Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3959

Introduced by Representatives Michael M. Velarde and William Irwin Tieng
(BUHAY Party List)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Childhood Cancer Foundation Philippines (CCFP) reports that childhood cancers are the
No. 1 disease killer of children - more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and pediatric AIDS
combined. In the Philippines, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the
World Health Organization estimates that about 3,300 new cases of childhood cancer are
diagnosed each year.

Today, in the developed world, CCFP notes that up to 75% of the children with cancer
can be cured; but in the Philippines and other developing countries, where over 80 % of
children with cancer are located, survival rates are lowest, due to lack of education, late
diagnosis and treatment, lack of family, government, and private funding and support.

CCFP further observes that attempts to detect childhood cancers at an earlier stage,
when the disease would react more favorably to treatment, have largely failed. The
Organization says that young patients often have a more advancéd stage of cancer
when first diagnosed and that the cause of most childhood cancers is unknown and, at
present, cannot be prevented. The problem of childhood cancer in the Philippines, as
CCEP concludes, is more significant than in Western countries, because of the relatively
young Filipino population. CCFP, fortunately, however, claims that significant
advances in diagnosis and therapy during the past four decades mean that childhood
cancer can largely be cured if detected early.

Of fhe more than 3,000 childhood cancer diagnoses in a year estimated by the IARC,
approximately 265 cases are treated at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center
(PCMC) as detailed by said hospital. According to the PCMC, most are referrals from all
over the country, and their number is steadily increasing annually by at least 20%

Evidently, the establishment of a government hospital specifically dedicated to
childhood cancer is a necessity to address this problem in our country. Not only will
such hospital attend to millions of Filipino cancer-afflicted children, not to mention a
majority of whom are indigents, but also promote the urgent need for childhood cancer
research to effectively combat such affliction.

e anpgenh bill is earnestly requested.
Velarde

ih{Tieng
(BUHAY Party List)



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3959

House Bill No._°*

Introduced by Representatives Michael M. Velarde and William Irwin Tieng
(BUHAY Party List)

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CHILDREN’S CANCER HOSPITAL OF THE
PHILIPPINES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assémbled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Children’s Cancer
Hospital Act of 2011.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of the youth
in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical well-being. The State
shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which
shall endeavor to make essential health services available to all the people at affordable
cost especially the children.

SEC. 3. Children’s Cancer Hospital. - There is hereby established, under the
Department of Health (DOH), a hospital for the benefit of Filipino children suffering
from cancer, to be known as the Children's Cancer Hospital (CCH), which shall be
under the management and supervision of a Director who must be a physician of good
repute and of recognized standing in the field of Oncology.

SEC. 4. Indigent Children with Cancer. - It shall be incumbent upon the CCH to
render free medical service and give accommodation gratuitously to indigent children
afflicted with cancer, subject to the rules and regulations of the DOH.

SEC. 5. Cancer Research. - The CCH shall be the center for children’s cancer
research of the Government. The Director shall provide a venue for cooperation with
private cancer research institutes.

SEC. 6. - Government contributions. - The Government shall constitute the
necessary land, building, equipment and facilities to the CCH and shall pay such
obligations for real, personal and mixed properties arising from such undertaking.

SEC. 7. Assistance from Government Offices. - The CCH may call upon any
department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government, including
government-owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the
pursuit of its purposes and objectives. All individuals, entities and institutions are


hereby enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation to the CCH in the
accomplishment of its objectives and activities.

SEC. 8. Tax exemptions, etc. - All donations, contributions or endowments which
may be made by entities or persons to the CCH shall be exempt from income and gift
taxes.

The CCH shall be exempt from the payment of taxes, charges and fees imposed
by the Government or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof with respect
to equipment purchases made by, or for, the CCH.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DOH shall formulate the
necessary guidelines and promulgate rules and regulations implementing the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 10. Appropriation. - Such sums as may be necessary for the immediate
implementation of the provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated
out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, funds
for its implementation shall be included in the regular appropriations of the DOH.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation,

Approved,

(BUHAY Party List