Duterte Approves Mental Health Law, Bill Principal Sponsor Hontiveros No Thanks to President

President Rodrigo Duterte has already approved the Mental Health Law, which now secures the rights and welfare of persons with mental health needs, among others. This is according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who author and principal sponsor of the bill in the Senate. However, it appears that the Opposition senator did not thank the president.

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“Help is here. The passage of the Philippine Mental Health Law or Republic Act 11036 finally sets the path for the government’s policy in integrating mental health care in the general healthcare system.” Hontiveros said in a statement on Thursday. President Duterte signed the law on Wednesday, a day before her bill shall lapse into law.

“The passage is the victory of advocates who helped us craft and lobby for the bill since we filed it last October 2016. I am glad to be a messenger of hope for the numerous mental health professionals, persons with mental health concerns, students and young people who have lent their voice for this landmark legislation.” She added.

According to Hontiveros, the Mental Health Law shall also provide mental health services down to the barangays, integrate psychiatric, psychosocial, and neurologic services in regional, provincial, and tertiary hospitals, improve the country’s mental health care facilities, and shall promote mental health education in schools and workplaces.

No longer shall Filipinos suffer silently in the dark. No longer shall mental health concerns be discussed in hushed voices.” Hontiveros said in the last part, without thanking President Duterte for approving her bill despite the fact that she has been criticizing him, especially on the government’s intensified war against drugs.



Aside from Hontiveros, the said bill was also principally authored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, and the co-authors are Senators Loren Legarda, Antonio Trillanes IV, Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Sonny Angara, and Joel Villanueva. The House passed its version last November 2017. While the Senate passed the bill on final reading in May 2017.

Contributed by Orlando Gagui