FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OR TBE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
4. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article TI, Section 15 of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the 
right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. In pursuit of this 
policy, it is the objective of the Philippine Health hsurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to 
coninwsly endeavm to improve its benetit pckagc to met the needs d i t s  members. It is in 
this light that this bill seeks to provide coverage for the diagnostic services for breast and 
cervical cancer. 
Breast cancer & cervical c m e f  are the leading cause:s ef cwef anti cancer deaths in Filipino 
women. The Philippines is ranked first in breast cancer incidence in Asia and has a higher 
prevalence rate than those in several Western countries, including Spain, Italy, and most Eastern 
European countries. Based on the most recent data, relative survival rates for women diagnosed 
with breast ctmcer are: % percent at 5 years &F 
diagaais, &o percent after 10 years, 71 percent 
after 15 years and 63 percent after 20 years. From 1990 to 2002, death rates have decreased. The 
decline has been attributed to both improvements in breast cancer treatment and early detection. ’ 
Cervical cancer, Q~SO 
h o w  
LPS cancer of the cervix, is the second leading cans of death ammg 
Filipino women. According to the 2005 Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates, 7,277 new cases 
and 3,807 deaths due to cervical cancer were estimated to have occurred. This meant that there 
were approximately 10 Filipino women dying each day due to cervical cancer. This is mainly 
due &o late detection and lack of awareness ef &e dkeas meng Fikpine wrmen.* 
Based on the above data, it is safe to deduce that there is a direct correlation between the time of 
detection and the odds for survival of women afflicted with these killer diseases. Thus, it is but 
urgent to include the periodic diagnostic services for breast cancer and cervical cancer in the 
benefit package &r 
t k  Phiiealth. The ink& 
ef ‘&is measure rests m the premise that 
preventive and promotive health services are essential for reducing the need and spending for 
personal health services. 
1s view ofthe foreping, immediate approval efthis meastire is earnestly smght 
AN$O~$IO “SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
’ Bveasf Cancer Fact Sheet. Information Retrieved from: httD:liwww.rrsk.com.Dhmreastcancer.html. Retrieved on 9 
February 2009. 
* Information retrieved from: httu://www.doh.rrov.pb/node/1972. 
Retrieved on 9 Febmary 2009. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
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Second Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes N 
AN ACT 
TO REQUnZE THAT TEE PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORPORATION 
PROVJDE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR BREAST AND 
CERVICAL CANCER, PROVIDING FUNDS TBEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted bey the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTJON 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known aq the “Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Protection Act. ” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to 
make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable 
cost. Priority for the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women and children 
shall be recognized. 
SEC. 3. Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnostic Coverage. - The National Health 
Insurance Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Philhealth) is hereby directed to include 
mandatory periodic diagnostic services for breast cancer and cervical cancer in its benefit 
package. The expenses for the mandatory diagnostic services shall be covered by Philhealth. 
The diagnostic services shall include but not be limited to Clinical Breast Cancer (CBE) 
and Mammogram Examination for breast cancer; and Pap Smear Testing for cervical cancer, 
whichever is applicable as determined by the physician. 
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SEC. 4. Periodic Barn - The mandatory diagnostic examination shall be done once a 
year, or as often as may be necessary as determined by the Department of health (DOH). 
SEC. 5. Funding. - The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act 
shall be based on the evaluated and adjusted cost-sharing schedule and cost containment feature 
of the PhilHealth, as determined by the same on the basis of applicable actuarial studies. 
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules. - The Deparbnent of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth shall 
promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective enforcement of the provisions of 
this Act. 
SEC, 7. 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. 8. 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, i s  hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Oficiul Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of genera1 circulation. 
Approved, 
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