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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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JAN 27 A9 :42 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes N 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), a recently- 
published study on asthma prevalence in different countries, asthma affects twelve percent 
(12%) of the Phitippine ~
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a h t  one in ten Filipinos. &axding to the reports, 
prevalence of asthma, especially among children, is increasing. 
This only shows that despite extensive knowledge on effective asthma management 
strategies, policy regarding the education, treatment, and management of asthma is still 
necessaty to increase awareness of asthma asa chronic illness. 
Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of asthma, proper diagnosis and treatment, and 
patient education and self-management, can be effective in the treatment and management of 
asthma. Educating asthma patients and their families about the disease is essential in the 
effective control of asthma. Indeed, this illness can be life-threatening if not properly 
managed. 
This bill gives importance to patient and professional education, as well as effective 
management of asthma through a national program that can help raise awareness that asthma 
itself is a serious chronic disease. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
A
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O
 
“SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
, SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes N 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WITH INCREASED AUTHORITY 
WITH RESPECT TO ASTHMA PROGRAMS, AND FOR OTEER PURPOSES 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatwes of the Phibppmes in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Nutional Asthma 
Program Act”. 
SEC. 2. Defilrition of Terns. -As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a) Department - refers to the Department of Health; 
b) Director - refers to the Director of Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 
c) elementary school -refers to public elementary schools; 
d) program - refers to: 
1) the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program; 
2) the program discussing asthma’s symptoms, and the environmental factors 
(indoor and outdoor) that affect the disease; 
3) the program that teach patients how to better manage asthma. 
e) secondary school - refers to public secondary schools; and 
fj Secretary - refers to the Secretary of &e Department of Health. 
SEC. 3. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program.- ‘Tiere shall be a 
national progtam under the D e w e n t ,  to be called the National Asthma Education and 
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Prevention Program, which shall take charge in educating the public, specifically the asthma 
patients and their families about their disease. This program shall be carried out primarily by 
the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children’s 
Medical Center. 
SEC. 4. Objectives of the Program. - The following shall be the objectives of the 
to raise awareness among patients, health professionals, and the public that 
asthma is a serious chronic disease; 
to emme that symptoms of asthma are recopzed by patients, families, and the 
public, and that appropriate diagnasis is made by health professionals; and 
to ensure effective control of asthma by encouraging a partnership among 
patients, physicians, and other health professionals, using modern treatment and 
education programs. 
SEC. 5. Coordinating Committee. - A coordinating committee shall be established 
for the Program. This committee shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of 
Health, Executive Director ef the Lung Center of the PhiIippines, Directors of Center for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Philippine Heart Center, and Philippine Children’s Medical 
Center. 
Such committee shall submit a report that shall: 
a) 
contain a determination by the committee of the scope of the problem of asthma 
in the country; 
identifl ail programs that carry out asthma-related activities; and 
contain the recommendations of the committee for strengthening and better 
coordinating the asthma-related activities of the government 
b) 
c) 
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SEC. 6. Asthma-Related Activities of Centersfor Disease-Control and Prevention. - 
a) 
Activities to be Carried Out - The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
collaborate with the local gavement to expand the scope o f  
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1) 
activities that are carried out to determine the incidence and prevalence of 
asthma ; and 
activities that are carried out to prevent the health consequences of 
asthma, including through the provision of infomation and education to 
the public regarding asthma, which may include the use of public service 
announcements through the media and such other means as such Director 
determines to be appropriate. 
2) 
b) 
Compilation of Data - The Secretay, acting through the Director and in 
consullation with the National Asthma Education Prevention Program 
Coordinating Committee, shall 
1) 
conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the 
prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management, 
including-- 
i) 
surveys to collect sample household data on the local burden of 
asthma ; and 
ii) health care facility specific surveiHance to collect asthma data on 
the prevalence and severity of asthma, and on the quality of 
asthma care; and 
2) 
compile and annually publish data on: 
1) 
the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in the counhy; 
and 
ii) the childhood mortality rate associated with asthma in the country. 
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SEC. 7. Grants for Conmumi@ Outreach on Asthma Informion, Education, and 
Services. - 
a) 
Grants to non-profit private entities - The Secretary may make grants to non- 
profit private entities for projects to carry out, in communities identified by 
entities applying for the grants, outreach activities to provide for residents of the 
communities the following: 
1) 
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information and education on asthma; and 
referrals to health programs of public and non-profit private entities 
that provide asthma-related services, including such services for low- 
income individuals. The grant may be expended to make arrangements 
to coordinate the activities of suck entities in order to establish and 
operate networks or consortia regarding such referrals. 
b) 
Preferences in Making Grants- In making grants under subsection (a) of this 
Section, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants that will cany out 
projects under such subsection in communities that are duproportionately 
affected by asthma or underserved with respect to the activities described in 
such subsection and in which a significant number of low-income individuals 
reside. 
c) Evaluations - The applicant for the grant shall agree to provide for evaluation of 
the projects carried out under this Section to detennine the extent to which the 
projects have been effective in carrying out the activities referred to in such 
subsection. 
SEC. 8. Action Plans RegardingAstFrma.- The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
encourage the implementation of plans to cany out activities to assist children with respect 
to asthma in accordance with guidelines of the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the 
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SEC. 9. Action Plaw of School Districts Regarding Asthma. - 
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In General- 
1) 
School-Based Asthma Activities- The Secretruy, in consultation with the 
Director, may make grants to- school districts for programs to carry out 
at elementary and secondary schools specified in asthma-related 
activities for children who attend such schools. 
Eligible Schools- The elementary and secondary schools referred to in 
this Section are such schools that are located in communities with a 
significant number of low-income or underserved individuals, as 
defined by the Secrckuy. 
2) 
Development o€Pmgrams- Programs under subsection (a) shall include grants 
under which school districts and public health officials collaborate to develop 
programs to improve the management of asthma in school settings. 
Certain Guidelines- Programs under this Section shall be carried out in 
accordance with applicable guidelines or other recommendations of the 
National Institutes of Health, including the Philippine Heart Center, Lung 
Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children’s Medical Center 
and the Department @f EnviroMlent and Natural Reso,urces. 
Certain Activities- Activities that may be carried. out in programs under this 
Section include the following: 
1) 
Identifying and working directly with local hospitals, community 
clinics, advocacy organizations, parent-teacher associations, and 
asthma coalitions. 
Identifjling asthmatic chifdren and training them and their, families 
in asthma self-management. 
2) 
3) 
Purchasing asthma equipment. 
4) 
Hiring school nurses. 
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5 )  
Training teachers, nurses, coaches, and other school personnel in 
asthma-symptoni recognition and emergency responses. 
Simplifying procedures to improve students' safe access to their 
asthma medications. 
Such other asthma-related activities as the Secretary determines to 
be appropriate. 
6) 
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SEC. 10. Hospitals and Managed Clue Piam - 
a) 
hospitals should be encouraged to offer asthma-related education and training 
to asthma patients and their families upon discharge from the hospital of such 
patients; 
hospitals should, with respect to infwmation on asthma, establish telephone 
b) 
services for patients and communicate with providers of primary health 
services; and 
c) 
managed care organizations should 
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be encouraged to disseminate to health care providers asthma 
clinical practice guidelines developed or endorsed by the 
Department; 
2) collect and maintain asthma data; and 
3) offer asthma-related education and training to asthma patients and 
their families. 
SEC. 11. Implementation of the Act. - All government asthma-related activities 
should 
a) 
promote the guidelines and other recommendations Qf the Department on 
asthma diagnosis and management; and 
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b) 
be designed in consultation with national and Local organizations representing 
the medical, educational, and environmental communities, as well as 
advocates that represent those affected by asthma. 
SEC. 1.2. Appropriatwn. - The funds needed for this purpose shall be taken from &e 
appropriations of the Deparbnent of Health. Thereafter, such amount necessaiy for the 
implementation ofthis Act shall be included in the annual Cienerai Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be 
found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration 
shall remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. -All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 15. E@ectivi@ Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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