19/02/2026
📣 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐏𝐓𝐀 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒
The Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) would like to update everyone on the ongoing progress toward the amendment of our Physical Therapy law.
Recently, an initial deliberation and consideration meeting on proposed measures related to the Physical Therapy Profession Act was conducted by the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, chaired by Rep. Laarni Lavin Roque, in the House of Representatives of the Philippines under the 20th Congress.
🏛️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝?
The following House Bills were included in the deliberation:
- HB 840
- HB 1617
- HB 4264
- HB 5373
- HB 5665
- HB 5797
- HB 6588
These proposed measures aim to update and strengthen Republic Act No. 5680 (enacted last 1969), the current law governing the practice of Physical Therapy in the Philippines.
🤝 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?
The session was attended by:
- The Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA) as one of the invited resource persons
- The Professional Regulatory Board of Physical Therapy
Their participation ensures that the perspectives of practitioners, educators, and regulators are represented in shaping the proposed amendments.
📚 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬
To help members appreciate how these proposals move forward, here is a simple overview of how a bill becomes a law in the Philippines:
1️⃣ 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 – The House Bill is filed and formally introduced.
2️⃣ 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 – The bill is studied, with consultations and technical working groups.
3️⃣ 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 – The bill is sponsored, debated, and amended on the plenary floor.
4️⃣ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 – Final version is voted upon by the members of the House of Representatives (HOR) and transmitted to the Senate for its concurrence.
5️⃣ 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 – The Senate may simultaneously or independently introduce and deliberate its own version of the bill, going through the same committee and reading process.
6️⃣ Bicameral Conference Committee – Reconciles differences between House and Senate versions.
7️⃣ Presidential Action – The President can sign the bill into law, veto, or have it lapse into law if the President takes no action within 30 days.
📌 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵: A PT bill was successfully passed by the HOR during the 18th and 19th Congresses, but it did not complete the Senate process. At present, the initiative continues in the 20th Congress, reflecting sustained advocacy for the profession.
💬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬
This development signifies continued momentum toward updating our professional law—a key step in strengthening practice standards, education, regulation, and the future of physical therapy in the Philippines.
𝐏𝐏𝐓𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨:
- Actively representing the profession
- Collaborating with government agencies and stakeholders
- Keeping all members informed every step of the way
We encourage all members to stay engaged and united as we move forward in this important legislative journey.
Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na suporta at mabuhay ang Filipino Physical Therapists.
