Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
TO MANDATE A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH  
FOR THE PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT 
OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION  
The Constitution, Article II, Section 15, provides that, “The State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among 
them.” 
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne pathogen that is, according to the American Liver 
Foundation, the most common cause of chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver 
cancer. It is also the most common indication for liver transplant, and the leading 
cause of death in people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired Immune 
Deficiency Syndrome. In addition, there may be links between the Hepatitis C Virus 
(HCV) and certain other diseases, given that a high number of people infected with 
HCV also suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, lymphoma, thyroid and certain blood disorders, 
and autoimmune diseases. 
Individuals infected with HCV serve as a source of transmission to others and, since 
few individuals are aware that they are infected, they are unlikely to take precautions 
to prevent the spread or exacerbation of their infection. To date, there is no known 
cure for Hepatitis C. 
The government should expand efforts to increase knowledge and awareness of HCV 
among its citizens. Hence, this bill seeks to provide for a study to determine the 
prevalence of Hepatitis C infection in the country and undertake a program to provide 
training, testing, and treatment regarding cases of the disease. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
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March 23, 2021
1:13 PM


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
TO MANDATE A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH  
FOR THE PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT 
OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act may be cited as the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control 
and Prevention Act.” 
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. – The following terms are defined as used in this 
Act: 
(A) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Health.
(B) “DOH” means the Department of Health.
(C) “HCV” means Hepatitis C Virus.
SECTION 3. Prevention, Control, and Medical management of Hepatitis C. – 
(A) In General. – The Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the prevention, 
control, and medical management of the HCV that includes strategies for education 
and training, surveillance and early detection, and research.
(B) Input in Development of Plan. – In developing the plan under subsection (A), the 
Secretary shall –
(1) Be guided by existing recommendations of the DOH; and 
(2)  Consult with the Director of the National Center for Disease Prevention and 
Control (NCDPC); the Board of Advisers of the National Institutes of Health; the 
medical advisory bodies that address issues related to HCV; and the public, 
including individuals infected with the HCV and advocates concerned with issues 
related to HCV.
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(C)  Biennial Assessment of Plan. –  
 
(1) In General. – The Secretary shall conduct a biennial assessment of the plan 
developed under subsection (A) for the purpose of incorporating into such plan 
new knowledge or observations relating to HCV and chronic HCV, such as 
knowledge and observations that may be derived from clinical, laboratory, and 
epidemiological research and disease detection, prevention, and surveillance 
outcomes, and addressing gaps in the coverage or effectiveness of the plan. 
 
(2) Publication of Notice of Assessments. – Not later than October 1 of the first 
even numbered year beginning after the date of enactment of the Hepatitis C 
Epidemic Control and Prevention Act, and October 1 of each even numbered 
year thereafter, the Secretary shall publish in the Official Gazette a notice of the 
results of the assessments conducted under paragraph (1). Such notice shall 
include –  
 
(a) A description of any revisions to the plan developed under subsection (A) 
as a result of the assessment; 
(b) An explanation of the basis for any such revisions, including the ways in 
which such revisions can reasonably be expected to further promote the 
original goals and objectives of the plan; and 
(c) In the case of a determination by the Secretary that the plan does not 
need revision, an explanation of the basis for such determination. 
 
SECTION 4. Elements of the National Plan for the Prevention, Control, and Medical 
Management of Hepatitis C. –  
 
(A) Education and Training. – The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
NCDPC, shall implement programs to increase awareness and enhance knowledge 
and understanding of HCV. Such programs shall include –  
 
(1) The conduct of health education, public awareness campaigns, and 
community outreach activities to promote public awareness and knowledge 
about risk factors, the transmission and prevention of infection with HCV, the 
value of screening for the early detection of HCV infection, and options available 
for the treatment of chronic HCV;  
 
(2) The training of healthcare professionals regarding the prevention, detection, 
and medical management of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV, and the 
importance of vaccinating HCV-infected individuals and those at risk for HCV 
infection against the hepatitis A virus and HBV; and  
 
(3) The development and distribution of curricula, including information relating to 
the special needs of individuals infected with HBV or HCV, such as the 
importance of early intervention and treatment and the recognition of 
psychosocial needs, for individuals providing hepatitis counseling, as well as 
support for the implementation of such curricula by State and local public health 
agencies. 
 


 
 
(B) Early Detection and Surveillance. – 
 
(1) In General. – The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC, shall 
support activities described in paragraph (2) to promote the early detection of 
HCV infection, identify risk factors for infection, and conduct surveillance of HCV 
infection trends. 
 
(2) Activities. – 
(a) Voluntary Testing Programs. – The Secretary shall support and promote 
the development of national and local voluntary HCV testing programs to aid 
in the early identification of infected individuals. 
(b) Confidentiality of Test Results. – The results of an HCV test conducted by 
a testing program developed or supported under this subparagraph shall be 
considered protected health information. 
(c) Counseling Regarding Viral Hepatitis. – The  Secretary shall support 
national and local programs in a wide variety of settings, including those 
providing primary and specialty healthcare services in nonprofit private and 
public sectors, to provide individuals with information about ongoing risk 
factors for HCV infection with client-centered education and counseling that 
concentrates on changing behaviors that place them at risk for infection; and 
provide individuals infected with HCV with education and counseling to 
reduce the risk of harm to themselves and transmission of the virus to 
others. 
(d) Vaccination against Viral Hepatitis. – With respect to individuals infected, 
or at risk for infection, with HCV, the Secretary shall provide for the 
vaccination of such individuals against hepatitis A virus, HBV, HCV, and 
other infectious diseases, as appropriate, for which such individuals may be 
at increased risk; and the counseling of such individuals regarding hepatitis 
A, HBV, HCV, and other viral hepatides. 
(e) Medical Referral. – The Secretary shall support – referral of persons 
infected with or at risk for HCV, for drug or alcohol abuse treatment where 
appropriate; and referral of persons infected with HCV for medical 
evaluation to determine their stage of chronic HCV and suitability for antiviral 
treatment and for ongoing medical management of HCV. 
 
(C) Hepatitis C Coordinators. – The Secretary, acting through the Director of the 
NCDPC, shall, upon request, provide a Hepatitis C Coordinator to a local health 
department in order to enhance the management, networking, and technical 
expertise needed to ensure successful integration of HCV prevention and control 
activities into existing public health programs. 
 
(D) Surveillance and Epidemiology. – 
(1) In General. – The Secretary shall promote and support the establishment and 
maintenance of State HCV surveillance databases, in order to –  
(a) Identify risk factors for HCV infection; 
(b) Identify trends in the incidence of acute and chronic HCV;  
(c) Identify trends in the prevalence of HCV infection among groups that may 
be disproportionately affected by HCV, including individuals living with 
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, military veterans, emergency first 
responders, racial or ethnic minorities, and individuals who engage in high 


 
 
risk behaviors, such as intravenous drug use; and  
(d) Assess and improve HCV infection prevention programs. 
 
(2) Seroprevalence Studies. – The Secretary shall conduct a population-based 
seroprevalence study to estimate the current and future impact of HCV. Such 
studies shall consider the economic and clinical impacts of HCV, as well as the 
impact of HCV on quality of life. 
 
(E) Research Network. – The Secretary, acting through the Director of the NCDPC 
and the Board of Advisers of the National Institutes of Health, shall –  
 
(1) Conduct epidemiologic research to identify best practices for HCV prevention; 
 
(2) Establish and support a Hepatitis C Clinical Research Network for the 
purpose of conducting research related to the treatment and medical 
management of HCV; and 
 
(3) conduct basic research to identify new approaches to prevention, such as 
vaccines, and treatment for HCV. 
 
(F) Referral for Medical Management of Chronic HCV. – The Secretary shall support 
and promote State, local, and tribal programs to provide HCV-positive individuals with 
referral for medical evaluation and management, including currently recommended 
antiviral therapy when appropriate. 
 
(G) Underserved and Disproportionately Affected Populations. – In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall provide expanded support for individuals with limited 
access to health education, testing, and healthcare services and groups that may be 
disproportionately affected by HCV. 
 
(H) Evaluation of Program. – The Secretary shall develop benchmarks for evaluating 
the effectiveness of the programs and activities conducted under this section and 
make determinations as to whether such benchmarks have been achieved. 
 
 
SECTION 5. Appropriations. – There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the 
annual budget of the Department of Health in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
 
 
SECTION 7. 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, are hereby modified, repealed, or 
amended accordingly.  
 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 


 
 
 
 
Approved,