MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros sponsored the proposed Comprehensive Lupus Prevention Act, a measure seeking to establish a national program to address Lupus as a public health concern.

In her sponsorship speech on Senate Bill No. 1513 under Committee Report No. 17, Hontiveros said Lupus is “a silent and unpredictable disease” that is “chronic, painful, and life-altering,” noting that it attacks vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, lungs, skin, and the nervous system.

“I rise to sponsor the Comprehensive Lupus Prevention Act—together with its authors, Senator Mark Villar, Senator Camille Villar, and Senator Joel Villanueva, whom I thank for championing this long-overlooked public health need,” she said.

Hontiveros said the bill seeks to change the situation of Filipinos with Lupus who have “done so quietly, invisibly, and often without the support they desperately need.”

According to the senator, the proposed measure creates a national program that places Lupus on the public health agenda, ensures early detection, strengthens referral networks for specialized care, and builds a support system for families affected by the disease.

She said the bill also mandates accurate data collection to guide policymaking and invests in training health workers in diagnosing and managing Lupus, citing the risks posed by misdiagnosis.

“Importantly, this measure respects the autonomy and rights of every patient. No one should ever be forced into treatment or programs without their consent. Health care must always uphold dignity,” Hontiveros said.

To help reduce the financial burden on families, she said the bill directs the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to cover Lupus screening and early detection services, stressing that “screening should not be a luxury.”

The proposed law also seeks to institutionalize National Lupus Awareness Week every first week of May to give visibility to the Lupus community and help discourage bias and stereotyping against affected individuals.

“Colleagues, Lupus is not extremely rare; it is simply under-recognized,” Hontiveros said, as she urged lawmakers to support the passage of the bill “with the urgency, compassion, and solidarity it deserves.”