MAPEH - 10

EXCELLENCE
QUARTER 2

Health Policies
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic
Acts

Reign Chiong
Kyle Santos
Date of Creation: 11/17/23
Date of Print: N/A
(SUBMITTED FOR HEALTH PROJECT 2.1 QUARTER 2)
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts
Foreword
a. Scope:
This project shall focus on a singular topic only, which has already been stated in the briefing: The
Positive Effects of Following These Health Related Laws.
b. Limitations:
There is a distinct lack of verifiable and extensive research strictly in regards to the impact of ‘Republic
Acts’ and all related policies regarding the health of individuals within the country at every level. Gathering
data by approaching select individuals to inquire in regards to the matter at hand would also prove to be an
inefficient method as per the following points:
· Personal bias and beliefs of that specific individual will subjectivize gathered data.
· Reluctance of individuals to take part in the gathering of data given the anonymity of researchers.
· Insufficient manpower to properly and efficiently conduct at-appropriate scale data gathering.
· Individuals often lack sufficient knowledge regarding the subject-matter.
c. Methodology:
There is a sufficient amount of research conducted which varies in scale. Whilst most of these are
unable to be applied directly to the given subject-matter; comparisons, contrasts, observation, and theorizing,
will be the main method of measuring the positive impacts of health-policies on Philippine soil. As such, the
reader must note that this will be in no way complete, or extensive. The reader must expect a distinct lack of
firsthand data gathered by the researchers themselves.
d. Bypass
If the reader wishes to bypass the lengthy and time-consuming process of reading through the whole
length of this project, then they are recommended to bypass straight to the ‘Closing Remarks’ section for the
overall conclusion of this project.
If the reader merely wishes to view the positives of health policies, refer to 2-2.

Body
Introduction
Public health policy is defined as: “Public health policy is defined as the laws, regulations, actions, and
decisions implemented within society in order to promote wellness and ensure that specific health goals are
met.” (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health) - An overall increase in public and individual
health within a civilized society is often rooted with the implementation of health policies. Health policies
allow the government to carry out their constitutional duty to uphold and protect the welfare of their citizens
(Republic Acts). As such, it is of criticality that policies which are intended to further enhance and enforce
the continuity of an individual’s health are not only approved and passed by voting-bodies within the
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts
government, but are also effectively, and efficiently upheld by proper authorities.

Section 1: Limitations and Difficulties of the Practical Implementation of Policies -

1-1. Limitations of the Implementation and Enforcement of Health Policies -
Health policies and laws are different in their theoretical and practical applications and
implementation. Whilst indeed, the implementation of such policies encourage and support change within
individuals, expecting extensive changes from passive effects alone is a nigh guaranteed way to ensure that
such efforts of policy-implementation will result in an unsatisfactory endstate. Even if authorities and
governmental bodies exert effort to actively persuade and/or enforce the continuity of legislative measures and
policies, given the relative bulk of government efforts, it also does not guarantee that policies will be upheld
and followed by individuals. Thus, Practical implementation of policies does not guarantee the following
points, (Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education):
“” · Cannot ensure the enforcement of new laws (e.g., some regulations to reduce injuries and deaths from
firearms have already been enacted, but many are neither widely known nor well enforced. Using the media to
publicize fines and prison terms associated with carrying firearms along with partnering with local police to
enact laws can increase the effectiveness of these regulations.)
· Cannot ensure that new laws are supported or obeyed by the population (e.g., although drinking and
driving is illegal, the combination of alcohol and motor vehicle use is still a public health problem. The success of
this law is tied to changes in social norms and attitudes towards drinking and driving.)
· Cannot enable a population to act if they have no means to do so (e.g., although child safety seats are
required in most states, many parents cannot afford them or do not know how to install them in their vehicles.
Publicizing programs that provide free child seats and demonstrating proper installation can help parents
comply with the law.) “”
Furthermore, it should also be noted that the continued implementation and enforcement of such
policies may prove to be a direct hindrance to major actors that hold substantial power in terms of
law-making; as such, the mentioned party would most likely act in opposition to health-policies which
diminish their power. Drafting and enacting such policies require extensive skill and time to be properly
formulated and passed down the line for approval, as such — even when policies are drafted in response to a
crisis, it will most likely take a considerable amount of time before such a policy comes into effect.
Whilst there is not a definitive statistic to quantify the amount of individuals within the Philippines
who are either apprehensive or outright oppositional towards health-policies and its respective effects,
individuals are liable to be manipulated and misinformed by external parties. Although such misinformation
is of course fabricated, it does not hinder the spread of such falsified information. As such, even if all
previously listed points were successfully solved and/or bypassed, the targeted individuals themselves might
pose an additional obstacle for implementation given their hesitancy towards accepting such policies.
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts
1-2. Factors Affecting Policial Implementation and Enforcement -
Whilst the government has not been seen lacking in their efforts too often, during times that they do
— such reasons are never clarified, but can be postulated to be rooted to a number of differing reasons. There
are however, two leading reasons which might possibly be the root-cause of government inaction, failure to
properly act, or failure to properly enforce within given parameters, which are as follows (Stigler, 1974):
A. The failure for authorities to properly see the necessity of implementing frameworks for the rational
enforcement of policies.
B. The unwillingness of citizens and individuals to uphold or abide by laws and policies out of
self-interest, e.g. if an individual thinks that drinking while driving is a not an offense, then they would have no
reason to abide by policies and laws which oppose such opinions — and would most certainly be directly opposed to
policies tackling such matters.
Whilst Stigler conducted his research focused on the judicial system of the United States, there is no
reason which could restrict the postulation and comparison of his given framework for the systems in action
within the Philippines. Indeed, Stigler’s theorizing could be observed within the inner workings of
governmental bodies, and within the daily lives and beliefs of the individual.
As stated within a previous subsection, the process of properly implementing policy in general is a
lengthy and arduous task requiring a substantial amount of aptitude and manpower to properly conduct.
Given the commonly rapid time frame on which events take place within the country, such shortcomings
could affect timely responses by the government, even if they were given ample warning time.

Section 2: Positive Impacts of Health Policies on Individuals -

2-1. Criteria -
It should be noted that the criteria for the consideration of positive impacts should meet the following
prerequisites:
· Policies should positively affect the lives and welfare of their targeted individuals.
· Policies must reach and affect their targets regardless of what said targets independently utilize such
policies for.
· If negative effects are present, such negative effects must either be negated or diminished by positive
effects within the same section, e.g. “Law X requires financial input from (Targeted Individuals) which shall
then offer Y (Substantial Positive) in return.”
· Policies must present a method of practical implementation with ongoing-enforcement efforts
within the real world. Policies which only offer theoretical methods of implementation would not be
considered.
· Positive impacts must pose no ulterior effects to both the individual and others, any and all negative
effects must be clearly and concisely stated — with the target individual in question notified (Refer to no. 3).
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts
Policies must meet all criteria in order to qualify as a positive effect. All external variables such as
individual apprehension towards policies and purposeful hindrance of legislative drafting and
implementation are nullified for the sake of clarity.
2-2. Positive Effects of Following Health Policies -
Whilst the amount of positive impacts health-policies (R.A.’s specifically) are numerous enough to be
difficult to properly list and elaborate with detail, there are those which are more apparent and extensive:
1. Policies are able to safeguard and ensure the continuity of an individual’s rights given its respective
responsibility.
2. Policies serve as a foundation from which authorities can launch additional efforts to enforce
additional legislations and/or combat opposing parties and influences.
3. Policies ensure the continual wellbeing of an individual’s health on all aspects, i.e. physical, social,
psychosocial, and psychological levels of health.
4. Legislations and policies offer combative solutions, both active and passive; against malevolent
parties acting in opposition against the implementation and continuity of such laws.
5. Policies offer frameworks from which additional parties and individuals could utilize for their own
pursuit of wellbeing and welfare.
6. Policies reduce the risk of illness of an individual by implementing codes, requirements, and
procedures to preserve that individual’s health.
7. Policies encourage the individual to change their behavior to be more conducive to their given
environment, potentially causing a runoff effect of their continual altering of their behavior, e.g. “Smoke-free
building causing Individual X (Smoker) to cease smoking for that given amount of time. Given enough time,
and effort, Individual X might potentially cease smoking altogether due to his environment, and that
environment’s respective policies encouraging him to alter his behavior.”
8. Policies enable the creation and sustainment of an environment more conducive to the betterment
of an individual’s quality of life and standard of living. To ensure and safeguard the continued welfare of
individuals would be to also grant them development within their status and place in society.
Additional positive effects, as stated by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education:
· Change organizational goals. (e.g., In an effort to reduce HIV infection among students, some
school districts have added HIV/AIDS education to the curriculum.)
· Provide formal or informal guidelines for programs. (e.g., The adoption of Healthy People
2000 by the Department of Health and Human Services provided public health workers with guidelines
for setting program priorities, goals, and objectives.)
Overall, legislative and policy implementation, thereafter its subsequent enforcement and
upholding by authorities and citizens possess quality traits which assists in maintaining and
developing the standard of living and quality of life for each individual. Whilst this has strictly tackled
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts
the concept of health policy, and additional factors which affect it in other ways, the implementation
and upholding of such is conducive for having run-off effects.

Section 3: Closing Remarks -

3-1. Conclusion
Although policies and legislations are not without downsides, given the difficulty in the drafting,
enacting, and enforcement of the intent of such policies which will remain ever-present, there also are of
course positives to it. Individuals who are afflicted and affected by certain situations, illness, events, or
influences are able to utilize these to ensure the continuation of their wellbeing.
It also serves as an arm of the government which they can use to effectively set societal norms and
standards for the health of individual’s which would normally be considered as affronts on the personal
freedoms and rights of an individual. Policies and legislations serve as a persuasive arm of the government to
encourage individuals to conform to specific criteria and standards to uphold quality wellbeing of themselves
and others. Policy is also the law, and individual’s view law as the dictator of good and bad, from which they
will base their own actions around.
Whilst there are a number of factors to consider when pitching the idea of individual’s abiding by
health-policies and what are included within the legislations of such, policies are effective tools to ensure and
protect not only our welfare, wellbeing on all levels, but also that of others, Human or not.

<DOCUMENT END>
The Positive Impacts of Health-related Republic Acts

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Haines, A., et al., (2004): Policy and Practice: Bridging the Implementation Gap
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