FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUl3LIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
/ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Section 15 of Article TI under the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. However, 
reports on prostate cancer showed the opposite. The data from the World Health Organization 
showed that prostate cancer is the sixth most common form of malign tumours among men, 
killing one almost every 19 minutes.2 Moreover, it is one of the top five cancers among men in 
the Philippines. 
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Cancer of the prostate does not show early symptoms. Even without symptoms, this form of 
cancer in its early may be detected during a medical examination. This is the reason why men, 
particularly those who are 40 years and older, should be educated on the importance of a regular 
checkup, including a digital (finger) rectal prostate examination once or twice a year, even those 
without symptoms, to catch prostate cancer before it spreads. If treated early, ten years after the 
treatment, 65 out of a hundred are still alive and well. In consonance with this, the Department of 
Health is hereby mandated to carry out the provisions of this bill. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
A h+T4- 
TO IO “SONNY” . TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
“Urine test for prostate cancer making progress,” l i t t u : / / w w w . b r e a k t h ~ ~ u ~ ~ ~ ~ e ~ ~ ~ ~ a
Dr. Philip S. Chua, “Prostatic cancer,” 
1 
cancorlurinc-!est-~or-pl.ost~te-c~in~e~-~iiakin~-~r~~ressl 
.... 
(accessed 11 March 2009). 
ht!lxl!&hnhation 
i r i o i ~ i r e r , o e ~ l ~ e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ w s / ~ ~ i n i o n i v i e w  
arricle.uhu?~~i~!i.0807 
(accessed 12 March 
2009). 
Ibid 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE! PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
- 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON PROSTATE CANCER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the “Prostate Cancer Public 
Awareness Act”. 
SEC. 2. Definition. -For purposes of this Act, the term “Director” means the Director of 
the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health. 
SEC. 3. Establishment of Program for Public Education on Prostate Cancer. -.The 
Director shall carry out a program on prostate cancer. Through the program, he shall conduct or 
support activities - 
(a) To educate males who are forty (40) years of age or older on the need to periodically undergo 
physical examinations for such cancer, including education on the frequency and type of such 
examinations that are appropriate for various age groups of such men; and 
(b) To educate males on the availability and appropriateness of procedures for detecting the 
cancer in its early stages, including the procedure known as prostate ultrasound. 
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SEC. 4. 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. 
SEC. 5. 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. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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