FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
I' 
SENATE 
S. No.1018 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 15 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and instill the health consciousness among them. 
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that prostate cancer is the sixth 
most common form of malign tumors among men, killing one almost every 19 minutes, It is one 
of the top five cancers among men in the Philippines, 
' 
Prostate cancer is the most common form of disease in men - after lung cancer. In the 
Philippines, some 2,026 are reported to have the disease in 1998. Of this total, more than 25% 
(588) died, According to the Philippine Cancer Control.Program of the Department of Health 
(DOH), four cases are detected each day. 
Not too many Filipinos know they are suffering ·from the disease - until it is too late, 
Medical studies have shown that only one in 10 men wiih prostate symptoms will have cancer, 
and the rest, the cause of symptoms is usually a non-cancerous enlargement know as benign 
prostatiC hypertrophy (BHP), Benign enlargement of the prostate gland tends to occur at the 
same age as prostate cancer, but there is no evidence' that one leads to another. The risk of 
prostate cancer increases with age, Most - more than 80 percent - of the men diagnosed with 
prostate cancer are older. Historically, most men found out that had prostate cancer when it was 
advanced, and they died a few years later. This explains why the average age of death from 
prostate cancer is so near the average age of diagnosis, 
Like most cancers, prostate cancer can be cured if detected early, For this reason, 
doctors emphasize early screening. One screening method is the digital rectal examination 
(DRE). Most prostate cancer begin in the part of the prostate gland that can be reached by a 
rectal exam, This exam also helps to detect early rectal tumors, 
Despite the availability of early detection screening methods in the Philippines, most 
Filipino males still don't undergo these screenings, As such, there is a need to provide 
information, education and communication (IEC) campaign to educate the general public on the 
benefits of availing these early detection screening procedures for prostate cancer. 
By passing this landmark piece of legislation, our government recognizes the daily plight 
of our hundreds of families struggling every day with family members with prostate cancer, and 
once and for all acknowledge prostate cancer as a health issue in the country, 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly s 
Senator 
" 
'.,,' 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No.1018 
'-- - ,-. -', -, 
' 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
" 
INSTITUTING A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAM 
TO COMBAT PROSTATE CANCER, IMPLEMENTING A NATIONWIDE 
INFORMATION, 
EDUCATION, 
COMMUNICATION 
(IEC) 
CAMPAIGN, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Comprehensive 
Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Act". 
SEC. 2. 
Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to protect and promote the right to health of the people, including the rights of persons 
with prostate cancer to full, healthy and holistic development and the right to self-
determination. 
As such, the State shall promote an environment conducive to the development 
of persons with prostate cancer to become independent, self-reliant and productive 
members of society. 
Towards this end, the State commits itself to the establishment of institutional 
and social mechanisms to support persons witli prostate cancer. The State shall 
institutionalize a holistic program for persons with prostate cancer for purposes of 
empowering and providing them quality of life. 
SEC. 3. 
Epidemiological Surveillance, Programs. - The National Institute 
of Health (NIH) of the Department of Health (DOH) is hereby mandated to conduct an 
annual epidemiological survey program to determine the extent and total incidence and 
prevalence of persons with prostate cancer in the country in order for the government to 
provide the neceesary health interventions to address the needs faced by persons with 
prostate cancer. 
1 


The NIH is mandated to coordinate with the Department of Health (DOH) in the 
conduct of epidemiological research on the issued concerning prostate cancer in the 
country. The NHI shall carry out a program to expand and intensify research to develop 
innovative advanced imaging technologies to prostate cancer detection, diagnosis, and 
treatment comparable to state-of-the-art mammography technologies. 
The NIH is mandated to strenthen its research focus concerning prostate cancer, 
including a renewed investment into clinical research and expanded research into the 
link between environmental factors with prostate cancer, and continued investigations 
into causation, diagnosis, early detection and treatment for prostate cancer. 
SEC. 4. 
National. Program for Prostate Cancer Awareness, Education, 
Screening, Prevention and Rehabilitation. -
The DOH is hereby mandated to 
implement a comprehensive and nationwide program on prostate cancer screening, 
prevention and rehabilitation. 
Towards this end, the DOH is hereby mandated to implement the following 
objectives: 
a) 
to promote public awareness, education and information on issues 
concerning the disease; 
b) 
to establish sustainable networks of support group for families of persons 
with the disease; 
c) 
to provide referral services to patients 'and identify appropriate educational 
and medical expertise and facilities suited to the needs of the patients; 
d) 
to combat the spectrum of disorders related to the disease through 
screening, education, early intervention, prompt referrals for treatment and services; 
e) 
to undertake research and/or collaborate with other entities on research 
activities regarding the prostate cancer; 
f) 
to receive donations and grants from local and international donor 
institutions, foundations, and multilateral and bilateral foreign donor agencies involved in 
the prevention, cure and rehabilitation of persons with prostate cancer; 
g) 
to provide the avenue for exchange of information, exchange programs 
and sharing of best practices on issues relating to the early detection, prevention, cure, 
treatment and rehabilitation of persons with prostate cancer; and 
h) 
to network with other organizations, institutions and professionals working 
for the promotion of legislation and public programs for afflicted persons. 
The DOH shall carry out a program on prostate cancer which shall educate and 
inform males who are forty (40) years of age or older on the need to periodically 
undergo physical examination for such cancer, including education on the frequency 
and type of such examinations that are that are appropriate for various age groups of 
2 


such men and 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. 
The national campaign shall include the development and distribution of written 
educational 
materials, 
and 
the 
development 
and 
placing 
of public service 
announcements that are intended to encourage men to seek prostate cancer screening 
and to create awareness on the need for improved imaging technologies for prostate 
cancer detection and minimally invasive treatment. 
The DOH shall carry out research to develop an improved prostate cancer 
screening blood test using in-vitro detection. 
[n developing the national campaign under this Act, the DOH shall recognize and 
address racial, cultura[ and ethnic disparities in the incidences of prostate cancer and 
mortality rates with respect to such disease. 
SEC. 5. 
Programs 
and 
Services 
for 
Prostate 
Cancer 
Disease 
Prevention. - The programs and services that wil[ be provided by the Department of 
Hea[th (DOH) shall include, among others, the following: 
a) 
Orientation and Counseling Services for families of newly diagnosed 
persons; 
b) 
Estab[ishment of Family Support Networks and Sibling Program for 
families of afflicted persons to seek psycho-social support for the various problems 
faced by the patients; 
c) 
Estab[ishment of National and Regiona[ Referra[ Services where the DOH 
will update a list of health care institutions concerned with the care and rehabilitation of 
patients with prostate cancer; 
d) 
Publication of reading materials, manuals and easily readable instruction 
materials for the disease's early detection, prevention, rehabilitation and care; 
e) 
The conduct of continuing education, information and training programs 
and lectures on the proper handling of afflicted persons; 
f) 
The establishment of a databank and information and monitoring system 
(IMS) on the demographic, socio-economic and incidence and prevalence of afflicted 
persons in the country; and 
g) 
The conduct of continuing education/training of 
therapists and caregivers of persons with prostate cancer 
conventions and other forms of tri-media educational tools. 
families, teachers, 
through seminars, 
3 


SEC. 6. 
Early Identification and Intervention for Persons with Prostate 
Cancer. - The DOH is hereby mandated to establish a program for early identification, 
screening and detection of persons with prostate cancer. 
SEC. 7. 
Technical Assistance and Grants. - The DOH shall establish a 
program to award grants to non-profit private entities and private health providers to 
enable such entities to test alternative outreach a\ld education strategies to increase 
awareness and knowledge with respect to the need for prostate cancer screening and 
improved imaging technologies. 
SEC. 8. 
Prostate Cancer Early Detection and Screening Fees. - The 
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) shall include the cost of early detection 
and screening programs for prostate cancer as one of the available benefits to its 
members. 
The early detection and screening tests fee shall be applied to, among others, 
testing costs, education, follow-up and readable overhead expenses. 
These early 
detection and screening are designed to identify persons who should receive more 
intensive diagnosis or assessment in order to improve the health and well-being of the 
patient. 
SEC. 9. 
National Awareness Week for Prostate Cancer Prevention. - In 
order to mainstream the issues and concerns of patients with prostate cancer, the first 
week of June of every year is hereby declared as the "Prostate Cancer Awareness 
Week". This week shall be celebrated nationwide SO that stakeholders all over the 
nation can celebrate and increase public awareness on the prevalence and incidence of 
prostate cancer in the country. The week-long activity will be spearheaded by the 
Department of Health (DOH). 
SEC. 10. 
Confidentiality of Medical' Information for Persons with 
Prostate Cancer. -
To ensure that the early detection, screening tests, vaccination, 
medical treatment and rehabilitation of persons with prostate cancer is implemented 
subject to all other rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the Department of Health 
(DOH), in consultation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), shall formulate the 
pertinent implementing rules and regulations to ensure the confidentiality of the medical 
records in order to protect the unwarranted intrusion into the privacy of the patient. 
SEC. 11. 
Reporting Requirement. -
Within two (2) years from the date of 
effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall make a report to both Houses of Congress on the 
results of the studies conducted by the Department for policy implication, in aid of 
4 


legislation, in order to address the increasing incidence and prevalence of prostate 
cancer in the country. 
SEC. 12. 
Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of the 
Department of Health (DOH) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). 
SEC. 13. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within six (6) 
months from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the DWSD 
and DOJ shall promulgate necessary implementing rules and regulations to implement 
the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 14. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 15. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 16. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
5