FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'SENATE 
1393 
S.B.No. __ _ 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks the establishment of breast care centers in every region nationwide 
to ensure that all Filipino women will have access to this specialized health se,:vice in 
order to increase breast cancer prevention and awareness. 
The Philippines has the highest breast cancer rate in Asia. From 1993 to 1995, the 
age standardized incidence rate (ASR) was 43.2, By 2006, the ASR increased to 47.7. 
Another study claims that the world-standardized rates are higher in Manila, 50 per 
100,000 Filipinas are diagnosed with breast cancer. The city shares the same rate with 
Karachi, Pakistan. Most Filipino women diagnosed with breast cancer are between the 
ages of 35 and 50 years old. A local study shows that breast self-examination (BSE) is the 
most cost effective strategy in detecting cancer. Unfortunately, only 54 percent of 
Filipino women conduct BSE and o'nly 27 percent of that number continues to practice it 
at an average of 9.2 times a year. Economic factor is one of the primary factors for the 
late diagnosis of breast cancer among Filipino women. Other factors are non-awareness 
and fear. A 1997 Department of Health and World Health Organization study reported 
that there was a 79.1 percent non-compliance rate among women found with breast 
masses residing in Metro Manila in terms of consulting hospitals and clinic for re-
evaluation and possible treatment. 
This bill seeks the need for specialized health services for Filipino women 
through the establishment of regional breast care centers. The centers, under the 
supervision of the Secretary of Department of Health, shall carry out several programs 
such as breast protection, breast surveillance, breast imaging and breast diagnostic and 
surgery. The centers shall be equipped with the necessary tools and devices to 
effectively implement the programs. In cooperation with the local government units and 
other government agencies in their respective areas, an extensive information campaign 
shall be sustained in order to raise the breast cancer awareness of the Filipino women in 
all regions of the country. 
Finally, this measure mandates the coordination of regional and local education 
officials to guarantee that female high school students of both private and public schools 
are well informed about the disease to increase the rates of awareness, prevention and 
early detection. 
For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
-====tOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
1393 
S.B. No. -----'=-=~=_ 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CARE CENTERS IN 
EVERY REGION NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled. 
1 
SECTION 1. A breast care center, known in this Act as "Center", shall be 
2 
established in every region of the country to spearhead the fight against breast 
3 
cancer, It shall be a new department of existing regional hospitals of the National 
4 
Government. Should there be no regional hospital in the region, the center shall be 
5 
attached to any district hospital in the region, which is most accessible to the highest 
6 
number of constituents, 
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SECTION 2. The Centers shall be provided with such equipment, tools, 
9 
implements, devices, apparatus and personnel as may be necessary for them to carry 
10 
out multiple programs such as Breast Protection, Breast Surveillance, Breast 
11 
Imaging, Breast Diagnostic and Surgery, Breast Cancer Chemotherapy and Breast 
12 
Cancer Awareness and Protection, 
13 
14 
SECTION 3. The Secretary of the Department of Health shall issue such 
15 
guidelines, orders or rules and regulations as may be necessary for the 
16 
establishment of a Center in every regional'hospital of the National Government or 
17 
in a district hospital to be designated by the Secretary of Health for being the most 
18 
accessible to the highest number of constituents in a region where there is no 
19 
existing regional hospital; for the acquisition of the necessary equipment, tools, 
20 
implements, devices and apparatvs, the hiring of personnel and fix reasonable fees 
21 
for the services of the Centers and to carry out the provisions and purposes of this 
22 
Act. 
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1 
SECTION 4. The Centers shall, in coordination with local government units, 
2 
local health offices, the Philippine Information Agency and other government 
3 
agencies, spearhead a sustained and extensive information and awareness campaign 
4 
within their respective region to raise the level of awareness of the region's 
5 
constituents especially the women sector on the ills, causes and symptoms of the 
6 
disease for its early detection and. prevention. 
7 
8 
SECTION 5. The Centers shall coordinate with regional and local education 
9 
officials to ensure that female high school students in both public and private 
10 
schools are taught the pertinent information about the disease and are trained to 
11 
habitually self-examine themselves as a part of the regular secondary curriculum. 
12 
13 
SECTION 6. To fully implement the provisions of the Act, the Secretary of 
14 
Health 
shall 
immediately 
include 
in 
the 
Department's 
program 
the 
15 
operationalization of the Centers, the funding of which shall be included in the 
16 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
17 
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19 
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SECTION 7. This Act Shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
2