Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2381

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao

‘AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CARE CENTERS IN EVERY
REGION NATIONWIDE, APPRROPRAITING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Data from the Department of Health indicate that breast cancer is the third most
common cancer worldwide and is the most common among women. In the Philippines, it
ranks 2°? among the common cancers on both sexes and ranks first among Filipino women.
Reports even have it that breast cancer is highest in the Philippines compared to other
Southeast Asian countries.

As in all types of cancer, the cause of breast cancer is multi-factorial and the
possibility of cure is high when detected early. Hence, public awareness and education is
vital in the fight against breast cancer. Information is our primary weapon and it ison this
that we must focus our efforts.

This bill seeks to establish breast care centers in every region nationwide to
spearhead a sustained information campaign to raise the public’s level of awareness on
breast cancer, take the lead in providing affordable services in the fight and cure of the
disease, and coordinate with the Department of Education to ensure that the ills, causes
and symptoms of the disease are regularly discussed as part of the high school curriculum.

EMMA AO
Repéésentative; fic District of Sarangani Province


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

2381

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao

‘AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CARE CENTERS IN EVERY
REGION NATIONWIDE, APPRROPRAITING 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 in
this Act as “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.

SECTION 2. Equipment and Personnel.- The Centers 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.

SECTION 3. Functions. The Centers shall, in coordination with local government
units, local health offices, the Philippine information Agency and other 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 breast cancer 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.

SECTION 4. 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 service of the Centers and to carry
out the provisions and purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Operationalization and Appropriations. To fully implement the
provisions of this Act, the Secretary of the Department 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.

SECTION 6. All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations or any part thereof
inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause.- In case any provision of this Act is declared

unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.