MANILA, Philippines — An association of blind-massage therapists has asked the Social Welfare Department to intercede on their behalf regarding a set of guidelines issued recently by the Department of Health (DoH) regarding the practice of massage therapy in the country.
The Philippine Chamber of Massage Industry for the visually-impaired has lodged their concerns at the DSWD regarding the health department’s strict ruling that could make them lose their source of livelihood.
This was disclosed by DSWD undersecretary Alicia Bala in an interview during the launch of the World Health Organization World Disability Report in Pasay City the other day.
“We will sit down with the DoH and talk with them regarding their guidelines on the practice of massage therapy…the visually-impaired groups came together and they want us to intercede on their behalf on how the DoH could relax the regulations,” Bala said.
“Their very source of livelihood is being threatened,” she added.
The DoH issued Administrative order no. 2010-0034 last December 10, 2010 entitled “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations governing massage clinics and sauna establishments”. The AO prohibits a person to practice massage as a profession in the Philippines without holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy (CEMT).
CEMT was formed to regulate the practice of massage therapy in the Philippines in accordance to the provisions of the code of PD 856 or the code on sanitation of the Philippines and Executive order no. 102 s. 1999 that directs the DoH as the sole provider of health services.
The CEMT Resolution No. 2011-001 prescribes the transition period for compliance to the said AO for three years starting this year up to December 2014.
The DoH has even developed a curriculum for massage therapy which includes introduction to massage therapy, anatomy and physiology, general pathology and microbiology, massage therapy application and the practice of massage therapy.
Persons who want to become qualified as therapists are required to undergo training only from DoH-accredited training providers.
The licensure examinations for aspiring massage therapists will be administered every June and December.
The Philippine chamber of massage industry for visually-impaired is composed of 32-member organizations and 1,300 members nationwide.
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