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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. _10)5'7

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 share
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.

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.

RU IGUEZ

Wf

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. _ 105’

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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. 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
Imaging, 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 fees
for the services of the Centers and to carry out the provisions and purposes of this
Act.

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.