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14'h Congress of the Republic ) 
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of the Philippines 
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1st Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Data from the Department of Health indicate that breast cancer 
is the third most common cancer worldwide and is the most common 
among women. In the Philippines, it ranks 2nd among the common 
cancers on both sexes and ranks first among Filipino women. 
Reports even have it that breast cancer is highest in the Philippines 
compared to other Southeast Asian countries. 
As in all types of cancer, the cause of breast cancer is multi- 
factorial and the possibility of cure is high when detected early. 
Hence, public awareness and education is vital in the fight against 
breast cancer. Information is our primary weapon and it is on this 
that we must focus our efforts. 
This bill seeks to establish breast care centers in every region 
nationwide to spearhead a sustained information campaign to raise 
the public's level of awareness on breast cancer, take the lead in 
providing affordable services in the fight and cure of the disease, and 
coordinate with the Department of Education to ensure that the ills, 
causes and symptoms of the disease are regularly discussed as part 
of the high school curriculum. 
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14'h Congress of the Republic ) 
of the Philippines 
) 
'lst Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF 
BREAST CARE CENTERS IN EVERY REGION NATIONWIDE, 
APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment of Breast Care Centers. A breast 
care center, known in this Act as "Center," shall be established in 
every region of the country to spearhead the fight against breast 
cancer. It shall be a new department of existing regional hospitals of 
the National Government. Should there be no regional hospital in a 
region, the Center shall be attached to any district hospital in the 
region which is most accessible to the highest number of 
constituents. 
SECTION 2. Equipment and personnel. The Centers shall be 
provided with such equipment, tools, implements, devices, apparatus 
and personnel as may be necessary for them to carry out multiple 
programs such as Breast Protection, Breast Surveillance, Breast 
Imaging, 
Breast 
Diagnostic 
and 
Surgery, 
Breast 
Cancer 
Chemotheraphy and Breast Cancer Awareness and Information. 
SECTION 3. Functions. The Centers shall, in coordination with 
local government units, local health offices, the Philippine Information 
Agency and other government agencies, shall spearhead a sustained 
and extensive information and awareness campaign within their 
respective region to raise the level of awareness of the region's 
constituents especially the women sector on the ills, causes and 
symptoms of breast cancer for its early detection and prevention. 
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It shall coordinate with regional and' local eddcatiot? 8fficialS to " 
ensure that female high school students in both public and private 
schools are taught the pertinent information about breast cancer and 
are trained to habitually examine themselves as a part of the regular 
secondary curriculum. 


SECTION 4. 
lmplemenfing Rules and Regulations. The 
Secretary of the Department of Health shall issue such guidelines, 
orders or rules and regulations as may be necessary for the 
establishment of a Center in every regional hospital of the national 
government or in a district hospital to be designated by the Secretary 
of Health for being the most accessible to the highest number of 
constituents in a region where there is no existing regional hospital; 
for the acquisition of the necessary equipment, tools, implements, 
devices and apparatus, the hiring of personnel and fix reasonable 
fees for the services of the Centers and to carry out the provisions 
and purposes of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Operafionalization and Appropriations. To fully 
implement the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the Department 
of Health shall immediately include in the Department's program the 
operationalization of the Centers, the funding of which shall I be 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 6. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations 
or any part thereof inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,