Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES eee
> RECEIVED
Quezon City, Philippines 2 ome 18 SUL 2017

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5996

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflamed, swollen, and
narrow airways which makes breathing difficult. This means that asthma patients
have sensitive airways that react to certain factors such as stress, infection, dust,
mites, feathers, cigarette smoke, and changes in the weather. While asthma has no
cure yet, it can be controlled.

According to the Global Asthma Report, there are approximately 11 million
Filipinos suffering from asthma, and 98 percent of them continue to lack proper
treatment. It is observed that asthma patients tend to only use medication when
they have attacks and often rely on information given to them by their family and
peers, thus resulting to patients underrating their situation, which in turn result
to poor asthma control.

To control and treat asthma effectively, we must equip the public with the
proper information and awareness of this chronic disease. Thus, this bill seeks to
authorize the Department of Health to carry out programs and grants regarding
the prevention and management of asthma, especially for low-income families and
communities,

In view of the State policy to protect and promote the right to health of
people and instill health consciousness, the approval of this measure is sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5996

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

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 itenacted 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) “Committee” means the National Asthma Education
Prevention Program Coordinating Committee.

(©) “DOH means the Department of Health.

(D) “Secretary” means the DOH Secretary.

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
law-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 paragraph (B);

(2) Providing information and education regarding the conditions in
accordance with paragraph (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 paragraph (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 government offices, day care centers,
sites that offer nutrition-related services for women, infants, and
children, and government 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
paragraph (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.

(©) 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
paragraph (B)(1) and the nontraditional settings described in
paragraph (B)(2).

(D) _ Preparation of the Report on the Projects. - The Secretary shall
prepare a report on the projects carried under paragraph (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 paragraph (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) for Grant. - The Secretary may make a grant under
paragraph (A) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and
the applicant 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 paragraph (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, -

a) 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 (I), 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 with 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 of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of

the other provisions hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances,
or portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulations.

Approved.,