Senators laud House for passing mental health bill

Senators welcomed yesterday the approval of the proposed mental health bill at the House of Representatives on third and final reading.

The Senate earlier passed its version of the bill last May and has vowed to work with House lawmakers to ensure its passage before the end of this year.

“We laud the House of Representatives for passing its own version of the Mental Health Bill,” Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said in a statement.

“We are hoping that the bicameral committee will meet at the soonest time possible to come up with a draft that will be submitted to President Duterte for his signature,” Angara added.

Angara pointed out it is high-time the Philippines has a mental health law as it is one of the very few countries today that has no national mental health policy.

“Our people with mental health needs should no longer suffer silently in the dark. They should no longer endure an ‘invisible illness’ and fight an invisible war,” the senator said.

“Again, we would like to express our profuse thanks to our colleagues from the Lower House for prioritizing the third reading approval of this important measure,” he said.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, sponsor of the Senate version of the mental health bill, likewise, lauded the House for the passing its version of the bill and said she is looking for- ward to working with her colleagues in Congress in finalizing the bill and having it signed into law before the year ends “as a wonderful Christmas gift to the Filipino people.”

“After being one of the few countries left without a mental health policy, the country is now one step closer in implementing a policy that will respond to the mental health needs of Filipinos. Once enacted into law, the measure will integrate mental health into the general healthcare system,” Hontiveros said.

“The burden of mental health illness is real. But so is hope. With the eventual passage of the Mental Health Bill, help is finally on its way,” she said.

Two hundred twenty three (223) House lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 6452 or the proposed Comprehensive Mental Health bill on Monday, Nov. 20. None voted against or abstained from the bill.