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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
~il}lh;f t1f HII:' ,::~t'(frbr\t 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT 21 P 4 :45 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1869 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
Sec. 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to. health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
Well-woman visits are the foundation on which women's preventive care is built. Such 
visits include not only specific screening tests, but also a medical history, physical examination, 
evaluation and counseling, and, as indicated, vaccinations. 
Over the past 20 years, it has become clear that 'one size does not fit all' when it comes to 
prevention. Although a 30-year-old woman without risk factors for cervical cancer may only 
need a Pap test with HPV co-testing every five years, the same woman would need more 
frequent screening if she were infected with HIV 9r had a history of cervical cancer precursors. 
It is only after taking a medical history and evaluating and counseling a patient that a 
physician can make patient-specific recommendations for screening tests, vaccinations, 
preventive medications, and other preventive services. 
Well-woman visits facilitate increased access to health care that is shown to identify 
chronic disease risk factors, promote well-being, and decrease the likelihood or delay the onset 
of a targeted disease or condition. 
Women are less likely than men to receive aggressive diagnosis and treatment for various 
diseases. Women are more likely than men to have forgone needed health care due to cost. 
This bill mandates the Department of Health to promote preventive health practices 
among women. 
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. 
MIRIAMDEF 
SOR'SANTI!f'i0 
.IIfY . 
1 


1--
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT 21 
P4 :45 
SENAIli 
S. No. Hs l:j 9 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN 
3 
TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF WOMEN'S PREVENTIVE HEALTH 
Be it enacted by the Senate ana the House of Representati;es oj the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This shall be known as the "Women's Preventive Health 
5 
Awareness Campaign Act." 
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SECTION 2. Women's Preventive Health Awareness Campaign. - The Department of 
7 
Health shall provide for the planning and implementation of a national public outreach and 
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education campaign to· raise public awareness, including provider awareness, of women's 
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preventive health. Such campaign shall include the media campaign under Section 3 and the 
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website under Section 5 and shall provide for the dissemination of information that-
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describes 
the 
guidelines 
for 
women's 
preventive 
services, 
including 
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recommendations on cervical cancer preveJ).tion; 
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promotes well-woman visits for health assessments which include screenings, 
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evaluations, counseling, immunizations, and prenatal visits, as appropriate; 
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explains the women's preventive service programs of the government and other 
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preventive services that may be availed offrom private health institutions; 
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SECTION 3. Media Campaign. - Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
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of this Act, as part of the campaign under Section 2, the Department of Health shall establish and 
19 
implement a national media campaign. : 
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• 
I 
SECTION 4. Requirements of the Media Campaign. - The campaign implemented under 
2 
Section 3 -
3 
A. 
shall disseminate information about - the updated guidelines for women's 
I 
4 
preventive services described in Section 2A, promote well-woman visits described in Section 2B, 
5 
and provide information on the women's preventive services described in Section 2C; and 
6 
B. 
may include the use oftelevision, radio, Internet, and other commercial marketing 
7 
venues. 
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SECTION 5. Website. - As part oJ the campaign under Section 2, the Department of 
9 
Health shall, in consultation with private sector experts or through contract with a private entity 
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including a medical association or non-profit organization, maintain and update an Internet 
II 
website to provide information and resources about the updated guidelines for women's 
12 
preventive services described in Section 2A, promote well-woman visits, and provide 
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information on the women's preventive services described in Section 2C. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - Such sums as maybe necessary for the implementation of 
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this Act is hereby appropriated. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law,- presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity· Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Adopted, 
2