.jpg)
Physical Therapy Bill
Updates on the Proposed Amendments to Republic Act 5680 (i.e. Physical Therapy provisions)
Latest updates
House Bill 8452, the proposed Philippine Physical Therapy Law was approved on its Third and Final Reading on August 16, 2023.
PPTA President Michael Gabilo, and PPTA Directors Arthur King and Donald Manlapaz attended the House session on 08 August 2023 as honored guests of House Committee Chair on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor. During this session, the PT bill was approved on second reading. (photo attached)
Recent developments
18th Congress of the Philippines (July 2019-2022)
During the 18th Congress of the Philippines, multiple legislative bills were filed in both lower and upper houses, proposing to amend the decades-old Republic Act 5680 that currently governs the practice of physical therapy in the country.
House Bill 5865 was the bill drafted by the PPTA and later endorsed by the Professional Regulatory Board of Physical Therapy. This bill was sponsored by Bohol Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor, a physical therapist turned lawmaker. This version was a product of multiple professional consultative meetings conducted by PPTA from 2019 to 2020 across the Philippines.
PPTA President Michael Gabilo, Treasurer Catherine Escuadra, Director Baldhomero Ranjo II, and other PPTA members met with Bohol Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor to endorse the proposed amendments to R.A. 5680 , 21 January 2020
Three more PT house bills were filed and then a consolidated one, House Bill 9216, was later submitted by the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation in substitution of the bills earlier filed. HB 9216 successfully crossed the hurdles of the lower house after its approval of its Third Reading on 28 July 2021. This bill was transmitted to the Senate on 29 July 2021.
PPTA Pres. Michael Gabilo shares PPTA's position statement on the proposed amendments to R.A. 5680 in an online consultative meeting by the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, 24 November 2020
In the Senate, one PT bill (SBN 1093) was filed and forwarded to its Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation. During a public hearing on 27 January 2022, where the bill was discussed, PPTA presented its position statement to support the House-approved bill, HB 9216, as the version to be adopted by the Senate.
However, from this point, the PT bill failed to reach its enactment because of the eventual closing of the 18th congress. PPTA remains hopeful and continues its commitment to lobby for the amendment of the R.A. 5680 in the 19th Congress.
19th Congress of the Philippines (July 2022-2025)
For the current 19th Congress, PPTA continues its efforts to lobby for the amendments of R.A. 5680. As of 30 May 2023, six house bills and one senate bill have been filed in congress. Bohol Third District Rep. Kristine Alexie Tutor re-filed the House-approved PT bill from the 18th congress, as House Bill 2045. This same version was also endorsed by PPTA to the upper house and was sponsored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada as Senate Bill 1643.
On 30 May 2023, the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation filed House Bill 8452 in substitution of the earlier filed bills. The substitute bill was approved on its Second Reading on 08 August 2023 and was subsequently approved on Third and Final reading on 16 August 2023.
PPTA stays committed in lobbying for the approval of the proposed amendments to Republic Act 5680, with efforts now headed for the approval of the bill in the Senate. Stay tuned for the next updates.
Past initiatives
There have been previous initiatives to come up with a specific and independent legislation for the regulation of physical therapy practice in the country. These PT bills, lobbied for by PPTA, have gone through a number of congresses but have not successfully reached enactment.
-
11th Congress
-
Senate Bill 552
-
House Bill 6831 (substituted by HB 12892)
-
House Bill 12892
-
-
12th Congress
-
House Bill 1511(substituted by HB 5948)
-
House Bill 5948 (approved on Third Reading)
-
-
13th Congress
-
Senate Bill 624
-