Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1
HOUSE BILL NO. _32 74

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

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 Fi 10 women and second among both sexes,
but it is muted by the fact that no programs are set in 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.

JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasang Pambansa, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 327k

INTRODUCED BY REP. JOSEPH VICTOR G. EJERCITO

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,