APRIL 27, 2016

NR # 4183B

Bill declaring 4th week of September as National Thyroid Cancer

Awareness Week awaits President Aquinos signature
The goal of lawmakers to heighten public consciousness and awareness about
thyroid cancer disease may soon be fulfilled as their proposal to declare the fourth week of
September every year as the National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week is now awaiting
the signature of President Aquino to become a law.
The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposal
embodied in House Bill 5307 on February 3, 2016. The Senate also supported HB 5307 by
passing it without amendments on January 25, 2016.
The measure substituted HB 4463 authored by Rep. Mariano Michael M. Velarde,
Jr. (Party-list, Buhay) and HB 4657 by Rep. Eufranio C. Eriguel, M.D. (2 nd District, La
Union).
Velarde said according to the Department of Health (DOH), thyroid cancer is the
sixth leading cancer in the country as of 2010, and almost 95 percent of thyroid cases in
the Philippines are well differentiated carcinoma and highly curable by appropriate
surgery alone.
However, radioactive iodine is the main mode of treatment for persistent or
metastatic lesions, according to him.
Patients affected by this kind of cancer, if not given the needed treatment like
surgery and radioactive iodine, live with constant fear of death like found with other
cancer patients. Hence, there should be a national information campaign to include local
health agencies and clinics, physicians, health care facilities, pharmacies, libraries, senior
citizens, and other community-based outreach programs and organizations to instill
awareness among the public about thyroid cancer disease, and to generate full support for
the special needs of thyroid cancer survivors affected by the disease from both public and
private sectors, said Velarde.
Eriguel, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, which endorsed the plenary
approval of the bill, said the Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association, a non-profit
organization based in the United States with support groups worldwide, including the
Philippines, has been celebrating the Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week in September
since 2000.
In 2003, the organization expanded this worldwide observance to the whole month
of September. This celebration is participated in by 56 countries, including the Philippines.
Hence, this humble representation would like to establish one week in September as

National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week in the country for public education and
awareness about the disease, said Eriguel.
House Bill 5307 seeks to declare the fourth week of September of every year as the
National Thyroid Cancer Awareness Week in order to coincide with the International
Celebration of Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month.
The bill declares it is the State policy to protect and promote the right to health of
the people and instill health consciousness among them through public education and
awareness programs.
To ensure a meaningful observance of the week as herein declared, a
comprehensive public education and awareness program shall be undertaken to discuss the
causes, consequences, diagnoses, treatments and prevention of thyroid cancer.
The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Thyroid Council of the
Philippines (TCP), nongovernment and patients organizations, shall lead in the
implementation of programs and activities for purposes of commemorating this health
event.
Co-authors of the bill are Reps. Estrellita B. Suansing (1 st District, Nueva Ecija),
Sol Aragones (3rd District, Laguna), Randolph S. Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), Linabelle
Ruth R. Villarica (4th District, Bulacan), Rosemarie Baby J. Arenas (3 rd District,
Pangasinan), Isagani S. Amatong (3rd District, Zamboanga del Norte), Angelina DL Tan,
M.D. (4th District, Quezon), Gus S. Tambunting (2 nd District, Paraaque), Erlinda M.
Santiago (Party-list, SAGIP), Jose I. Tejada (3 rd District, North Cotabato) and Rosenda
Ann Ocampo (6th District, Manila). (30) rbb