DEC.

21, 2012

NR # 2960B

House approves on second reading bill institutionalizing national health research system
The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill which seeks to institutionalize the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS). House Bill 6735 defines PNHRS as a framework anchored on the principles of essential National Health Research on inclusiveness, participation, quality, equity, efficiency and effectiveness which connect to, and converge with, the wider health, economic, political, educational and science and technology (S & T) systems of the country. Under the bill, PNHRS is institutionalized within the mandate of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), the national coordinating body for health research. The PNHRS aims to improve the health status, productivity, and the quality of life of Filipinos by ensuring that health research is linked to the health system needs and investments in health research yield the most benefit. Another objective of the PNHRS is to promote good governance in research towards high performing and ethical health research organizations. It also seeks to establish a viable system that shall strengthen national and international networking partnerships for health research development. The bill provides for the composition of the PNHRS which are the Governing Council (GC), Steering Committee, the Technical Working Committees (TWC) and the Secretariat. The Governing Council is tasked to set policies and directions for the PNHRS among others while it is one of the functions of the Steering Committee to recommend policies to the Governing Council. HB 6735 is the substitute bill to House Bill Nos. 564, 2615, 4207, 4412 and 4855 and authored by Reps. Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (1st District, Cavite), Angelo B. Palmones (Party-list, Agham), Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd District, Cavite ), Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City). The co-authors of the bill are Reps. Alfredo D. Maraon III (2nd District, Negros Occidental), Romeo M. Acop (2nd District, Antipolo), Randolph S. Ting (3rd District,

Cagayan), Deogracias B. Ramos Jr. (2nd District, Sorsogon), Philip A. Pichay (1st District, Surigao del Sur), Eufranio C. Eriguel (2nd District, La Union), Monique Yazmin Q. Lagdameo (1st District, Makati City), Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), Imelda G. Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), Daisy A. Fuentes (2nd District, South Cotabato), Romero Federico S. Quimbo (2nd District, Marikina City), Benhur L. Salimbangon (4th District, Cebu), Herminia B. Roman (1st District, Bataan), Anthony Rolando T. Golez Jr. (Lone District, Bacolod City) Mary Mitzi L. Cajayon (2nd District, Caloocan City), Linabelle Ruth R. Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Irvin M. Alcala (2nd District, Quezon), Susan A. Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), Ma. Carmen ZamoraApsay (1st District, Compostela Valley), Jeci A. Lapus (3rd District, Tarlac), Bernadette R. Herrera-Dy (Party-list, Bagong Henerasyon), Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Christopher S. Co (Part-list, Ako Bicol), Rodel M. Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol) and Jane Castro (2nd District, Capiz). (30) mvip