| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Senado
|
| Date of creation |
1987 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
The Committee on Health and Demography handles all matters relating to public health in general, medical, hospital and quarantine services; population issues, concerns, policies and programmes affecting individuals and their families, and their effects on national, social and economic conditions.
On the other hand, the Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations handles all matters relating to youth, women and family relations.
Since HIV/AIDS is a health issue which affects women and children and has considerable repercussions on family life, related bills and resolutions which are filed in the Senate are referred to either or both Committees, depending on the content of the bill.
|
| Membership |
The Committee on Health and Demography is headed by a Chairperson. The position of Vice-Chairperson is currently vacant. The Committee is composed of ten members and three ex-officio members.
The Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations currently has a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, seven members and three ex-officio members.
The Chairpersons and members of these two Committees, as in other Senate standing committees, are elected. They cease to perform their functions upon the election or designation of a successor.
|
| Working methods |
The Committee may conduct formal inquiries or investigations in aid of legislation in accordance with the Senate Standing Orders. The Committee is empowered to organize on-site inquiries and hearings and may summon government officials.
It is usually the Committee Chairperson who proposes the bills to be included in the Committee's agenda from among the bills that were officially referred to it in plenary session. A decision to conduct an inquiry requires the concurrence of a majority of the committee's members.
The Committee Chairperson asks the Committee Secretary to dispatch notices of meetings and invitations as well as undertake all necessary arrangements for the scheduled meetings.
Committee hearings are generally open to the public and written reports are available to the public through the Senate website or upon request. Should the Committee believe that the interrogation of a witness in a public hearing might pose a threat to national security, an executive session may be held. In such case, the summary of an executive session is not made public unless authorized by the Committee.
After analysing the meeting's proceedings, the Committee determines the need to conduct further hearings until it has gathered sufficient data to assist the Committee, through its Committee Chairperson, to sponsor the measure in plenary session for second reading.
|
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Senate Committee on Health and Demography and the Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations regularly coordinate and maintain linkages with their respective counterpart committee in the House of Representatives (Lower House of the Philippine's bicameral legislature). These are the House Committee on Health and the House Committee on Women. Where necessary, the Senate Committees also interact with the House Committee on the Millennium Development Goals, particularly in relation to MDG 6: combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Committees usually invite high-ranking government officials as well as concerned leaders of non-governmental organizations as resource persons during its meetings.
In exercising its power to investigate in aid of legislation, the Senate through any of its permanent committees may issue warrants, orders of arrest, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum signed by the Senate President to government officials, where necessary.
The Committee Secretary usually attends and participates in conferences, fora, seminars and workshops for and on behalf on the committee, in order to gather additional information on related bills and resolutions but also to strengthen ties with the organizing government and non-governmental organizations.
|
| Subjects dealt with |
HIV/AIDS related bills that were jointly referred to both Committees:
SBN-1280, entitled: "An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds There-For". Otherwise known as the "Family Life Education Act", the bill proposes the conduct of a more comprehensive sexual education campaign among local government units.
SBN-1769, entitled: "An Act Providing for Counselling and Testing of Pregnant Women and Newborn Infants for Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and for Other Purposes". Otherwise known as the "Women and Children's HIV Protection Act", the proposed bill mandates all government-funded hospitals to provide all pregnant women receiving prenatal care with counselling and testing regarding HIV.
SBN-1280, entitled: "An Act Providing for Reproductive Health Care Structures and Appropriating Funds There-For". Otherwise known as the "Reproductive Health Care Act", the bill proposes, among others, a program for the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.
|
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. Jamby Madrigal |
| Notes |
Chairperson, Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relationsand Committee on Cultural Communities |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+632 552 67 03 |
| Fax |
+632 552 66 87 |
| E-mail |
irs@senate.gov.ph |
| Website |
www.jambymadrigal.com
|
| Name |
Ms. Pia Cayetano |
| Notes |
Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health and Demography |
| Address (if different from above) |
Senate of the Philippines, Room 505, GSIS Complex, Roxas Boulevard 1307, Pasay City, Philippines |
| Phone |
+632 552 88 83 |
| Fax |
+632 552 66 84 |
| E-mail |
irs@senate.gov.ph |
| Website |
www.senatorpiacayetano.com
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Editha Cailao |
| Notes |
Legislative Committee Secretary, Senate Committee on Health and Demography |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+632 552 68 20 |
| Fax |
+632 551 37 46 |
| E-mail |
ebcailao@yahoo.com |
| web site: |
|
| Notes |
|
| Name |
Ms. Rachel Ywayan |
| Notes |
Legislative Committee Secretary, Senate Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+632 552 67 50 |
| Fax |
+632 552 68 88 |
| E-mail |
zperspective@yahoo.com |
| web site: |
|
| Notes |
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