Proclamation No. 15




MALACAÑAN PALACE MANILA BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES [ Proclamation No. 15, September 8, 1998 ] DECLARING THE EIGHT DAY OF SEPTEMBER EVERY YEAR AS THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPY DAY WHEREAS, more than 50% of the countrys population are in need of Physical Therapy (PT) services yearly as a promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative measure; WHEREAS, the government recognizes that persons with disabilities are in great need of physical therapy services and that there is a need to support existing resources of both government and private sector for the rehabilitation of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children; WHEREAS, optimal health condition that can be achieved through PT services is a key to economic self sufficiency of the people; and the importance of PT services can also be measured by the quality of life it can bring to the additional years it gives to the people; WHEREAS, one of the services which is essential in the rehabilitation of the 7 million persons with disabilities, and the significant portion of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children is physical therapy; WHEREAS, physical therapy is an independent allied medical profession that encompasses any area of specialized competence whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal human health and function; and other professional activities that serve the purpose of physical therapy are research, education, consultation and administration; WHEREAS, the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) has resolved and declared at their 13th WCPT General Meeting in Washington in the year 1995 that September 8th of every year shall be celebrated as the “International Physical Therapy Day”; to provide an opportunity to celebrate the professions accomplishments around the world particularly in the prevention of disability and in the rehabilitation of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children; WHEREAS, in consonance with Executive Order 119 which mandate the Department of Health to administer the health care needs of the nation, it is hereby resolved that the said agency shall constitute the lead agency in the pursuance of the goals of the celebration of September 8 as “National Physical Therapy Day”; that all other government agencies including non-government organizations, both local and external, shall be involved in the pursuance of the success and implementation of the “National Physical Therapy Day”; WHEREAS, the Department of Health in collaboration with other government organizations and non-government organizations and the various professional groups will spearhead the holding of the “National Physical Therapy Day” and other series of activities involving government and private health and welfare agencies to highlight the nations efforts towards making physical therapy services accessible to everybody; WHEREAS, the nations effort to make the different health professional groups working together for the holistic rehabilitation of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disable, women and children shall be established as a multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary approach particularly through the collaboration of allied health personnel groups, medical government and non-government organizations; WHEREAS, because of the significance of the “National Physical Therapy Day” in the sufferings and improvement of the quality of life, particularly for the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children, it is hereby resolved that a multi-sectoral body be established under the direction of the Department of Health; NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the eighth day of September of every year as the “National Physical Therapy Day” under the auspices of the Department of Health and in coordination with its partner organizations, government and non-government organizations and private welfare and health agencies.1aшphi1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to e affixed hereto. DONE in the City of Manila, this 8th day of SEPT in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety eight. (Sgd.) JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA By the President: (Sgd.) RONALDO B. ZAMORA Executive Secretary The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation