Related Laws and Policies in Public Health PDF

RELATED LAWS AND POLICIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH NCM 104 LEARNING Adhere to ethico-legal considerations when providing safe, OUTCOME quality, and professional nursing care. Apply ethical reasoning and decision-making process to address situations of ethical distress and...

RELATED LAWS AND POLICIES IN PUBLIC HEALTH NCM 104 LEARNING Adhere to ethico-legal considerations when providing safe, OUTCOME quality, and professional nursing care. Apply ethical reasoning and decision-making process to address situations of ethical distress and moral dilemma. Adhere to established norms of conduct based on the Philippine Nursing Law and other legal, regulatory, and institutional requirements relevant to safe nursing practice. Protect client rights based on “Patient’s Bill of Rights and Obligations” Implement strategies/ policies related to informed consent as it applies in multiple contexts. CONTENTS RA 9173: Philippine Nurses Act RA 7305: Magna Carta for Public Health Worker RA 11332: Law on Reporting of Communicable Diseases PD 856: Sanitation Code RA 8749: Clean Air Act RA 6675: Generic Act RA 7875: National Health Insurance Act RA 7432: Expanded Senior Citizen’s Act of 2003 RA 9165: Revised Dangerous Drugs Law RA 10028: Breastfeeding Act REPUBLIC ACT 9173: PHILIPPINE NURSING ACT REPUBLIC ACT An act providing for a more responsive nursing profession, repealing for the purpose 9173: Republic Act no. 7164, PHILIPPINE known as "the Philippine nursing act of 1991" NURSING ACT State to assume responsibility for the protection and improvement of the nursing profession by instituting measures that will result in relevant nursing education, humane working conditions, better career prospects and a dignified existence for our nurses. ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATIO Board, to be composed of a N OF THE BOARD OF Chairperson and six (6) NURSING members Appointed by the president of the Republic of the Philippines QUALIFICATIO Be a natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines; NS OF THE Be a member of good standing of the accredited professional CHAIRPERSON organization of nurses AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Be a registered nurse and holder of a master's degree in nursing, education or other allied medical profession conferred by a college or university duly recognized by the Government Have at least ten (10) years of continuous practice of the profession prior to appointment: Provided, however, That the last five (5) years of which shall be in the Philippines; Not have been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude; Provided, That the membership to the Board shall represent the three (3) areas of nursing, namely: nursing education, nursing service and community health nursing SECTION 5. REQUIREMENTS UPON QUALIFICATION AS MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF NURSING. Appointed Chairperson or Member of the Board shall immediately resign from any teaching position in any school, college, university or institution offering BSN and/or review program for the local nursing board examinations or in any office or employment in the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality. SECTION 6. The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years TERM OF Until their successors shall have been appointed and OFFICE qualified And may be re-appointed for another term SECTION 7. COMPENSATION OF THE BOARD MEMBERS The Chairperson and Members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to the compensation and allowances received by the Chairperson and members of other professional regulatory boards. SECTION 8. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISION OF THE BOARD, CUSTODIAN OF ITS RECORDS, SECRETARIAT AND SUPPORT SERVICES All records of the Board, including applications for examinations, 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 provisions of this Act.  Conduct the licensure examination for nurses Issue, suspend or revoke certificates of registration for the practice of nursing Monitor and enforce quality standards of nursing practice in the Philippines and exercise the powers necessary to ensure the maintenance of efficient, ethical and technical, moral and professional standards in the practice of nursing taking into account the health needs of the nation Ensure quality nursing education by examining the prescribed facilities of universities or colleges of nursing or departments of nursing education and those seeking permission to open nursing courses to ensure that standards of nursing education are properly complied with and maintained at all times. SECTION 9. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD  Conduct hearings and investigations to resolve complaints against nurse practitioners for unethical and unprofessional conduct and violations of this Act, or its rules and regulations Promulgate a Code of Ethics in coordination and consultation with the accredited professional organization of nurses Recognize nursing specialty organizations in coordination with the accredited professional organization Prescribe, adopt issue and promulgate guidelines, regulations, measures and decisions as may be necessary for the improvements of the nursing practice, advancement of the profession and for the proper and full enforcement of this Act subject to the review and approval by the Commission. SECTION 9. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD ARTICLE IV: EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION SECTION 12. LICENSURE EXAMINATION All applicants for license to practice nursing shall be required to pass a written examination, which shall be given by the Board in such places and dates as may be designated by the Commission: Provided, That it shall be in accordance with Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000." SECTION 13. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION. In order to be admitted to the examination for nurses, an applicant must, at the time of filing his/her application, establish to the satisfaction of the Board that: (a) He/she is a citizen of the Philippines b) He/she is of good moral character (c) He/she is a holder of a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from a college or university SECTION 14. SCOPE OF The scope of the examination EXAMINATIO N for the practice of nursing in the Philippines shall be determined by the Board. FIVE PARTS Fundamentals of Nursing including WILL TEST THE Professional Adjustment KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND Maternal and Child Health Nursing ATTITUDE OF AN Community Health and EXAMINER Communicable Disease Nursing ON Nursing of Adolescents, Adults and Aged Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing FIVE PARTS THAT CONTAINS ONE HUNDRED (100) QUESTIONS. Nursing Practice I: Basic Foundation of Nursing and Professional Nursing Practice (100 items) Nursing Practice II: Community Health Nursing and Care of the Mother and Child (100 items) Nursing Practice III: Care of Clients with Physiologic and Psychosocial Alterations, Part A (100 items) Nursing Practice IV: Care of Clients with Physiologic and Psychosocial Alterations, Part B (100 items) Nursing Practice V: Care of Clients with Physiologic and Psychosocial Alterations, Part C (100 items) SECTION 15. RATINGS In order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy- five percent (75%) with a rating of not below sixty percent (60%) in any subject. SECTION 16. OATH All successful candidates in the examination shall be required to take an oath of profession before the Board or any government official authorized to administer oaths prior to entering upon the nursing practice SECTION 23. REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION/PROFESSION AL LICENSE AND CANCELLATION OF SPECIAL/TEMPORARY PERMIT THE BOARD (a) For any of the causes mentioned in the preceding section; SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO (b) For unprofessional and unethical conduct; REVOKE OR (c) For gross incompetence or serious ignorance; SUSPEND THE CERTIFICATE OF (d) For malpractice or negligence in the practice of nursing; REGISTRATION/PR OFESSIONAL (e) For the use of fraud, deceit, or false statements in obtaining a LICENSE OR certificate of registration/professional license or a CANCEL THE temporary/special permit; SPECIAL/TEMPOR ARY PERMIT OF A (f) For violation of this Act, the rules and regulations, Code of NURSE UPON ANY Ethics for nurses and technical standards for nursing practice, OF THE policies of the Board and the Commission, or the conditions and FOLLOWING limitations for the issuance of the temporarily/special permit; GROUNDS: (g) For practicing his/her profession during his/her suspension from such practice.  The Board may, after the expiration of a maximum of four (4) years from the date of revocation of a certificate, for reasons of equity and justice and when the cause for revocation has disappeared or has been cured and corrected, upon proper application therefore and the payment of the required fees, issue another copy of the certificate of registration/professional license. SECTION 24. RE-ISSUANCE OF REVOKED CERTIFICATES AND REPLACEMENT OF LOST CERTIFICATES ARTICLE V: NURSING EDUCATION SECTION 25. NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAM The learning experiences shall adhere strictly to The nursing education specific requirements program shall provide sound embodied in the prescribed general and professional curriculum as promulgated foundation for the practice of by the Commission on nursing Higher Education's policies and standards of nursing education SECTION 26: REQUIREMENT FOR INACTIVE NURSES RETURNING TO PRACTICE Nurses who have not actively practiced the profession for five (5) consecutive years are required to undergo one (1) month of didactic training and three (3) months of practicum. The Board shall accredit hospitals to conduct the said training program. SECTION 27: A member of the faculty in a college of nursing teaching professional QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FACULTY courses must: (a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines (b) Have at least one (1) year of clinical practice in a field of specialization (c) Be a member of good standing in the accredited professional organization of nurses (d) Be a holder of a master's degree in nursing, education, or other allied medical and health sciences conferred by a college or university ARTICLE VI: NURSING PRACTICE SECTION 28. SCOPE OF NURSING A person shall be deemed to be practicing nursing within the meaning of this Act when he/she singly or in collaboration with another, initiates and performs nursing services to individuals, families and communities in any health care setting. It includes, but not limited to, nursing care during conception, labor, delivery, infancy, childhood, toddler, preschool, school age, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. As independent practitioners, nurses are primarily responsible for the promotion of health and prevention of illness. A members of the health team, nurses shall collaborate with other health care providers for the curative, preventive, and rehabilitative aspects of care, restoration of health, alleviation of suffering, and when recovery is not possible, towards a peaceful death. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE NURSE TO: (a) Provide nursing care through the utilization of the nursing process. Nursing care includes, but not limited to: Traditional and innovative approaches, Therapeutic use of self, Executing health care techniques and procedures, Essential primary health care, Comfort measures, Health teachings, and Administration of written prescription for treatment, therapies, oral topical and parenteral medications, Internal examination during labor in the absence of antenatal bleeding and delivery. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE NURSE TO: (b) establish linkages with community resources and coordination with the health team (c) Provide health education to individuals, families and communities (d) Teach, guide and supervise students in nursing education programs including the administration of nursing services in varied settings such as hospitals and clinics (e) Undertake nursing and health human resource development training and research, which shall include, but not limited to, the development of advance nursing practice SECTION 29. QUALIFICATION OF NURSING SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS A person occupying supervisory or managerial positions requiring knowledge of nursing must: (a) Be a registered nurse in the Philippines; (b) Have at least two (2) years’ experience in general nursing service administration; (c) Possess a degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with at least nine (9) units in management and administration courses at the graduate level (d) Be a member of good standing of the accredited professional organization of nurses POSITION OF CHIEF NURSE OR DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICE QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD POSSESS: (1) At least five (5) years of experience in (2) A master's degree major in nursing a supervisory or managerial position in nursing; ARTICLE VIII: PENAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 35. A fine of not less than Fifty PROHIBITIO NS IN THE thousand pesos (P50,000.00) nor PRACTICE OF more than One hundred thousand NURSING. pesos (P100,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both, upon the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon: (A) ANY PERSON PRACTICING NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THIS ACT: (1) without a certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card or special temporary permit or without having been declared exempt from examination in accordance with the provision of this Act (2) who uses as his/her own certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card or special temporary permit of another; or (3) who uses an invalid certificate of registration/professional license, a suspended or revoked certificate of registration/professional license, or an expired or cancelled special/temporary permits; (4) who gives any false evidence to the Board in order to obtain a certificate of registration/professional license, a professional identification card or special permit (5) who falsely poses or advertises as a registered and licensed nurse or uses any other means that tend to convey the impression that he/she is a registered and licensed nurse (6) who appends B.S.N./R.N. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Registered Nurse) or any similar appendage to his/her name without having been conferred said degree or registration 7) who, as a registered and licensed nurse, abets or assists the illegal practice of a person who is not lawfully qualified to practice nursing. (A) ANY PERSON PRACTICING NURSING IN THE PHILIPPINES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THIS ACT: REPUBLIC ACT 7305: MAGNA CARTA FOR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER REPUBLIC ACT Also known as “Magna Carta of Public Health Workers” 7305: MAGNA SEC 2. Declaration of Policy and Objective. CARTA FOR The State shall instill health consciousness among our people to effectively carry out the health PUBLIC programs and projects of the government essential for the growth and health of the nation. HEALTH WORKER RA 7305 AIMS: (a) To promote and improve the social and economic well-being of the health workers, their living and working conditions and terms of employment (b) To develop their skills and capabilities in order that they will be more responsive and better equipped to deliver health projects and programs (c) To encourage those with proper qualifications and excellent abilities to join and remain in government service. SEC. 3. DEFINITION Health Workers” mean all persons who are: engaged in health and health-related work all persons employed in all hospitals, sanitaria, health infirmaries, health centers, rural health units, barangay health stations, clinics and other health-related establishments owned and operated by the Government or its political subdivisions with original charters and shall include medical, allied health professional, administrative and support personnel employed regardless of their employment status. SEC. 4. a public worker must meet the RECRUITMENT minimum requirements in accordance AND with policies and standards of the Civil QUALIFICATIO Service Commission. N. It is necessary to fill a vacancy; a temporary appointment shall be issued to the person who meets all the requirements Temporary appointment shall not exceed twelve (12) months nor be less than three (3) months renewable SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND MERIT PROMOTION all public health personnel shall include provisions on merit promotion, performance evaluation, in- service training grants, job rotation, suggestions and incentive award system. SEC. 6. a) A transfer is a movement from one position to another which is of equivalent TRANSFER OR rank, level or salary without break in service GEOGRAPHICAL REASSIGNMENT OF PUBLIC b) A geographical reassignment, hereinafter referred to as “reassignment,” HEALTH is a movement from one geographical location to another WORKERS c) a public health worker shall not be transferred and or reassigned, except when made in the interest of public service, in which case, the employee concerned shall be informed of the reasons therefore in writing. SEC. 7. MARRIED Whenever possible, married PUBLIC HEALTH couples, whom are both WORKERS public health workers be employed or assigned in the same municipality, but not in the same office. SEC. 8. SECURITY OF TENURE PHW be entitled to reinstatement without loss of Regular employment of public seniority rights and to his/her If a public health worker is health workers, their services back wages with twelve found by the Civil Service shall not be terminated except percent (12%) interest Commission to be unjustly for cause provided by law and computed from the time dismissed from work, after due process his/her compensation was withheld from him/her up to the time of reinstatement SEC. 9. A public worker shall not be discriminated against with regard to gender, civil status, DISCRIMINATIO creed, religious or political beliefs and ethnic N PROHIBITED groupings in the exercise of his/her profession. SEC. 10. NO UNDERSTAFFING/OVERLOADING OF HEALTH STAFF There shall be no understaffing or overloading of public health workers. The ratio of health staff to patient load shall be such as to reasonably effect a sustained delivery of quality health care at all times without overworking the public health worker and overextending his/her duty and service. Health students and apprentices shall be allowed only for purposes of training and education. SEC. 11. ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES Administrative charges against a public health worker shall be heard by a committee composed of the provincial health officer of the province where the public health worker belongs, as chairperson, a representative of any existing national or provincial public health workers’ organization or in its absence its local counterpart and a supervisor of the district, the last two (2) to be designated by the provincial health officer mentioned above. The committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Health within thirty (30) days from the termination of the hearings. Where the provincial health officer is an interested party, all the members of the committee shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health.  ANY PUBLIC HEALTH WORKER MAY BE REQUIRED TO RENDER SERVICE BEYOND THE NORMAL EIGHT (8) HOURS A DAY, THE WORKERS SHALL BE PAID AN ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS AND PREVAILING PRACTICES SEC. 17. a) Where a public health worker is made to work on his/her WORK scheduled rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional DURING compensation in accordance with existing laws. REST DAY b) Where a public health worker is made to work on any special holiday he/she shall be paid an additional compensation in accordance with existing laws. Where such holiday work falls on the worker’s scheduled rest day, he/she shall be entitled to an additional compensation as may be provided by existing laws. SEC. 18. NIGHT-SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL a) Every public health worker shall be paid night-shift differential of ten percent (10%) of his/her regular wage b) Every health worker required to work on the period covered after his/her regular schedule shall be entitled to his/her regular wage plus the regular overtime rate and an additional amount of ten percent (10%) of such overtime rate for each hour of work performed between ten (10) o’clock in the evening to six (6) o’clock in the morning. SEC. 19. In the determination of the salary scale of public health workers, the provisions of Republic Act No. SALARIES 6758 shall govern, except that the benchmark for Rural Health Physicians shall be upgraded to Grade 24. SEC. 20. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION Public health workers shall receive the following allowances: hazard allowance, subsistence allowance, longevity pay, laundry allowance and remote assignment allowance.  SEC. 22. Subsistence SEC. 23. Longevity SEC. 24. Laundry SEC. 21. Hazard Allowance Pay Allowance Allowance. ▪ Hazard allowances ▪ Public health A monthly ▪ All public health equivalent to at workers is entitled longevity pay workers who are least (25%) of the to full subsistence equivalent to five required to wear monthly basic allowance of three percent (5%) of the uniforms regularly salary of health (3) meals monthly basic pay shall be entitled to workers receiving ▪ Travel allowance shall be paid to a laundry allowance salary grade 19 and shall be given to health worker for equivalent to One below, rural health every five (5) years hundred twenty- ▪ five percent (5%) physicians as of continuous, five pesos (P125.00) for health workers enjoyed by efficient and per month with salary grade 20 municipal meritorious ▪ The rate shall be and above agriculturists, services reviewed municipal planning periodically and and development increased officers and budget accordingly by the officers. Secretary of Health  SEC. 27. Medical Compulsory medical examination shall be provided free of charge to all public health workers before entering the Examination service in the Government Public health workers shall be protected against the SEC. 28. Compensation consequences of employment injuries in accordance with existing laws. for Injuries Injuries incurred while doing overtime work shall be presumed work connected. SEC. 29. Leave Benefits Public health workers are entitled to such vacation and for Public Health sick leaves as provided by existing laws and prevailing Workers practices SEC. 30. Highest Basic Three (3) months prior to the compulsory retirement, the public Salary Upon Retirement health worker shall automatically be granted one (1) salary range or grade higher than his/her basic salary and his/her retirement benefit, computed on the basis of his/her highest salary ACT 11332: MANDATORY REPORTING OF NOTIFIABLE DISEASES AND HEALTH EVENTS OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN ACT  The Department of Health (DOH) urged all It aims to protect Recognizes the disease private and public health people from public surveillance and workers, especially at the health threats response systems of the municipal, provincial and through the efficient DOH and its local barangay levels, to report counterparts as the first all public health threats and effective disease line of defense against and emergencies to the surveillance of epidemics or any events DOH to continuously diseases of public that may pose a health promote the welfare of health concern. threats to the public. the people Public health emergency refers to an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness or health condition that: (1) Is caused by any of the following: Bio terrorism Appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin A natural disaster A chemical attack or accidental release A nuclear attack or accident An attack or accidental release of radioactive materials (2) Poses a high probability of any of the following: A large number of deaths in the affected population; A large number of serious injuries or long-term disabilities in the affected population; Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial harm to a large number of people in the affected population; International exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk to the health of citizens of other countries; or Trade and travel restrictions PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 856: CODE ON SANITATION REPUBLIC ACT 8749: CLEAN AIR ACT REPUBLIC ACT 8749: CLEAN AIR ACT REPUBLIC ACT 6675: GENERIC ACT  REPUBLIC ACT 6675: GENERIC ACT known as the "Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008" State to protect public health and, when the public interest or circumstances of extreme urgency so require, it shall adopt appropriate measures to promote and ensure access to affordable quality drugs and medicines for all. State recognizes as a reserve instrument the regulation of prices of drugs and medicines, with clear accountability by the implementing authority as mandated in this Act, as one of the means to also promote and ensure access to quality affordable medicines. REPUBLIC ACT 7875: NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT REPUBLIC ACT known as the “National Health Insurance Act of 1995” 7875: NATIONAL State shall adopt an integrated and HEALTH comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make INSURANCE ACT essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. Priority of the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children shall be recognized. HEALTH The compulsory health insurance program of the government as established in this Act, INSURANCE which shall provide universal health PROGRAM insurance coverage and ensure affordable, acceptable, available and accessible health care services for all citizens of the Philippines. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9994: EXPANDED SENIOR CITIZEN’S ACT OF 2010 SEC. 4. PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS THE SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value -added tax (VAT) “on the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, and such other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of Health (DOH). “on the professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services “on the professional fees of licensed professional health providing home health care services as endorsed by private hospitals or employed through home health care employment agencies “on medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health care services, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) SEC. 4. PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS THE SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: The grant of twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value -added tax (VAT) “In actual fare for land transportation travel in PUBs, PUJs, taxis, Asian utility vehicles (AUVs), shuttle services and public railways, including LRT, MRT, and Philippine National Railways (PNR) “In actual transportation fare for domestic air transport services and sea shipping vessels and the like, based on the actual fare and advanced booking “On the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers “On admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert halls, circuses, leisure and amusement “On funeral and burial services for the death of senior citizens SEC. 4. PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS THE SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: “exemption from the payment of individual income taxes of senior citizens who are considered to be minimum wage earners in accordance with Republic Act No. 9504 “the grant of a minimum of five percent (5%) discount relative to the monthly utilization of water and electricity supplied by the public utilities: Provided, further, That the monthly consumption does not exceed one hundred kilowatt hours (100 kWh) of electricity and thirty cubic meters (30 m3) of water “Exemption from training fees for socioeconomic programs; “Free medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees such as, but not limited to, x- rays, computerized tomography scans and blood tests, in all government facilities, subject to the guidelines to be issued by the DOH in coordination with the PhilHealth “The DOH shall administer free vaccination against the influenza virus and pneumococcal disease for indigent senior citizen patients SEC. 4. PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS THE SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: “Educational assistance to senior citizens to pursue secondary, tertiary, post tertiary, vocational and technical education, as well as short-term courses for retooling in both public and private schools through provision of scholarships, grants, financial aids, subsides and other incentives to qualified senior citizens, including support for books, learning materials, and uniform allowances, to the extent feasible “To the extent practicable and feasible, the continuance of the same benefits and privileges given by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Social Security System (SSS) and the PAG-IBIG “Retirement benefits of retirees from both the government and the private sector shall be regularly reviewed to ensure their continuing responsiveness and sustainability, and to the extent practicable and feasible, shall be upgraded to be at par with the current scale enjoyed by those in actual service SEC. 4. PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS THE SENIOR CITIZENS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING: To the extent possible, the government may grant special discounts in special programs for senior citizens on purchase of basic commodities, subject to the guidelines to be issued for the purpose by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) provision of express lanes for senior citizens in all commercial and government establishments; in the absence thereof, priority shall be given to them Death benefit assistance of a minimum of Two thousand pesos (Php2, 000.00) shall be given to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased senior citizen which amount shall be subject to adjustments due to inflation in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DSWD. IN THE AVAILMENT OF THE PRIVILEGES MENTIONED ABOVE, THE SENIOR CITIZEN, OR HIS/HER DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, MAY SUBMIT AS PROOF OF HIS/HER ENTITLED THERETO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: An identification card issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) of the place where the senior citizen resides The passport of the senior citizen concerned; and Other documents that establish that the senior citizen is a citizen of the Republic and is at least sixty (60) years of age as further provided in the implementing rules and regulations. In the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can avail of the promotional discount or the discount provided herein, whichever is higher. SEC. 5. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE THE GOVERNMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING: Employment Senior citizens who have the capacity and desire to work, or be re-employed, shall be provided information and matching services to enable them to be productive members of society. Education The DepED, TESDA and the CHED, in consultation with NGOs and people’s organizations (POs) for senior citizens, shall institute programs that will ensure access to formal and nonformal education. Health The DOH, in coordination with LGUs, NGOs and POs for senior citizens, shall institute a national health program and shall provide an integrated health service for senior citizens. REPUBLIC ACT 9165: REVISED DANGEROUS DRUGS LAW REPUBLIC ACT 9165: REVISED DANGEROUS DRUGS LAW known and cited as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” State to safeguard the integrity of its territory and the well-being of its citizenry particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, and to defend the same against acts or omissions detrimental to their development and preservation. DANGEROUS DRUGS Include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and in the Schedules annexed to the 1971 Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the attached annex which is an integral part of this Act. CANNABIS OR COMMONLY KNOWN AS “MARIJUANA” or “Indian Hemp” or by its any other name. whether dried or fresh and flowering, flowering or fruiting tops, or any part or portion of the plant and seeds thereof, and all its geographic varieties, whether as a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or in any form whatsoever. METHYLENEDIOXY or by its any other name. METHAMPHETAMI NE (MDMA) OR Refers to the drug having such chemical composition, COMMONLY KNOWN AS including any of its isomers or derivatives in any form. “ECSTASY” METHAMPHETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE OR COMMONLY KNOWN AS “SHABU”, “ICE”, “METH” or by its any other name. Refers to the drug having such chemical composition, including any of its isomers or derivatives in any form. OPIUM Refers to the coagulated juice of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) and embraces every kind, class and character of opium PDEA Refers to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under Section 82, Article IX of this Act. REPUBLIC ACT 10028: BREASTFEEDING ACT BREASTMILK IS THE BEST FOOD SINCE IT CONTAINS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS COMPLETELY SUITABLE FOR THE INFANT’S NEEDS. IT IS ALSO NATURE’S FIRST IMMUNIZATION, ENABLING THE INFANT TO FIGHT POTENTIAL SERIOUS INFECTION. IT CONTAINS GROWTH FACTORS THAT ENHANCE THE MATURATION OF AN INFANT’S ORGAN SYSTEMS.  Lactation management – the general care of a mother-infant nursing couple during the mother’s prenatal, immediate postpartum and postnatal periods. It deals with educating and providing knowledge and information to pregnant and lactating mothers on the advantages of breastfeeding, the risks associated with breastmilk substitutes Lactation stations – private, clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated rooms or areas in the workplace or public places where nursing mothers can wash up, breastfeed or express their milk comfortably and store this afterward. Rooming-in – the practice of placing the newborn in the same room as the mother right after delivery up to discharge to facilitate mother-infant bonding and to initiate breastfeeding. The infant may either share the mother’s bed or be placed in a crib beside the mother. Wet-nursing – the feeding of a newborn from another mother’s breast when his/her own mother cannot breastfeed. SECTION. 4. APPLICABILITY Applicable to all private enterprises as well as government agencies, including their subdivisions and instrumentalities, and government-owned and - controlled corporations. END