REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Manny W a r  
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. 


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 the House of Representafives 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 
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, 
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 Information. 
Section 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. 
Section 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 
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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. 
Section 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. 
Section 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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