QuestionsQuestions (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2010 - 0034)
It is the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations governing massage clinics and sauna bath establishments, issued to carry out Section XIII of P.D. 856 (Code on Sanitation of the Philippines). Its purpose is to regulate massage therapy practice by ensuring only qualified individuals enter the regulated profession and that services meet standards.
It is a system of assessment, evaluation, and manual application techniques used in a scientific manner, considering muscle locations, stress points, and anatomy. It includes adjunctive external application of water, heat and cold, stretching, and passive/active joint movement within normal ROM for pain relief, rehabilitation, or health improvement.
CEMT is the DOH committee created through a Department Personnel Order directly under the Secretary of Health. It includes a Chairperson (HHRDB), a Vice-Chairperson (Environmental Health Office), and members such as sanitary engineer, medical practitioner, physical therapist, legal officer, and massage therapists who serve as members/assessors/facilitators.
Among others: announce and conduct licensure examinations; approve/disapprove applications; issue licenses; deny/cancel licenses in specific cases; issue certified true copies; investigate sworn complaints; accredit training institutions/trainers; establish accreditation criteria; monitor massage therapists/establishments at least twice a year; and perform related functions assigned by the Secretary of Health.
CMTEC is created to manage continuing massage therapy education. It evaluates and accredits CMTE programs/activities/sources, determines CMTE credit units, monitors implementation, assesses and upgrades CMTE criteria, and helps ensure ongoing competence.
They are conducted any day of the first week of June and December every year. The place is at DOH, Manila, or at any DOH Center for Health Development (CHD) as determined by the committee upon recommendation of the CHD Director.
The applicant must: be a Filipino citizen at least 18; have good moral character certified by the Barangay Captain; submit NBI/provincial fiscal clearance of no conviction involving moral turpitude; provide a medical certificate of physical and mental fitness; be at least a high school graduate; submit certification of training of at least 60 hours practical massage from a DOH-accredited provider; and submit certification of basic instruction in specified subjects (Anatomy & Physiology, Physiology, Pathology/Microbiology, Massage Therapy I-III including practice).
The exam has two parts: (1) theoretical written exam based on the curriculum; and (2) oral/practical exam consisting of three phases: pre-massage phase, massage proper, and post-massage phase.
An examinee must obtain a general average of 75% in the theoretical exam and 75% in the oral/practical exam. Only those who pass the theoretical may take the oral/practical exam.
Results of the theoretical examination are deemed cancelled if the oral/practical exam is not taken within one (1) month after official advice.
It is a certificate issued to successful examinees, signed by the CEMT chairperson and approved by the Secretary of Health. It bears the holder’s picture and signature and is valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance.
A massage therapist must apply during the birth month and present: health certificate; current professional tax receipt; current community tax certificate; receipt of payment of registration/misc fees for three years; and certificate of attendance to continuing education/training on massage conducted by accredited institutions/associations/trainers.
Grounds include: conviction for a criminal offense involving moral turpitude; insanity; fraud in acquisition/renewal; gross negligence/ignorance/incompetence; addiction to alcohol or prohibited drugs; false or unethical advertisement/practice; physical incapacity impairing duty; failure to revalidate for at least five (5) years; and other analogous grounds.
Qualified/practicing massage therapists are absolutely prohibited from using the “Dr.” sign or the letters “M.D.” after their name in advertising (e.g., newspapers, cards, signboards, or any form of advertisement).
Examples include: only persons with a valid DOH-approved COR may practice; they cannot prescribe drugs or medical therapy; they must not use harmful chemical/material substances; they must comply with standard scientifically accepted massage procedures; they must maintain an annual up-to-date health certificate and visibly clip it on uniforms; must wash hands and apply 70% isopropyl alcohol before/after clients; must provide proper standard massage only; and must render no more than eight (8) hours of work supervision per day.
They: act on applications for renewal of CORs via HRDUs; submit lists of renewed massage therapists to CEMT every last quarter; and recommend to the Secretary of Health through the CEMT the suspension or revocation of certificates of erring massage therapists.
Violations of the rules (or interference/hindrance of enforcement, tearing down defacing altering placards/notice) are prosecuted before the Court of Justice as provided under Section 103(a) and (b) of P.D. 856. Massage therapists and other personnel who violate P.D. 856 and its IRR may be punished by revocation/suspension of license to practice or prosecuted under Section 103(a) and (b).