Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _7374

Introduced by Representative JAKE VINCENT S. VILLA

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 2, Section 15, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, provides:

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness among them.

According to the Department of Health (“DOH”), asthma is a chronic lung disease
characterized by inflamed, swollen and narrowed airways, making breathing difficult.
Although no cure has been found for asthma, it can be controlled. DOH has further identified
that respiratory disease, including asthma, is among the leading causes of death in our
country’. A global report showed that Philippines is among the top countries that have high
mortality rate caused by asthma.

This measure seeks to authorize the Department of Health to carry out programs and grants,
regarding the prevention and management of asthma and related respiratory problems to
lessen the effects of asthma and other related respiratory diseases faced by our citizens living

in poverty.

In view offhhe foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

* https://www.doh.gov.ph/faqs/What-is-asthma.
2 https://www.doh.gov.ph/node/1058.
3 http://www glabalasthmareport.org/resources/glabal_asthma_report_2018.péf.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1374

Introduced by Representative JAKE VINCENT S. VILLA

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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in the congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “Asthma Awareness, Education,
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. —

(A)In General. - The Secretary shall provide grants to applicant public and nonprofit
private entities to carry out projects which will aid individuals in low-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 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 their 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 case 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 and education shall include the following:
(a) Symptoms of the conditions.

(b) Prevention of the conditions.

(©) 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 shalll 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 applicant for the grant is submitted to the Secretary and the application
is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains such agreements, assurance,
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 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 provides 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 contex 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 be 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 (1), 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 Coordination Committee. —
There shall be a Committee established within 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 and mobile phone 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 people, specially children, suffering from asthma in each
region; and

(2) The mortality rate associated with asthma nationally and in each region.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. ~ To carry out the provisions of this Act, such sums as maybe
necessary are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All law, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portion
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Efectivity Clause, ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved.