Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CARRY OUT 
PROGRAMS AND GRANTS REGARDING THE PREVENTION AND 
MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA AND RELATED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS 
FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 12% of the 
Philippine population of 90 million have asthma. The Global Asthma Report 
also notes that approximately 11 million or one out of 10 Filipinos are suffering 
from asthma, yet 98 percent of Filipino asthma patients continue to lack 
proper treatment.1 
Asthma is  a recurring inflammatory disorder in the airways of breathing 
usually caused by trigger factors, that is different for every patient. According 
to health experts, asthma is mostly genetic but can be triggered by a lot of 
factors—genes, stress,  strong emotions, change of temperature, environment, 
dust, pollen, molds, chemicals in the air or in food, tobacco smoke, exercise, 
animals and viral infections.2 
It is reported to kill around a thousand people every day and affects as 
many as 339 million people worldwide. Low- and middle-income countries 
such as the Philippines are among those who disproportionally suffer the most 
severe cases.3 
1 Department of Health. https://rmc.doh.gov.ph/patientscorner/health-corner 
2 Ibid. 
3 Global Asthma Report 2018. 
August 8, 2022
5:34 pm
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Despite asthma having no cure at the moment, treatment can help 
control and manage the symptoms so that people with asthma are able to live 
a normal, active life. 
The government has a major role in alleviating the effects of asthma and 
other related respiratory diseases suffered among its constituents living in 
poverty. By providing more accessible treatment and other asthma-related 
services, we hope to provide comfort to the lives of millions of Filipinos who 
live with asthma. 
This bill seeks to authorize the Department of Health to carry out 
programs and grants regarding the prevention and management of asthma 
and related respiratory problems especially for low-income families and 
communities. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PM VARGAS   
Fifth District, Quezon City 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CARRY OUT 
PROGRAMS AND GRANTS REGARDING THE PREVENTION AND 
MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA AND RELATED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS 
FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Asthma Care and 
Treatment Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act, the term: 
a)
“Asthma” means the chronic and inflammatory lung disease
characterized by recurrent breathing problems. It is a respiratory
disorder characterized by wheezing usually of allergic origin.
b)
“Committee” means the National Asthma Education Prevention
Program Coordinating Committee.
c)
“DOH’ means the Department of Health.
d)
“Secretary” means the DOH Secretary.
SECTION 4. Grants of Projects for Asthma-Related Activities for Low-
Income Families and Communities. - 
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a) 
In General. – The Secretary shall provide grants to applicant 
public and nonprofit private entities to carry out projects which will aid 
individuals in law-income families and communities. Such aid shall include, 
but not be limited to: 
 
(1) Screenings for and referrals regarding asthma and related 
respiratory problems in accordance with paragraph (B); 
 
(2) Providing information and education regarding the conditions 
in accordance with paragraph (C); and 
 
(3) Holding or sponsoring workshops regarding the conditions for 
parents, teachers, physical education instructors, school 
nurses, school counselors, athletic coaches, and other 
individuals who serve in supervisory roles of children in such 
communities. 
 
 
b) 
Screenings and Referrals. – The Secretary shall ensure that 
screenings for and referrals to the proper health personnel regarding asthma, 
and related respiratory problems under paragraph (A) are comprehensive, and 
that the settings in which the screenings and referrals are provided include – 
 
(1) Traditional medical settings such as hospitals, health clinics, 
and the offices of physicians; and 
 
(2) Non-traditional settings for the provision of such services, 
such as nurseries, elementary and secondary schools, 
community 
centers, 
public 
housing 
units, 
volunteer 
organizations, convenience stores, local government offices, 
day care centers, sites that offer nutrition-related services for 
women, infants, and children, and government offices that 
provide cash assistance for low-income individuals. 
 
c) 
Information and Education. – The Secretary shall ensure that 
information and education on asthma and related respiratory problems under 
paragraph (A) are provided in accordance with the following: 
 
(1) The information and education will be provided in the language 
and cultural context that is most appropriate for the 
individuals for whom the information and education are 
intended. 
 
(2) The information and education shall include the following: 
 
(a) Symptoms of the conditions. 
 
(b) Prevention of the conditions. 


 
 
 
(c) Monitoring 
and 
management 
of 
the 
conditions, 
including –  
 
(i) Avoiding circumstances that may cause asthma 
attacks or other respiratory problems; and 
(ii) Being aware of appropriate medication options, 
such as the need to keep in one’s possession an 
asthma inhaler. 
 
(d) The importance of developing a treatment plan that will 
permit asthmatic children to regularly engage in sports 
and other physical activities. 
 
(3) The places in which the information and education will be 
provided, which include the traditional settings described in 
paragraph (B)(1) and the nontraditional settings described in 
paragraph (B)(2). 
 
d) 
Preparation of the Report on the Projects. – The Secretary shall 
prepare a report on the projects carried under paragraph (A), which shall 
include: 
 
(1) The number of low-income children and adults who shall have 
been screened and given referrals through the projects; 
 
(2) The extent the projects have had an effect on the manner in 
which individuals prevent and manage asthma and related 
respiratory problems; and  
 
(3) An evaluation of the effectiveness of materials used in 
providing information and education. 
 
e) 
Inclusion in Project of Local Community-Based Organization 
– To receive a grant under paragraph (A) an applicant must: 
 
(1) Be a community-based organization that provides services in 
the low-income community in which the project is to be carried 
out; or  
 
(2) Demonstrate to the Secretary that one or more representatives 
from such an organization will play a substantial role in 
carrying out the project. 
 
f) 
Application for Grant. – The Secretary may make a grant under 
paragraph (A) only if an application for the grant is submitted to the Secretary 
and the applicant is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such 
agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary determines to be 
necessary to carry out this section. 


 
 
 
SECTION 5. National Media Campaign to Provide Asthma-Related 
Information. -  
a) 
In General. – The Secretary may make awards of contracts to 
provide for a national media campaign to provide to the public and health care 
providers information on asthma and related respiratory problems, with 
priority given to the occurrence of such conditions in children. 
 
b) 
Certain Requirements. – The Secretary shall ensure that the 
national media campaign under paragraph (A) is carried out in accordance 
with the following: 
 
(1) The campaign provides information regarding the prevention 
and management of asthma and related respiratory problems. 
 
(2) With respect to a community in which the campaign is carried 
out- 
 
(a) The 
campaign 
provides 
information 
regarding 
the 
availability in the community of programs that provide 
screenings, referrals, and treatment of the conditions and 
training in managing the conditions; and 
 
(b) The campaign is carried out in the language and cultural 
context that is most appropriate for the individuals for whom the 
campaign is intended. The campaign message, while tailored to 
the affected population, should have universal appeal and 
application 
to 
populations 
with 
different 
demographic 
backgrounds.   
 
SECTION 6. Research on Relationship between Air Pollutants and 
Asthma Related Problems. – 
a) 
In General – The Secretary, in consultation with the proper 
agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall 
provide for the conduct of research to determine the kind and extent of air 
pollutants that cause asthma and related respiratory problems. 
 
b) 
Requirement Regarding Clinical Participants. – 
 
(1)  In General. – In the conduct of clinical research under subsection 
(A), the Secretary shall give priority to providing individuals described in 
the succeeding paragraph opportunities to undergo clinical evaluations 
for purposes of the research. 
 
(2)  Relevant Populations. – For purposes of paragraph (I), the 
individuals referred to in this paragraph are individuals who are 
residents of communities in which the average family income is at or 
below the poverty line, as established by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM). 


 
 
SECTION 
7. 
National 
Asthma 
Education 
Prevention 
Program 
Coordinating Committee. There shall be a Committee established with the 
DOH who shall: 
 
a) 
Conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the 
prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management, 
including –  
(1) Telephone surveys to collect sample household data on the local 
burden of asthma; and 
 
(2)  Health care facility specific surveillance to collect asthma data on 
the prevalence and severity of asthma, and on the quality of asthma 
care; and 
 
b) 
Compile and annually publish data on – 
(1) The prevalence of children suffering from asthma in each 
region; and  
 
(2) The childhood mortality rate associated with asthma 
nationally and in each region. 
 
SECTION 8. Appropriation. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
sums as may be necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
annual budget of the Department of Health.  
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of 
Health, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, shall prescribe 
the necessary rules and regulations to carry out and enforce the provisions of 
this Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and 
effectivity of the other provisions hereof.  
 
SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, 
or portions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulations. 
Approved,