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Republic of the Philippines By. f.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV (
Quezon City, Metro Manila | PRCSTRATION UNIT,
| BM LSANO iNPEX SERVICE
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS “~~

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 485,

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BREAST CARE CENTERS
IN EVERY REGION NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to reports, the Philippines has the highest incidence of breast
cancer in Asia, and it is the most prevalent in the country, accounting for 16 percent
of the 50,000 diagnosed breast cancer cases.

Experts say one out of every four women in the country is likely to develop
breast cancer in their lifetime, with half of this number projected to die of the disease
What makes it worse is that those diagnosed with the disease often think this is
synonymous with death and mutilation:

With the distinction of being number one for breast cancer in Asia and with a
staggering statistics to boot, there is a need to address this alarming situation.
Hence, this bill seeks to establish breast care centers where better education, care
and preventive measures are given to women who avail of its services.

By approving this act, the access to specialized care is made easier, more
accessible, and more affordable to the more marginalized sectors of our society, and
would be more in tune with the constitutional mandate that the State shall adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other services available to all the
people at affordable cost.



‘As the famous saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of
cure. Meaning, early detection is stil considered the best weapon in combating the

disease.

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

MARK A. VILLAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit o.__485

Introduced by Honorable MARK A. VILLAR

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:

SECTION 1. Establishment of Breast Care Centers. - 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 in existing
regional hospitals of the National Goverment. 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. Equipment and Personnel. - 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 Imaging, Breast Diagnostic and Surgery, Breast Cancer
Chemotherapy and Breast Cancer Awareness and Protection.

SECTION 3. Function. - 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.


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 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of the
Department of Health shall issue 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 for the hiring of
personnel, for the fixing of reasonable fees for the services of the Centers and to
carry out the provisions and purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Operationalization and Appropriations. - 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 for which
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,