 
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grant scholarships for advanced training and specialization in 
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oncology and related fields, and to support educational programs of 
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value to general public health; 
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(h) To provide psychosocial support services and counseling to the patient 
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and family members, 
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(i) To simulate the formation of other organizations on the national, 
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provincial, city and/or local levels, and to coordinate the various 
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efforts and activities of such organization for the purpose of achieving 
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a more effective approach to the common problem relative to the 
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purposes and objectives enumerated herein; and 
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(j) To be the national center for excellence in obstetrics - gynecology and 
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the treatment of HIV, AIDS and STI the Philippines. 
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SECTION 6, Government Contribution – The Government shall 
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contribute the necessary land, building, equipment and facilities to the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 7, Property of the Center – The property of the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall 
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consist of real, personal, mixed and other types of property, new owned or 
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reserved for, or may hereafter be given, donated, acquired, transferred or 
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conveyed to the National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute 
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of the Philippines. by the government, its branches and instrumentalities, any 
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foreign government, as well as by trust, foundations, corporations, or persons, 
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alien or domestic, in order to carry out its purposes and objectives as set forth 
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herein. 
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SECTION 8, Powers – For the attainment and / or furtherance of the 
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above enumerated purpose and objectives, the National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines., acting through its Board of 
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Trustees, shall have the following orders and functions, among other things: 
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(a) To contract and be contracted with; 
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(b) To adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not contrary to law to govern 
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the administration and operation of the affairs of the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines; 
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(c) To purchase, receive, take grand, holed, convey, sell, lease, pledge, 
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transfer, convey, exchange, mortgage and otherwise deal with such 
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property of whatever nature the transaction of the lawful business of 
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the National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of 
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the Philippines. may reasonably and necessarily require subject to the 
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limitations prescribed by law; 
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(d) To obtain loans, borrow funds and/or arrange financing or credit 
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assistance of whatever kind and nature from all lawful sources, 
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whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private, and 
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to mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber any of its properties and 
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assets for the purpose of securing or guaranteeing the performance or 
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fulfillment of any obligation it may undertake for itself or for other 
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entities in which it may be interested; 
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(e) To invite foreign cancer specialists and similar experts in the various 
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medical fields to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the 
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National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines; 
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(f) To advance the training of personnel in Philippine conventions, 
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conferences, congresses, seminars to accomplish the purpose and 
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objectives of the National Reproductive Health Research and 
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Treatment Institute of the Philippines.; 
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(g) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to 
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carry out the purposes of the National Reproductive Health Research 
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and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 9, Tax Exemption on Donations – All donations, contributions 
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or endowment which may be made by entities or persons to the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines. shall 
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be exempt from income and gift taxes. 
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The National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the 
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Philippines. shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes, charges and fees 
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imposed by the government or any political subdivision or instrumentality 
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thereof. 
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SECTION 10, Appointment, Promotion; Terms and Conditions of 
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Employment – The National Reproductive Health Research and Treatment 
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Institute of the Philippines. and its officers and employees shall be covered by the 
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Civil Service Law, rules and regulations, and by the office of the Compensation 
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and Position Classification. The officers and employees of the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be 
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appointed or promoted pursuant to management policies and / or appropriate 
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merit and fitness system as may be adopted by the Board. 
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SECTION 11, Assistance from Government Offices – The National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines may 
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call upon any department, bureau, offices and agency or instrumentality of the 
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Government, including government – owned and controlled corporations, for 
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such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of purposes and objectives. 
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SECTION 12, Appropriations – The amount of five hundred million 
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pesos is hereby appropriated for the initial operation of the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines which 
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shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Health under the 
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current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the necessary amount to support 
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the continued operation and maintenance of the National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be included in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act.  
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SECTION 13, Auditing – The books of accounts of the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall be 
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subject to periodic auditing by the Commission on Audit. 
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SECTION 14, Annual Report – The National Reproductive Health 
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Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines shall render to the 
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Department of Health an annual report on its operations and accomplishments. 
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SECTION 15, Effect of Dissolution – If for any reason, the National 
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Reproductive Health Research and Treatment Institute of the Philippines is 
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dissolved, its properties and assets remaining at the time of such dissolution, its 
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properties and assets remaining at the time of such dissolution shall revert to the 
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Philippine Government for disposition in accordance with law. 
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SECTION 16. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act is held 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in 
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force and effect. 
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SECTION 17. Repealing Clause – All laws, decrees, orders and rules and 
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regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
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repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 18. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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