WHEREAS, there are many dental prosthetic laboratories which are operating without the supervision of a licensed dentist and without proper license and permit;
WHEREAS, the danger to public health posed by these laboratories is similar in effect to public health resulting from human activity if not properly regulated; and
WHEREAS, in line with the constitutional mandate, the Department of Health is the government agency charged with the protection and preservation of the health of the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to regulate and provide for the registration and licensing of dental prosthetic laboratories.
SEC. 2. Expansion of Division of Standards, Bureau of Dental Health Services.—For the purpose of regulating, registering and licensing dental prosthetic laboratories, the Division of Standards, Bureau of Dental Health Services, Department of Health, shall be expanded and provision shall be made for appropriate and necessary positions therein as may be determined by the Secretary of Health.
SEC. 3. Powers and Functions.—The Division of Standards, Bureau of Dental Health Services shall have, in addition, the following powers and functions:
SEC. 3. Definitions.—For the purpose hereof, the terms herein below shall be understood to mean as follows:
SEC. 4. Relations with other Entities.—The Division of Standards, Bureau of Dental Health Services shall, in the furtherance of its functions and duties, cooperate with the government and private dental schools for the training of dental laboratory technicians, and other government entities as well as international organizations involved in activities related to dental prosthetic laboratories.
SEC. 5. Penal Provision.—Any person who violates any provision of this Decree or the rules and regulations implementing this Decree shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than one month and not more than one year or by a fine of not less than TWO HUNDRED PESOS and not more than ONE THOUSAND PESOS or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 6. Funds and Resources.—The sum of one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury that are not otherwise appropriated, in order to support the activities authorized in this Decree.
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause.—Any provision of laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause.—This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-eight.
(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.) JACOBO C. CLAVE Presidential Executive Assistant