QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 470)
Executive Order No. 470 was issued by President Fidel V. Ramos under the power vested in him by the Philippine Constitution to protect and promote the people’s right to health through an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development.
It creates the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) as the policy-making and advisory body on all government programs on mental health.
The Council is chaired by the Secretary of Health.
Members include the Secretary of DSWD; Secretary of DepEd; Secretary of DOJ; Secretary of DOLE; Secretary of DILG; Medical Center Chief, National Center for Mental Health; Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, UP-PGH; Chairman, Commission on Higher Education; and Director General, TESDA.
There are three (3) NGO representatives concerned with mental health, appointed by the Chairman of the Council.
The Council formulates policies and guidelines on mental health issues and concerns, and develops a comprehensive and integrated national plan on mental health.
It conducts periodic monitoring, evaluation, and research to support policy formulation and planning on mental health.
The Council is tasked to promote and facilitate collaboration among sectors and disciplines for the design, development, and implementation of sectoral mental health plans.
It reviews all existing laws related to mental health and recommends legislations that will sustain and strengthen existing programs and services and other mental health initiatives.
The Council advises the President in the field of mental health.
It must submit an annual report to the President.
The Council may call upon any department, bureau, office, or instrumentalities of the government, including GOCCs, to extend all necessary assistance.
The Department of Health (DOH) provides the technical, administrative, and secretariat support.
It derives funding from the DOH 1998 budget, and appropriations for succeeding years are incorporated in the regular budget of the DOH.
It takes effect immediately upon issuance (effectivity stated in Section 5).
The preamble cites WHO’s holistic definition, emphasizing that mental health is a state of well-being enabling individuals to utilize abilities, work productively, and contribute to the community—beyond merely lacking detectable mental disorders.
No. The preamble states mental health covers not only mental disorders and substance (drug and alcohol) abuse but also other related issues such as those arising from medical illnesses, psychosocial issues, high-risk groups (e.g., disaster victims, children, women, elderly), family disruptions due to migration, and changing lifestyles from urbanization and globalization.
The Secretary, Department of Education, Culture and Sports; and the Chairman, Commission on Higher Education.
The EO states there is a need to improve public awareness of mental health as an integral component of total health care and ensure its inclusion in the Government’s package of health care programs.