02/05/2025
TRADITIONAL HILOT SOCIETY, INC.
PITAHC-Recognized Traditional Hilot Organization
OFFICIAL PUBLIC ADVISORY
RE: On the Proliferation of Unregistered and Unaccredited Non-Medical Practices
As the duly authorized and PITAHC-accredited organization representing traditional Hilot practitioners in the Philippines, the Traditional Hilot Society, Inc. issues this official statement to clarify our position regarding the increasing prevalence of non-medical, traditional, and so-called alternative practices being performed publicly without accreditation, regulation, or adherence to national standards.
We acknowledge the growing demand for accessible traditional care in various communities. However, the existence or popularity of a practice does not, in itself, justify its acceptance into the formal health system. Any traditional or non-medical intervention must undergo official review, validation, and accreditation through appropriate channels as mandated by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) under the Department of Health (DOH).
We categorically state that:
1. Only individuals who are properly trained, assessed, and certified through PITAHC-recognized institutions—including the Traditional Hilot Society, Inc.—are authorized to lawfully practice Hilot and related traditional interventions.
2. All other claims of authority, legitimacy, or recognition by groups or individuals not accredited by PITAHC are deemed unauthorized, misleading, and potentially dangerous to public health.
3. No matter how long a modality has been practiced, it must still meet the essential criteria of safety, hygiene, ethical standards, professional training, and documented efficacy before it can be officially recognized or registered.
In response to the persistent inquiry—“What prevents certain practices from being accepted for registration or review?”—we clarify the following:
Registration and accreditation require a rigorous, formal process, and must be supported by scientific or cultural documentation, ethical application, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
1. Public demand or informal use alone does not exempt any practice from regulatory scrutiny.
2. Our organization remains open to reviewing new and emerging traditional practices, but only through proper submission, evaluation, and evidence-based justification.
We support the call to establish a broader, centralized database of traditional and complementary health modalities—but it must be populated with valid, reliable, authentic, and verifiable entries, not with unregulated or self-proclaimed methods that lack oversight.
Let us not mistake visibility for validity, or familiarity for accreditation. The health and safety of our people demand a system rooted in trust, transparency, and law. Practices that operate outside this framework not only risk harm to the individual but also discredit the very heritage they claim to protect.
The Traditional Hilot Society, Inc. stands firm:
Only certified and PITAHC-recognized practitioners have the legal and ethical authority to perform Hilot and accredited traditional health care practices in the Philippines.
We call on all aspiring practitioners to undergo the proper accreditation process and invite those with developed traditional methods to submit their systems for evaluation. Together, let us build a credible, safe, and culturally grounded traditional healthcare system for all Filipinos.
Issued by:
TRADITIONAL HILOT SOCIETY, INC.
MAY 2, 2025
