Presidential Decree No. 522 (PD 522) — Prescribing Sanitation Requirements for the Operation of Establishments and Facilities for the Protection and Convenience of the Traveling Public.
WHEREAS, public and private sectors have continuously
contributed time, efforts and funds in the promotion of tourism,
sanitation and in beautification campaigns throughout the land;
WHEREAS, results of surveys and observations along national
highways and roads leading to tourist resorts have indicated an increase
in private establishments and enterprises catering to local and foreign
tourists;
WHEREAS, the influx of tourists has spawned problems as a
result of insanitary conditions of physical facilities and lack of
public utilities in tourist resorts, bus stops and terminals and service
stations along national highways, including airports and seaports;
WHEREAS, there is need of providing for an adequate number
of rest areas for passengers of public and private conveyances plying
the highways to cater to the comfort and personal conveniences and needs
to travellers; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of Government to regulate
where necessary the basic facilities for the health and convenience of
tourists and travellers in order to project a favorable image of our
country and its people;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution,
do hereby order and decree and make as part of the law of the land the
following:
SECTION 1. The Department of Health, thru the
Regional Sanitation Committee, is hereby empowered to inspect,
investigate and issue or revoke permits to operate rest areas, service
stations, eating establishments and such other facilities or amenities
intended for the physical convenience of the travelling public.
SEC.
2. There are hereby created Regional Sanitation Committees in each
Health Region under the Department of Health which will control,
supervise and regulate the sanitation requirements in public eating
places, lounges, motels, hote1, seaports, airports, and other similar
establishments serving the travelling public throughout the country
composed of the following:
Director, Regional Office
Chairman
Supervising Sanitary Engineer
Vice-Chairman
Provincial Health Officers
Members
City Health Officers
Members
SEC. 3. The Regional Sanitation Committees, in consultation
with Provincial and City Health Officers, are hereby vested with, but
not limited to, the following powers and functions:
Require all business establishments catering to the
travelling public to have the necessary sanitary permits to operate;
Require employees of such establishments to possess health
certificates issued by the local health officials;
Require all public transportation companies including
hotels or tourist and travel agencies, with units plying the highways,
to provide their own rest areas at strategic places along the National
Highway to adequately accommodate the conveniences and personal
necessities of their passengers in accordance with specifications
formulated by the Department of Health;
Prohibit public and private conveyances to make stops at
points on the highways other than at the regular designated rest areas
for the purpose of satisfying the demand for personal necessities of
passengers;
Require all eating and recreational establishments, rest
areas, service stations, picnic grounds, airports, seaports and other
similar business establishments catering to the travelling public to
have adequate comfort rooms in conformity with the sanitary standards
promulgated by the Department of Health;
Construct rest areas with sanitary facilities and maintain
their operations in conformity with accepted health standards, under
maintenance of the Health Department or the Department of Public
Highways;
Make a classification or rating system for establishments
catering to the travelling public for tourists' guidance, and to require
the permanent or temporary closure of any establishment not meeting the
specifications of the Department of Health;
Perform such other duties as may be necessary to promote the
convenience or comfort of the travelling public.
SEC. 4. The Department of Health is hereby authorized to
enlist the support of the Philippine Constabulary or any government
office for the enforcement or implementation of this Decree.
SEC. 5. All establishments catering to the travelling
public are hereby given ninety (90) days from the promulgation of this
decree within which to comply with the provisions thereof.
SEC. 6. Violations of this decree, as well as of the
rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Health pursuant to the
preceding Section, shall be punished by a fine of not less than P2,000
nor more than P5,000 or imprisonment of not less than 2 years nor more
than 5 years, or both, at the discretion of the Court, for the first
offense; for subsequent offenses, by both fine or imprisonment and
cancellation of the license or permit of the establishment. If the
offender is a corporate entity, the officers, manager or directors shall
be primarily liable. If the offender is an alien, he shall be deported
immediately without further Investigation.
SEC. 7. All laws, orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.
SEC. 8. This Decree shall take effect
immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 30th day of July, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
