Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

6154

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging”

According to statistics, cancer remains to be the third leading cause of
morbidity and mortality in the country.’ Aside from the physical and
emotional toll seen in people diagnosed with the disease, the economic cost
of having cancer also has a profound impact on the family’s resources, Many
of those affected are the breadwinners and heads of the family, often
resulting to loss of income and savings due to the overwhelming cost of
treatment.

In today’s age and technology, one-third of cancers are preventable;
one-third is curable if detected early.? Screening increases the chances of
detecting certain cancers early, when they are most likely to be curable.
Presently, though, there is low cancer prevention awareness among the
Filipino population and most of the diagnosed cases are symptomatic and in
its advanced stages. Hence, cancer survival rates remain low.

This bill hopes to help increase the chances of Filipinos, especially
those in the working class ~ minimum wage earners‘ — survive the deadly
disease that is cancer by reinforcing cancer prevention programs already in
place, and more importantly, by providing a free cancer screening and early
detection program, including free HPV vaccination, for qualified eligible
beneficiaries.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ESTRELLITA B. SUANSING
1* District, Nueva Ecjja

* DOH Leading Causes of Mortality | http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/198.htmt

? Factfile: State of Cancer Treatment in the Philippines | http://medicalobserverph.com
* As defined in RA9504.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Third Regular Session

6154

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Estrellita “Ging” B, Suansing

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A FREE CANCER PREVENTION, SCREENING AND
EARLY DETECTION PROGRAM FOR WORKING CLASS FILIPINOS IN ALL
GOVERNMENT HEALTH FACILITIES NATIONWIDE AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Cancer Prevention,
Screening and Early Detection Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is declared the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right to health of the people. Likewise, it is the policy of the
State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
development which shall endeavor to make health care, medicines and other
social services available to all people at affordable cost.

To this end, the State shall endeavor to prevent and control diseases
among high-risk groups, especially those belonging in the working class,
through a free prevention, screening and early detection of cancer.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:

(A) “Working class” shall refer to Filipinos who are minimum wage
earners; and.

(B)“Minimum wage earner” shall refer to a worker in the private sector
paid the statutory minimum wage, or to an employee in the public
sector with compensation income of not more than the statutory
minimum wage in the non-agricultural sector where he/she is
assigned.

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SEC. 4. Cancer Prevention Program. - The Department of Health (DOH), in
coordination with the local government units through its local health
officers, shall carry out and reinforce cancer prevention programs already in
place, the purposes of which are as follows:

(A)To educate the importance of good nutrition and maintaining a
healthy lifestyle as a form of prevention all forms of cancer;

(B) To educate on the risk factors for all forms of cancer;

(C)To educate on the common signs and symptoms of cancer, especially
on the common forms of cancer identified in the Philippines;

(D)To educate on the proper techniques of self-examination, for example,
breast self-examination (BSE) for breast cancer;

(B) To educate on the need to periodically undergo physical examinations,
including the frequency and type of each examinations appropriate for
each age group, and which form of cancer the physical examination is
for (i.e. clinical breast exam for breast cancer, digital rectal
examination for prostate cancer, among others);

(F)To educate on the availability of immunization as part of cancer
prevention; and

(G)To educate on the availability and appropriateness of procedures for
detecting the cancer in its early stages.

SEC. 5. Free Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination. — All government
health facilities nationwide shall provide free Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV)
vaccination, as part of the prevention against cervical cancer, to qualified
eligible beneficiaries included in high risk groups identified by the DOH.

SEC. 6. Free Screening and Early Detection Program. ~ All government health
facilities nationwide shall provide free cancer screening and early detection
program for all qualified eligible beneficiaries, the frequency of screening
and ages at which screening should be performed shall be determined by
the DOH. The following screening and early detection procedures shall be
made free and available for all qualified eligible beneficiaries:

(A) Mammogram.

(B) Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
(C)Pap Smear/Pap Test

(D)Fecal Occult Blood Testing
(E) Colonoscopy

(F) Prostate Ultrasound

SEC. 7. Qualified Eligible Beneficiaries. - The Free HPV Vaccination and
Free Screening and Early Detection Program shall be restricted to qualified
recipients who are:

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(A) Identified as head of the family and/or the breadwinner through a
Social Case Study made by a social worker from the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or through their BIR Income
Tax Return;

(B)Has a gross annual income of not greater than Php 100,000.00 as
reflected in their BIR Income Tax Return; and

(C) Belongs to the high risk group identified by the DOH.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH, in coordination of
the DSWD, shall promulgate and issue the necessary guidelines for the
implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days after its effectivity.

SEC. 9. Appropriations, - The Secretary of the DOH shall immediately
include in the Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause, ~ If, for any reason, a provision or part hereof
is declared invalid, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Bffectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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