COMMISSION

of the best diagnostic and therapeutic cardio-pulmonary care.

II. DESCRIPTION

1. The heart and lungs are the main organs of circulation and respiration respectively, Both organs perform functions that are essential to life. They are symbols adopted by the Board to represent the symbiotic, interdependent, and dynamic relationship between the cardiac and pulmonary functions which are the principal areas of practice of the Registered and Licensed Respiratory Therapists.

2. The heart and lungs are critical all throughout one's lifespan, from prenatal, neonatal, pediatric, adult to geriatric stage, for both non-critical and chronically ill patients.

3. The colors have their own distinctive meaning and significance:

Royal Blue the internationally recognized color for the respiratory therapists (RTS) encircles the heart and lungs as a symbol of the passion, stewardship, and importance of RTs in nation-building as they provide respiratory care to the Filipino people regardless of religious, social, economic, and political condition and ethnic, gender orientation. It represents their professional services guided by ethical practice, safe standards, and qualitative patient care.

Outer ring symbolizes the unity of all Registered and Licensed Respiratory Therapists, striving passionately for the continuing advancement and development of their profession.

FURTHER, RESOLVED, that the logo shall be adopted for the Board's use in the resolutions, letters, circulars, and other communication it shall issue in the discharge if its executive and quasi-legislative

THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES", the Professional Regulatory Board of Respiratory Therapy, hereinafter called the Board, subject to approval of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, hereby adopt, issues, and promulgates this Resolution, embodying the following Rules and Regulations to carry out, administer, and enforce the provision of R.A. No. 10024.

RULE I

TITLE, STATEMENT OF POLICY, AND DEFINITION OF TERMS

SECTION. 1. Title.-This Resolution shall be known and cited as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10024", for brevity, it may be cited as the IRR of R.A. No. 10024, or simply the IRR or the Rules.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.—-The State recognizes the importance of respiratory therapists in nation building. Hence, it shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive, and well-rounded respiratory therapists whose standards of practice and service shall be excellent, qualitative, worldclass, and globally competitive through inviolable, honest, effective and credible licensure examinations and through regulatory measures, programs, and activities that faster their professional growth.

The IRR shall be interpreted, construed, and carried out in the light of the above statement which embodies the legislative intent in enacting R.A. No. 10024.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms.-As used in this IRR, the following terms shall mean:

a. Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty employed with medical direction in the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities in cardiopulmonary system.

b. Respiratory Therapist is a person who is a holder of a valid certificate of registration

and a valid professional identification card issued by the Board and the Commission and who is legally qualified to practice respiratory therapy in the Philippines pursuant to R.A. No. 10024.

c. Respiratory Therapy Technician, is a person who has been registered and issued a valid certificate and professional identification card and who has undergone a two (2) year associate or certificate program in respiratory therapy procedures and whose specific assignments are supervised by a registered respiratory therapist. Such assignments are within the limits of a hospital or an institution of employment.

d. Accredited Respiratory Therapy Training Center is a respiratory therapy unit or pulmonary laboratory, office, center, agency, clinic, hospital or sanitarium duly approved by the Department of Health (DOH) or its authorized agency.

e. Recognized School of Respiratory Therapy is any school, college, or university that offers a course in respiratory therapy as approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in accordance with the requirements of R.A. No. 10024, upon recommendation of the Board.

be composed of a chairperson and two members who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from three (3) recommendees submitted by the Commission from among a list of five (5) nominees for each position submitted by the integrated professional organization or respiratory therapists.

The Board shall be organized not later than six months from the effectivity of R.A. No. 10024.

SEC. 5. Qualifications of the Members of

the Board.-The chairperson and members of the Board shall, at the time of their appointment, possess the following qualifications:

a. Must be a natural born citizen and resident of the Philippines;

b. Must be at least thirty-five (35) years of age if he/she is the chairperson or at least thirty (30) years old if he/she is a member;

c. Must be a duly registered respiratory therapist in the Philippines with a valid certificate of registration and a valid professional identification card; Provided, That in case of the first members of the Board, they shall be issued certificates of registration and professional identification cards as respiratory therapists without prior examination; Provided, Further, That in case a masteral degree course for respiratory therapy is developed, future members of the Board must henceforth be holders of a master's degree in Respiratory Therapy;

d. Must be a holder of baccalaureate degree in Respiratory Therapy with at least fifteen (15) years of professional experience and at least five (5) years of professional experience as director, supervisor or head of said laboratory or unit of Department of Heath recognized hospital prior to his/her appointment; e. Must not be an elected officer of the integrated and accredited national organization of respiratory therapists:

f. Must not have been convicted by any competent court of an offense involving moral turpitude; and

g. Must not have any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any school, college, university or institution conferring an academic degree necessary for the admission to the practice of Respiratory Therapy or where review classes in preparation for the licensure examinations are being offered or conducted, nor shall he/she be a member of the faculty or of the administration thereof.

SEC. 6. Term of Office of Board Members. The chairperson and the members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years or until their successors shall have been appointed and duly qualified; Provided, That members of the first Board to be appointed after the approval of R.A. No. 10024 shall hold office for the following terms: chairperson, for three (3) years; one (1) member, for two (2) years: and the other member for (1) year; Provided, Further, That the chairperson or any member may be reappointed for another term of three (3) years but in no case shall the whole term exceed six (6) years. Interim vacancies member of the first board shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Each member of the first Board shall automatically be registered as respiratory therapist and issued a certificate of registration and professional identification card and shall take the proper oath of office prior to assumption of duty.

SEC. 7. Compensation and Allowances of the Board.-The Chairperson and members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances comparable to those being received by the chairpersons and members of existing regulatory boards under the Commission, as provided for in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Powers, Duties, Functions and Responsibility of the Board.-The Board shall have the following specific powers, functions, duties and responsibilities:

a. Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for

carrying out the provisions of R.A. No. 10024;

b. Administer oaths in connections with the administration of R.A. No. 10024; c. Study the conditions affecting the practice of Respiratory Therapy in the Philippines and adopt measures for the enhancement of the profession, and the maintenance of high professional ethical standards. The Board may conduct ocular inspection at places where registered respiratory therapists are employed or are working, such as hospitals and clinics, to determine and enforce compliance with R.A. No. 10024 and this IRR, to aid the Board in formulating or revising policies relating to the practice of Respiratory Therapy;

d. Ensure, in coordination with the CHED; that all educational institutions offering respiratory therapy education comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the course prescribed by the CHED in the areas of curriculum, faculty, library and facilities;

e. Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of Respiratory Therapy in the Philippines;

f. Adopt an official seal of the Board; g. Maintain a roster of respiratory therapists indicating therein the basic information about the registered professionals;

h. Issue, reinstate, suspend or revoke the certificate of registration and professional identification card or cancel special permits for the practice of respiratory therapy;

i. Prescribe and/or adopt a Code of Ethics and Standards for the practice of Respiratory Therapy;

j. Hear or investigate any violations of R.A. No. 10024, this IRR and the

n. Issue special permits to persons admitted to the practice of respiratory therapy for a specific duration of time, and certificates of recognition for advanced studies, researches and accomplishments that contribute to the enrichment of the profession;

o. Adopt a program for the full

computerization of the licensure examination;

p. Prescribe guidelines and criteria in the continuing professional education (CPE) program for respiratory therapist; and

q. Perform such other powers and functions as it may deem necessary to carry out the objectives of R.A. No. 10024.

The policies, resolutions, rules and regulations, order or decisions issued or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the review and approval of the Commission.

SEC. 9. Suspension and/or Removal of Board Members.-Any member of the Board may, upon the recommendation of the Commission after due process of law and investigation conducted by the Commission, be suspended or removed by the President from office of cause such as gross neglect of duty, incompetence, malpractice, unprofessionalism, immorality, unethical or dishonorable conduct, final judgment of crime involving moral turpitude, manipulation or rigging of the licensure examination result, disclosure of secret and confidential information in the examination questions prior to the conduct of the said examination, and tampering of grades.

SEC. 10. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of its Records, Secretariat and Support Services.-The Board shall be under the administrative supervision of the Commission. All records of the Board including applications, examination papers and results, minutes of deliberation, cases, and other administrative involving respiratory investigations therapists shall be kept by the Commission.

The Commission shall designate the Secretary of the Board and shall provide the secretariat and other support services to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 11. Annual Report.-The Board shall, at the close of the calendar year, submit an annual report to the Commission, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and accomplishments during the year and recommending measures to be adapted, with the end in view of upgrading and improving the conditions affecting the practice of Respiratory Therapy in the Philippines.

RULE III

LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

SEC. 12. Examination Required.-All applicants for registration for the practice. of Respiratory Therapy shall be required to