Title
Supreme Court
National Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis
Law
Executive Order No. 369
Decision Date
Oct 5, 2004
An executive order is issued in the Philippines to establish a national program for eliminating lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease primarily affecting children, women, and men in remote endemic areas, through mass treatment using a combination of drugs annually for five years, with the month of November declared as the "Filariasis Mass Treatment Month" starting in 2004.

Law Summary

Lead Agency and National Coordination

  • Department of Health (DOH) is the lead agency for implementation.
  • DOH is responsible for formulating guidelines, providing technical support, conducting advocacy, distributing mass treatment drugs, and monitoring activities.
  • Calls upon various government agencies and local government units (LGUs) for assistance, including departments of Interior and Local Government, Education, Social Welfare and Development, National Defense, Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Information Agency, and LGUs.

Key Responsibilities of Supporting Agencies

  • Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG): Issue circulars to local executives, mobilize field offices, supervise and monitor activities to ensure high coverage.
  • Department of Education (DepEd): Ensure treatment coverage in schools by informing parents and coordinating medical teams for school-based treatment; issue relevant circulars.
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD): Ensure treatment of supervised populations aged 2 years and above; issue circulars; assist advocacy and mobilization.
  • Department of National Defense (DND) via National Disaster Coordination Council (NDCC): Issue circulars to regional/provincial offices; assist in advocacy, social mobilization, and campaign conduction.
  • Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR): Assist in training, advocacy, and social mobilization.
  • Philippine Information Agency (PIA): Provide broadcasting services to disseminate information, especially in underserved areas.

Responsibilities of Local Government Units (LGUs)

  • Lead local implementation and encourage participation from all family members aged 2 years and above.
  • Allocate resources, provide supportive drugs (such as antipyretics and antihistamines), conduct advocacy and mobilization.
  • Issue local ordinances, resolutions, or circulars pertinent to the campaign.
  • Submit reports on mass treatment coverage.

Civic Society Participation

  • Encourages NGOs, professional groups, and other concerned organizations to support through information dissemination, volunteer recruitment, donations, and other means.

Implementation and Effectivity

  • The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon approval.
  • Institutionalizes the annual campaign in November for mass treatment and complementary activities to control and eventually eliminate lymphatic filariasis.

Analyze Cases Smarter, Faster
Jur is a legal research platform serving the Philippines with case digests and jurisprudence resources. AI digests are study aids only—use responsibly.

About Privacy Terms