, 3 
~. - 
,
L
 
I: t.,. :_I ;. 1 J\ :.:y 
,.... 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
,, 
r - ,  ] ( ~ #  
~ 
j
/
,
 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15, provides: 
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 United Nation Daily Highlights, asthma kills over 180,000 people 
worldwide annually. In the Philippines, asthma affects over six (6) million children. The 
Philippines is ranked 32nd in “self-reported asthma.” The country has a prevalence rate of about 
12 %. A nationwide study conducted by the University of Santo Tomas showed that about 12.4% 
of children aged 14 to 15 years old are afflicted with asthma. Most of these children come from 
low-income families or communities. Over all, one out of 10 Filipinos has asthma, based on a 
Philippine General Hospital survey. 
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.* 
* This bill was originally filed cluing the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


.: 
, ~ : S ; , . y , - i q : i $ ’  
.F: 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
-2 
it( ;:,, s
i
:
 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
. 
,~ . 
First Regular Session 
) 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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 of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - 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 o€Health. 
(C) “Secretary” means the DOH Secretary. 
(D) “Committee” means the National Asthma Education Prevention Program 
Coordinating Committee. 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
IO 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
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: 
2 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
( 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 
3 


7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
(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 
4 


I 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
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 (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 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. 
5 


I 
2 
3 
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. 
4 
5 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
6 
Approved, 
6