, 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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'~);~F~':f:~ :-, 
h.·.\ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), a recently-
published study on asthma prevalence in different cOtmtries, asthma affects twelve percent 
(12%) of the Philippine population, about one in ten Filipinos. According to the reports, 
prevalence of asthma, especially among children, is increasing. 
This only shows that despite extensive knowledge on effective asthma management 
strategies, policy regarding the education, treatment, and management of asthma is still 
necessary to increase awareness of asthma as a chronic illness. 
Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of asthma, proper diagnosis and treatment, and 
patient education and self-management, can be effective in the treatment and management of 
asthma. Educating asthma patients and their families about the disease is essential in the 
effective control of asthma. Indeed, this illness can be life-threatening if not properly 
managed. 
This bill gives importance to patient and professional education, as well as effective 
management of asthma through a national program that can help raise awareness that asthma 
itself is a serious chronic disease. 
In view orthe foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
NIO"SO~~~~LANESIV 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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) 
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SENATE 
S.No. 407 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
,: ' 
CREATING 
A 
NATIONAL 
ASTHMA 
EDUCATION 
AND 
PREVENTION 
PROGRAM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Asthma 
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Program Act", 
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SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - ~s used in this Act, the following tenus shall mean: 
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a) Department - refers to the Department of Health; 
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b) Director - refers to the Director of Center for Disease Control and Prevention; 
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c) elementary school- refers to public elementary schools; 
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d) program - refers to: 
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1) the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program; 
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2) the program discussing asthma's symptoms, and the environmental factors 
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(indoor and outdoor) that affect the disease; 
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3) the program that teach patients how to better manage asthma. 
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e) secondary school - refers to public secondary schools; and 
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f) Secretary - refers to the Secretary of the Department of Health. 
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SEC. 3. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program - There shall be a 
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national program under the Department, to be called the National Asthma Education and 
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Prevention Program, which shall take charge in educating the public, specifically the asthma 
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patients and their families about their disease. This program shall be carried out primarily by 
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the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children's 
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Medical Center. 
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SEC. 4. Objectives of the Program. - The following shall be the objectives of the 
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program: 
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a) 
to raise awareness among patients, health professionals, and the public that 
asthma is a serious chronic disease; 
b) 
to ensure that symptoms of asthma are recognized by patients, families, and the 
public, and that appropriate diagnosis is made by health professionals; and 
c) 
to ensure effective control of asthma by encouraging a pmtnership among 
patients, physicians, and other health professionals, using modern treatment and 
education programs. 
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SEC. S. Coordillatillg Committee. - A coordinating committee shall be established 
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for the Program. This committee shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of 
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I-Ieallh, Executive Director of the Lung Center of the Philippines, Directors of Center for 
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Disease Control and Prevention, Philippine Heart Center, and Philippine Children's Medical 
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Center. 
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Such committee shall submit a repOlt that shall: 
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a) 
contain a determination by the committee of the scope of the problem of astimla 
in the country; 
b) 
identify all programs that carry out asthma-related activities; and 
c) 
contain the recommendations of the committee for strengtilening and bettcr 
coordinating the asthma-related activities of the government. 
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SEC. 6. Astltma-Related Activities of Centers for Disease-Control and Prevention. -
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a) 
Activities to be Carried Out - The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
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collaborate with the local government to expand the scope of: 
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1) 
activities that are carried out to determine the incidence and prevalence of 
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asthma; and 
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2) 
activities that are carried out to prevent the health consequences of 
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asthma, including through the provision of information and education to 
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the public regarding asthma, which may include the use of public service 
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announcements through the media and such other means as such Director 
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determines to be appropriate. 
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b) 
Compilation of Data - The Secretary, acting through the Director and in 
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consultation with the National Asthma Education Prevention Program 
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Coordinating Committee, shall: 
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I) 
conduct local asthma surveillance activities to collect data on the 
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prevalence and severity of asthma and the quality of asthma management, 
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including--
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i) 
surveys to collect sample household data on the local burden of 
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asthma; and 
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ii) 
health care facility specific surveillance to collect asthma data on 
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the prevalence and severity of asthma, and on the quality of 
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asthma care; and 
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2) 
compile and armually publish data on: 
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i) 
the prevalence of children suffering from asthma in the country; 
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and 
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ii) 
the childhood mortality rate associated with asthma in the country. 
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SEC. 7. Grants for Community Outreach on Asthma Information, Education, (md 
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Services. -
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a) 
Grants to non-profit private entities - The Secretary may make grants to non-
profit private entities for projects to carry out, in communities identified by 
entities applying for the grants, outreach activities to provide for residents of the 
communities the following: 
I) 
information and education on asthma; and 
2) 
referrals to health programs of public and non-profit private entities 
that provide asthma-related services, including such services for low-
income individuals. The grant may be expended to make aJTangements 
to coordinate the activities of such entities in order to establish and 
operate networks or consortia regarding such referrals. 
b) 
Preferences in Making Grants- In making grants under subsection (a) of this 
Section, the Secretary shall give preference to applicants that will carry out 
projects under such subsection in communities that are disproportionately 
affected by asthma or underserved with respect to the activities described in 
such subsection and in which a significant number of low-income individuals 
reside. 
c) Evaluations - The applicant for the grant shall agree to provide for evaluation of 
the projects cal1'ied ont under this Section to determine the extent to which the 
projects have been effective in carrying out the activities referred to in such 
subsection. 
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SEC. 8. Action Plans Regarding Astltm(l - The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
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encourage the implementation of plans to carry out activities to assist children with respect 
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to asthma in accordance with guidelines of the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the 
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Philippines and Philippine Children's Medical Center. 


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SEC. 9. Action Plans of School Districts Regarding Asthma. -
a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
In General-
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School-Based Asthma Activities- The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Director, may make grants to school districts for programs to catTy out 
at elementary and secondary schools specified in asthma-related 
activities for children who attend such schools. 
Eligible Schools- The elementary and secondary schools refetTed to in 
this Section are such schools that are located in communities with a 
significant number of low-income or underserved individuals, as 
defined by the Secretary. 
Development of Programs- Programs under subsection (a) shall include grants 
under which school districts and public health officials collaborate to develop 
programs to improve the management of asthma in school settings. 
Certain Guidelines- Programs under this Section shall be carried out in 
accordance with applicable guidelines or other recommendations of the 
National Institutes of Health, including the Philippine Heart Center, Lung 
Center of the Philippines and Philippine Children's Medical Center 
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 
Certain Activities- Activities that may be carried out in programs under this 
Section,include the following: 
1) 
Identifying and working directly with local hospitals, community 
clinics, advocacy organizations, parent-teacher associations, and 
asthma coalitions. 
2) 
Identifying asthmatic children and training them and their families 
in asthma self-management. 
3) 
Purchasing asthma equipment. 
4) 
Hiring school nurses. 
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5) 
Training teachers, nurses, coaches, and other school personnel in 
asthma-symptom recognition and emergency responses. 
6) 
Simplifying procedures to improve students' safe access to their 
asthma medications. 
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Such other asthma-related activities as the Secretary determines to 
be appropriate. 
SEC. 10. Hospitals and Managed Care Plans.-
a) 
hospitals should be encouraged to offer asthma-related education and training 
to asthma patients and their families upon discharge from the hospital of such 
patients; 
b) 
hospitals should, with respect to information on asthma, establish telephone 
services for patients and communicate with providers of primary health 
services; and 
c) 
managed care organizations should: 
I) 
be encouraged to disseminate to health care providers asthma 
clinical pract.ice guidelines developed or endorsed by the 
Department; 
2) 
collect and maintain asthma data; and 
3) 
offer asthma-related education and training to asthma patients and 
their families. 
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SEC. 11. Implementation of the Act. - All government asthma-related activities 
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should: 
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a) 
promote the guidelines and other recommendations of the Department on 
asthma diagnosis and management; and 
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b) 
be designed in consultation with national and local organizations representing 
the medical, educational, and environmental communities, as well as 
advocates that represent those affected by asthma. 
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SEC. 12. Appropriation. - The funds needed for this purpose shall be taken from the 
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appropriations of the Department of flealth. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the 
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implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall at any time be 
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found to be unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder thereof not affected by such declaration 
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shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 14. RepealiJlg Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules or regulations inconsistent with 
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the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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