FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE’ )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

First Regular Session )
SENATE
sp_1209 ~~

Introduced by Senator Manny Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The establishment of breast’ care centers is a matter that must be addressed by
the State, as mandated by the Constitution when it provides, that the State shall adopt
an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost.

Breast care centers are available in some parts of the world, and for most of
them, it is a means by which better education, care and preventive measures are given
to women who avail of their 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 provisions of the Constitution.

‘As the famous saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of
cure. With the proper implementation of this Act, the incidence of death caused by
breast cancer will be lessened if not totally prevented, which will do justice to the
authors of the Constitution which included a chapter on Health which is available to the
people at an affordable cost. Henceforth, the passage of this legislation is earnestly
sought.

MANNY VILLAR



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SECRETARY

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

10 Bh42 Pl az

SENATE

s.p.1209 " recewenev:_[i .

Introduced by Senator Manny 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 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 Government. Should there be no regional hospital in a
region, the Center shall be attached to any district hospital in the region which is most
accessible to the highest number of constituents.

SEC. 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 Information.

SEC, 3. Functions. 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.

it 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.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 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 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 fees for the services
of the Centers and to carry out provisions and purposes of this Act.



SEC. 5. Operationalization and Appropriations. To fully implement the
provisions of this 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

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

Approved,