6.+Reactions+to+House+Bill+6679


 * Reactions, insights and more reactions! The group’s entries here should form the basis of the Discussion, Reactions and Recommendations section of the paper. **

Research by **Adrian Jeric G. Peña** The filing of House Bill 6679 of the “National Mental Health Act of 2009” is a great step in addressing our country’s problems with mental health. This development is an indication that the government is utilizing its branches to protect the rights of its constituents and one of the basic human rights is health care. This is a great answer to the need for a mental health law in the country for we’ve been lacking one since time immemorial. Moreover, this house bill will further intensify the national health care system of our country and would make health care services accessible to the ordinary Filipino people living in far-flung provinces of this archipelago.

Although the contents of House Bill 6679 is pleasing to the eyes and ears, we all know how long will it take to make this House Bill into a Republic Act. The truth is, our legislative process is very long and tedious one. Who knows sooner or later this house bill might be one of those house bills waiting to be enacted. Moreover, the House of Representatives and the Senate have been plagued with numerous house bills and senate bills that also need attention and most probably House Bill 6679 will only add to the pile of these numerous bills that are often ignored and given least attention and priority.

The Philippines, as a signatory to the 1991 United Nations General Assembly Resolution, should promote the protection of persons with mental illness and should improve the mental health care of the country. Alongside with that, the Philippine constitution also states that every Filipino has a right to health care—including mental health care. Although the Department of Health has been doing its job regarding mental health, programs and services are not correctly targeted and are only concentrated in certain areas. Moreover, the implementation of programs and services are done at a very slow pace. Although a National Mental Health Policy has been signed in 2001, nothing much has been in implementing the said policy.

We firmly believe that the lawmakers, both the senators and district representatives, being elected officials, should represent their constituents and respond and address the needs of their constituents and protect their rights by enacting to laws and republic acts like the “National Mental Health Act of 2009.” We also believe that a nation full of people who aren’t receiving proper health care—including mental health care—is an unhealthy nation. Through this house bill, we believe that the social stigma connected with mental disorders and illnesses will finally be eradicated as people will become educated and would understand these illnesses and disorders.

Therefore, we urge the House of Representatives and the Senate to enact this house bill as soon as possible for we believe that mental health is a serious issue that needs to be addressed immediately. We also believe the Filipino saying: “//Kapag gusto, maraming paraan. Kapag ayaw, maraming dahilan.//” If the lawmakers are really concerned about the welfare and well being of their constituents we believe that with political will, this house bill will be enacted into a republic act despite the long and tedious process of lawmaking. Therefore, we challenge the lawmakers to act quickly on this bill and stop politicking if there are seriously concerned about the welfare and well being of the ordinary Filipino people. Furthermore, we believe that mental health is important for nation building and it is also through mental health that we reach each individual’s full potential.

Reactions to House Bill 6679 **Jessene Mariano**

It's good to know that the government is taking a step in facing one of the biggest problems in our country, the citizens' mental health. It would make the public more aware of the situation of our Filipino brethren who are experiencing these mental illnesses. This bill should be enacted soon for the sake of our Filipino brethren who have been treated wrongly because of their mental inabilities. Enacting this bill would make a huge difference in our country. I will support this bill and I hope the others would do the same thing too.

Reference:

DOH, Department of Health, (1991). //National Objectives for Health: Philippines// Manila: DOH.

House of Representatives, (2009). //National Mental Health Act of 2009// (House Bill 6679). Quezon City, Metro Manila: Bill Drafting Service.

//National Mental Health Program | Department of Health//. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2009, from http://www.doh.gov.ph/programs/mental_health

National Center for Mental Health. (n.d.). National Center for Mental Health (Facilities). //Department of Health//. Retrieved (2009, September 07) from http://www.doh.gov.ph/ncmh/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=15&Itemid=120

Querubin, M., & Rodriguez, S. (2002). //Beyond the physical : the state of a nation's mental health : the Philippine report//. Melbourne: CIMH.

Zulueta, F., & Liwag, D. (2001). //Social problems and issues in the Philippines//. Manila: National Bookstore.

Janice M. Cabusas

House Bill 6679 is an attempt to upgrade the mental health situation in the Philippines. To alleviate the deplorable situation of our fellowmen suffering from mental illness is a noble objective. Various non-government organizations like the Philippine Mental Health Association have been advocating for the welfare of the mentally ill by promoting education about mental health through their efforts at the provincial level. The Department of Health, through its collaboration with government and non-government sectors, have been likewise trying to forward the very same advocacy the authors of HB 6679 hope to endeavor.

The lack of substantial funding from the government left the Department of Health dangling since most of its programs require adequate monetary support in order to mobilize. Notwithstanding the success of the programs set forth by the department carried out by the sectors at the provincial and regional levels like the DOLE and DSWD, without the "legal" basis to back them up, to require the government to focus their attention and allocate a portion of the national budget for these endeavors that promote mental health, efforts at the national level would remain futile.

That's how i see it. The core of HB 6679 is an effort to acquire funding to perpetuate the existing programs of the DOH as well as help the department to realize its goals.