SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
Senate Bill No. 1556 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
More than insufficiency of resources, lack of innovation in harnessing 
collective non-pecuniary resources to come up with basic programs that seek to 
take care of the country's health needs explains poor delivery of basic health 
services as well as failure to critically respond to basic health concerns on the 
part of the government. 
Indeed, budgetary constraints should never be an excuse for failure to 
handle important governmental undertakings, such as health. 
For instance, breast cancer has long been a concern since time 
immemorial and yet the government has not come up with decisive policy 
direction, let alone concrete plan of action to address the same. It may sound 
alarming, noting that breast cancer is the leading common cancer among Filipino 
women and second among both sexes, but it is muted by the fact that no 
programs are set hi place at the moment. 
The proposed measure which focuses on addressing breast cancer is a 
crucial starting point in our' joint quest for meaningful response mechanism 
without necessary use of huge resources. Although it may sound resource 
exhaustive, as it seeks to establish breast care centers in every region 
nationwide, it actually utilizes less resources since these centers will merely be 
attached departments to existing regional hospitals of the national government. 
In other words, it creatively re-channels existing government funds, instead of 
wasting additional ones, to respond to urgent needs. 
Using cost-benefit analysis, these centers once established will greatly 
benefit millions of Filipinos who suffer, and who are about to suffer from breast 
cancer unless timely intervention is implemented. They will spearhead sustained 
information campaign to raise public awareness on the disease, take the lead in 
providing affordable services in disease prevention and consequently change 
existing mindset on how breast cancer should be approached and prevented. 
Our people's health largely depends on important legislative measures. If 
only to abate a disease that has long caused sufferings to millions of people, the 
immediate enactment of the proposed, measure should never be an issue. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
Senate Bill No. 1556 
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SEP -5 P 2 :07 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CARE CENTERS IN 
EVERY REGION NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Establishment of Breast Care Centers. - A Breast Care 
Center, known as the "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. 
SEC. 2. Equipment and Personnel. - The Center 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 Chemotherapy and Breast Cancer Awareness and Information. 
SEC. 3. Implementing 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. 
SEC. 4. 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 the disease for its early detection and 
prevention. 


It shall coordinate with regional and local education officials to ensure that 
female high school students in both public and private schools are taught the 
pertinent information about the disease and are trained to habitually self-examine 
themselves as a part of the regular secondary curriculum. 
SEC. 5. Operationalization and Appropriations. - To fully implement 
the provisions of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the 
Department's program the operationalization of the Centers, the funding of which 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,