*
NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVID
DATE
T    0  3  20
TIME;¥nl
BY:-
Introduced b
resentative Rufus a.
HouseBillNo.   5378
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  particular health  service  in  order to
increase breast cancer awareness and prevention.
The  Philippines  has  the  highest  breast cancer rate  in  Asia.  Between  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 only 27 percent of that number continues to practice it at an average of 9.2
times  a  year.  Economic  factor  is  the  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.
In  a  study  conducted  by  the  Philippine  Society  of  Medical  Oncology  last  October
2018,  it was revealed that among Asian countries, the Philippines has the No.1  incidence of
breast cancer.   "Three out of 100 (Filipino) women will get breast cancer before age 75 and
one out of 100 will die before reaching 75.  Breast cancer accounts for 15 percent of all new
cancer cases in the country for both sexes and 8 percent of all cancer deaths.
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.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                           )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus a. Rodriguez
HouseBillNo.    5378
AN ACT
PROVIDING   FOR  THE   ESTABLISHMENT  OF   BREAST  CARE   CENTERS   IN   EVERY
REGION    NATIONWIDE,   APPROPRIATING    FUNDS   THEREFOR   AND   FOR   OTHER
PURPOSES
B_e  it  enacted  by.th.e  Senate  and  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Philippines  in
Congress assembled.
SECTION  1.  A  breast  care  center,  known  in  this  Act  as  "Center",  shall  be  established  in
every region  of the country to spearhead the fight against breast cancer.  It shall  be a  new
department  of existing  regional  of  the  National  Government.  Should  there  be  no  regional
hospital in the region, the Center shall be attached to any district hospital in the region which
is most accessible to the highest number of constituents.
SECTION   2.   The   Centers   shall   be   provided   with   such   equipment,   tools,   implements,
devices,  apparatus  and  personnel  as  may  be  necessary  for  them  to  carry  out  multiple
programs such as Breast Protection, Breast Surveillance,  Breast lmaging, Breast Diagnostic
and Surgery, Breast Cancer Chemotherapy and Breast Cancer Awareness and Protection.
SECTION 3. The Secretary of the Department of Health shall  issue such guidelines, orders
or  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  necessary for the  establishment  of a  Center in  every
regional  hospital of the national government or in a district hospital to be designated  by the
Secretary of Health for being the most accessible to the highest number of constituents in a
region  where  there  is  no  existing  regional  hospital;  for  the  acquisition  of  the  necessary
equipment,   tools,   implements,   devices   and   apparatus,   the   hiring   of  personnel   and   fix
reasonable
of this Act.
fees for the services of the Centers and to carry out the provis.ions and purposes
SECTION  4.  The  Centers  shall,  in  coordination  with  local  government  units,  local  health
offices,  the  Philippine  Information Agency and  other government agencies,  shall spearhead
a  sustained  and  extensive  information  and  awareness  campaign  within  their  respective
region  to  raise  the  level  of  awareness  of the  region's  constituents  especially  the  women
sector on the ills, causes and symptoms of the disease for its early detection and prevention.
SECTION  5.  The  Centers  shall  coordinate  with  regional  and  local  education  officials  to
ensure that female  high  school  students  in  both  public and  private  schools  are taught the
pertinent   information   about   the   disease   and   are   trained   to   habitually   self-examine
themselves as a part of the regular secondary curriculum.
SECTION  6.  To  fully  implement  the  provisions  of  the  Act,  the  Secretary  of  Health  shall
immediately include  in  the  Department's  program  the operationalization  of the  Centers,  the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved,