FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
7 &L 
-11 
.ii r 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
I- 
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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 awareiless 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 
KarachiJ’akistan. 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 wnll 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. v- 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


. .' 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
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 
Congvess 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 fiv 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 Ievel 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,