Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15, provides that, “The State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.” 
Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease among children and is the 
third leading cause of preventable hospitalizations. According to the latest WHO data 
published in 2020 Asthma Deaths in Philippines reached 11,404 or 1.69% of total 
deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate is 15.56 per 100,000 of population and ranks 
Philippines 36th in the world. 
The government has a major role to alleviate the effects of asthma and other related 
respiratory diseases among its constituents living in poverty. This bill seeks to 
authorize the Department of Health to carry out programs and grants regarding the 
prevention and management of asthma and related respiratory problems for low-
income families and communities. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
May 23, 2023
5:18 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CARRY OUT PROGRAMS 
AND GRANTS REGARDING THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF 
ASTHMA AND RELATED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS FOR LOW-INCOME 
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Asthma Awareness, 
Education, and Treatment Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the term: 
(A)
“Asthma” means the chronic and inflammatory lung disease characterized by
recurrent breathing problems. It is a respiratory disorder characterized by
wheezing usually of allergic origin.
(B)
“DOH” means the Department of Health.
(C)
“Secretary” means the DOH Secretary.
(D)
“Committee” means the National Asthma Education Prevention Program
Coordinating Committee.
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SECTION 4. Grants of Projects for Asthma-Related Activities for Low-Income 
Families and Communities. – 
(A)   
In General. – The Secretary shall provide grants to applicant public and 
nonprofit private entities to carry out projects which will aid individuals in low-
income families and communities. Such aid shall include, but not be limited to: 
(1)  
Screenings for and referrals regarding asthma and related respiratory 
problems in accordance with subsection (B);  
(2)  
Providing information and education regarding the conditions in 
accordance with subsection (C); and 
(3)  
Holding or sponsoring workshops regarding the conditions for parents, 
teachers, physical education instructors, school nurses, school 
counselors, athletic coaches, and other individuals who serve in 
supervisory roles of children in such communities. 
 
(B)   
Screenings and Referrals. – The Secretary shall ensure that screenings for and 
referrals to the proper health personnel regarding asthma, and related 
respiratory problems under subsection (A) are comprehensive, and that the 
settings in which the screenings and referrals are provided include – 
(1)  
Traditional medical settings such as hospitals, health clinics, and the 
offices of physicians; and  
(2)  
Non-traditional settings for the provision of such services, such as 
nurseries, elementary and secondary schools, community centers, 
public housing units, volunteer organizations, convenience stores, local 
governmental offices, day care centers, sites that offer nutrition-related 
services for women, infants, and children, and governmental offices that 
provide cash assistance for low-income individuals. 
  
(C)   Information and Education. – The Secretary shall ensure that information and 
education on asthma and related respiratory problems under subsection (A) are 
provided in accordance with the following: 
(1)   
The information and education will be provided in the language and 
cultural context that is most appropriate for the individuals for whom the 
information and education are intended.  


 
(2)   
The information and education shall include the following: 
(a) Symptoms of the conditions. 
(b) Prevention of the conditions. 
(c) Monitoring and management of the conditions, including – 
(i)  
Avoiding circumstances that may cause asthma 
attacks or other respiratory problems; and 
(ii)  
Being aware of appropriate medication options, 
such as the need to keep in one's possession an 
asthma inhaler. 
 
(d)  
The importance of developing a treatment plan that will permit asthmatic 
children to regularly engage in sports and other physical activities. 
(3)  The places in which the information and education will be provided, which 
include the traditional settings described in subsection (B)(1) and the 
nontraditional settings described in subsection (B)(2). 
 
(D)   Preparation of the Report on the Projects. – The Secretary shall prepare a 
report on the projects carried under subsection (A), which shall include: 
(1)   
The number of low income children and adults who shall have been 
screened and given referrals through the projects; 
(2)  
The extent the projects have had an effect on the manner in which 
individuals prevent and manage asthma and related respiratory 
problems; and 
(3)  
An evaluation of the effectiveness of materials used in providing 
information and education. 
 
(E)  
Inclusion in Project of Local Community-Based Organization. – To receive a 
grant under subsection (A) an applicant must: 
(1)  
Be a community-based organization that provides services in the low-
income community in which the project is to be carried out; or  
(2)  
Demonstrate to the Secretary that one or more representatives from 
such an organization will play a substantial role in carrying out the 
project. 
 


 
(F)  
Application for Grant. – The Secretary may make a grant under subsection (A) 
only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the 
application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such 
agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
 
SECTION 5. National Media Campaign To Provide Asthma-Related  
Information. – 
(A)  
In General. – The Secretary may make awards of contracts to provide for a 
national media campaign to provide to the public and health care providers 
information on asthma and related respiratory problems, with priority given to 
the occurrence of such conditions in children.  
 
(B)  
Certain Requirements. – The Secretary shall ensure that the national media 
campaign under subsection (A) is carried out in accordance with the following: 
(1)  
The campaign provides information regarding the prevention and 
management of asthma and related respiratory problems. 
 
(2)  
With respect to a community in which the campaign is carried out – 
(a)  
The campaign provides information regarding the availability in 
the community of programs that provide screenings, referrals, 
and treatment of the conditions and training in managing the 
conditions; and 
(b)  
The campaign is carried out in the language and cultural context 
that is most appropriate for the individuals for whom the campaign 
is intended. The campaign message, while tailored to the affected 
population, should have universal appeal and application to 
populations with different demographic backgrounds. 
 
SECTION 6. Research on Relationship between Air Pollutants and Asthma-
Related Problems. – 
 
(A)  
In General. – The Secretary, in consultation with the proper agency of the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall provide for 


 
the conduct of research to determine the kind and extent of air pollutants that 
cause asthma and related respiratory problems. 
 
 
(B)  
Requirement Regarding Clinical Participants. – 
(1)  
In General. – In the conduct of clinical research under subsection (A), 
the Secretary shall give priority to providing individuals described in the 
succeeding paragraph opportunities to undergo clinical evaluations for 
purposes of the research. 
(2)  
Relevant Populations. – For purposes of paragraph (1), the individuals 
referred to in this paragraph are individuals who are residents of 
communities in which the average family income is at or below the 
poverty line, as established by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). 
 
SECTION 7. National Asthma Education Prevention Program Coordinating 
Committee. – There shall be a Committee established within the DOH who shall: 
(A)  
Conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the prevalence 
and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management, including – 
(1)  
Telephone surveys to collect sample household data on the local burden 
of asthma; and 
(2)  
Health care facility specific surveillance to collect asthma data on the 
prevalence and severity of asthma, and on the quality of asthma care; 
and 
(B)  
Compile and annually publish data on – 
(1)  
The prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each region; and 
(2)  
The childhood mortality rate associated with asthma nationally and in 
each region. 
 
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such sums as 
may be necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
Treasury. 
 


 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary 
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,