An Act Providing for the Re-Establishment and/or Rehabilitation of Hansenites and Their Families

REPUBLIC ACT No. 4829

An Act Providing for the Re-Establishment and/or Rehabilitation of Hansenites and Their Families

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the Re-establishment and/or Rehabilitation of Hansenites and Their Families Act.

Section 2. As enumerated in Section five, Article two of the Constitution of the Philippines, it is the concern of the State to promote social justice to insure the well-being and economic security of the people.

The advent of sulfone drug in the treatment of leprosy patients (Hansen patients) has made unnecessary the prolonged confinement of Hansenites in leprosaria, except those who are suffering from the advanced stage of the disease, those needing surgical intervention and those requiring institutionalized care like the destitute and/or invalid patients.

Those dischargeable patients (disease-arrested) cases need to be re-established and/or rehabilitated to the communities of their choice. Their prolonged confinement in the leprosaria, which at present is no longer necessary has made them lose track of their homes and families, rendered them jobless, and caused them to be emotionally insecure and fearful in facing life outside the leprosaria.

Section 3. To carry out the objectives of this Act during the fiscal year nineteen hundred sixty-seven, there is hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, five hundred thousand pesos, which amount shall be administered by the Social Welfare Administration. The sum necessary for the same purpose in subsequent years shall be included in the appropriations for the Social Welfare Administration in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1966.