FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-IE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. Bill No. , 2130 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
Explanatory Note 
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Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient infectious disease which has probably killed more people 
than any other disease in history. Around 2 billion people in the world are infected with the TB 
bacilli, of which about 10% become ill with TB at some point in their life, 
In the Philippines, tuberculosis remains to be a major public health concern, It ranks 6th 
in the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the country. Although diagnosed a~ curable, 
an average of75 Filipinos still die of the disease everyday. 
The tragedy of TB is that it continues to spread and kill, despite the availability of a cure 
for the past 50 years. Poverty, poor living conditions, limited health sector budgets, unfair 
financing systems that burden the poor, and inferior health systems have led to a resurgence of 
TB. 
The Philippines ranks ninth in the World Health Organization (WHO) watch-list of 22 
high-burdened countries in the world which constitute 80% of global tuberculosis cases. Burden 
of TB incidence in the Philippines is at 296 per 100,000 population per year. 
In 2006, our country signed the Global Plan on TB, which seeks to reduce the prevalence 
and mortality of tuberculosis by 50% between 2006 and 2015. The Global Plan outlines a 
benchmark figure of 70% case detection rate, 85% treatment success rate and 85% cure rate. 
However, despite government efforts to improve our program on the early detection and 
treatment of TB through the Tuberculosis - Directly Observed Treatment Short Courses or TB-
DOTS, a 2010 technical briefer on the National TB Program prepared by the DOH showed a 
declining trend in the three benchmarks. 
As early as 2006, the Philippines already attained the 75% target for case detection and 
maintained that rate until 2007. But figures dropped to 72% in 2008. Treatment success rate also 
slightly dropped from 90% in 2006 to 89% in 2008. Cure rate registered the biggest decline 
among the three benchmarks. The technical briefer showed the cure rate reaching 83% in 2006, 
slightly dipped to 82% the following year, and dropped to 79% in 2008, or six percent short of 
the 85% cure rate targeted by 20 15. 
These below target levels are mainly due to various systemic and social factors, such as 
widespread poverty and the difficulty of breaking down the stigma of TB, which keeps many of 
those infected from seeking care. Aside ii'om the health and social implications of the disease, 
tuberculosis also exacts serious economic consequences caused by loss of income due to 
disability and premature death. 
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This bill aims to treat and eradicate all TB cases in the Philippines by allowing all 
Filipinos afflicted with the disease all the benefits provided under the National Health Insurance 
Program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, without the need to pay the monthly 
contributions. This would mean that all TB patients, whether he or she is a Philhealth card 
holder or not, will be entitled to free hospitalization and treatment benefits in any public or 
private hospital. 
Expenses to be incurred will be chargeable against the National Health 
Insurance Fund created by Republic Act 7875. 
With the cost of treating regular TB pegged at between P8,000 and PI 0,000, treatment of 
the 500,000 estimated TB cases in the country would cost about P4 billion to P5 billion pesos. 
This amount may be a little cost to pay in ensuring a TB-free population. Moreover, cost in the 
long term will be reduced once the disease is controlled if not totally eradicated. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of thllis~ __ 
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s earnestly sought. 


FIFFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
S. Bill No. 2130 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
AN ACT 
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PROMOTING THE TREATMENT AND ERADICATION OF TUBERCUI,OSTS, 
AMENDING' FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7875, AS 
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT INSTITUTING A NATIONAL 
HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL FILIPINOS AND ESTABLISHING THE 
PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE" 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Alis TB Act of2010." 
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SEC. 2. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7875, as amended, otherwise known as "An Act 
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Instituting a National Health Insurance Program for All Filipinos and Establishing the Philippine 
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Health Insurance Corporation for the Purpose" is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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"SEC. 12. Entitlement to Benefits - A member whose premium contributions for 
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at least three (3) months have been paid within the six (6) months prior to the first day of 
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his or' his dependents' availment, shall be entitled to the benefits of the Program: 
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Provided, That such member can show that he contributes thereto with sufficient 
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regularity, as evidenced in their health insurance ID card: and Provided further, That he 
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is not currently subject to legal penalties as provided for in Section 44 of this Act. 
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"The following need not pay the monthly contributions to be entitled to the 
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Program's benefits: 
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a) Retirees and pensioners of the SSS and GSIS prior to the effectivity of this 
Act; 
b) Members who reach the age of retirement as provided for by law and have 
paid at least one hundred twenty (120) monthly contributions; land] 
c) Enrolled indigents[.]; AND 


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"D) ANY FILIPINO WHO IS AFFLICTED WITH TUBERCULOSIS: 
PROVIDED, THAT ALL EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE 
TREATMENT/CONFINEMENT OF THE SAID DISEASE SHALL BE 
CHARGED AGAINST THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND 
CREATED UNDER SEC. 24, ARTICLE VI OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7875, AS AMENDED." 
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SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which 
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are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days following its publication in the 
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Official G!\zette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,