Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 9523 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill is of paramount importance as it signifies the government's commitment to 
addressing the pressing issue of diabetes in the Philippines. By establishing the 
National Diabetes Center and Foundation (NDCF), this bill aims to provide specialized 
healthcare services for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care of diabetes and 
related diseases. It facilitates medical and scientific research, promotes education and 
training in the field, and fosters collaboration with other organizations to combat this 
growing health concern. With the NDCF serving as the leading tertiary-level care center 
for diabetes, the bill underscores the significance of dedicating resources, fostering 
innovation, and ensuring comprehensive healthcare support for individuals living with 
diabetes in the country. The bill recognizes the urgency of taking concrete steps to 
address the rising prevalence of diabetes, enhancing public health, and improving the 
overall well-being of the Filipino population. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
November 13, 2023
12:04 pm


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 9523
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT CREATING
THE NATIONAL DIABETES CENTER AND FOUNDATION 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. State Policy. - It is the policy of the State to secure the well-being of the 
people by providing them specialized health services and to also undertake 
appropriate the necessary medical manpower development and health care research 
responsive to the country's health needs and problems. Towards this end, it is the 
primary concern of government to assist and provide material and financial support in 
the establishment and maintenance of specialty hospitals for the prevention and 
treatment of leading diseases in the country and to train medical and technical 
personnel for such specialized medical service and research.  
SEC. 2. Creation of the National Diabetes Center and Foundation. - There is 
hereby created a body corporate to be known as the National Diabetes Center and 
Foundation (NDCF) which shall serve as the lead tertiary-level care center in the 
treatment of diabetes. The NDCF shall have its principal office in Metro Manila, and 
may have such branch offices, hospitals, clinics or subsidiaries in other areas in the 
Philippines as it may deem proper and necessary. It shall be under the Department of 
Health (DOH).  
SEC. 3. Purpose and Objectives. - The NDCF shall have the following purposes and 
objectives:  
(a) To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer and operate such integrated
medical institution and facilities which shall specialize in the prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and care of diabetes and allied diseases;
(b) To promote, encourage and engage in medical and scientific research on the
prevention and treatment of diabetes and allied diseases, as well as related


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activities, including sponsorship and conduct of relevant conferences, fora, 
conventions, seminars, workshops and training programs;  
(c) To stimulate and conduct researches and investigations on the biological, 
demographic, social, economic, eugenic, physiological aspects of diabetes and 
their control; and gather, compile, and publish the findings of such researches for 
public dissemination;  
(d) To encourage, undertake and assist in the education and training of physicians, 
nurses, health officers, medical technologists, social workers and medical and 
technical personnel on the practical and scientific implementation of health care 
services to diabetic patients;  
(e) To assist universities, hospitals and research institutions in their studies on 
diabetes and allied diseases and other related fields, to encourage and grant 
scholarships for advanced training and specialization in medical care and 
management in diabetes and related fields and to support and finance educational 
programs of value to public health; and  
(f) To encourage the formation of other organizations on the national, provincial, city 
and/or local levels, and to coordinate the various efforts and activities of such 
organization for the purpose of achieving a more effective approach to the 
common problem relative to the purposes and objectives enumerated herein.  
 
SEC. 4. Powers and Functions. - For the attainment and/or furtherance of the above- 
enumerated purposes and objectives, the NDCF as a body corporate acting through 
its Board of Trustees, shall have the following powers and functions in addition to 
those provided for in the other sections of this Decree:  
(a) To acquire, own, hold, use, lease, grant, mortgage, pledge, sell, assign, convey, 
transfer, exchange, dispose or otherwise deal with, real and/or personal 
properties of every kind and nature, including shares of stock, bonds, 
debentures, notes, securities and other evidences of indebtedness or 
obligations of other corporations, whether domestic or foreign, and whether 
government or private;  
(b) To solicit and receive donations, endowments and funds in the form of 
contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private 
sectors;  
(c) To award, enter into, make, execute, perform and carry out domestic or foreign 
contracts of whatever kind and nature;  
(d) To open accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to disburse such 
funds or invest the same as the Board may direct to accomplish or advance the 
purposes or interest of the NDCF, and to obtain loans, borrow funds and/or 
arrange financing or credit assistance of whatever kind and nature from all 
sources, whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private;  
(e) To levy, assess and collect such fees, charges and assessments as may be 
necessary or proper to support, finance and maintain its operations;  


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(f) To invite diabetes specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields 
to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the NDCF Center, and to also 
support the trainings, seminars, conferences and conventions of its medical 
personnel in research and medical institutes or universities, be it local or 
international as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes 
and objectives of the NDCF;  
(g) To adopt and use a corporate seal;  
(h) To sue and be sued in its corporate name;  
(i) To adopt its by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with law and the 
provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation of the affairs of the 
Philippine Heart Center; and  
(j) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary, related or 
incidental or to carry out the purposes and objectives of this Act.  
 
SEC. 5. The Board of Trustees; Composition; Term. and Compensation. - The 
NDCF shall be governed, and its activities and properties shall be directed, controlled 
and managed, by a Board of Trustees, hereinafter referred to as the Board, which 
shall be composed of a Chairman and four (4) members, all of whom shall be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines. The President of the NDCF shall be 
appointed from among the members of the Board.  
 
Except the President of the NDCF, the members of the Board shall serve for a term 
of three (3) years, with a right to hold-over until their respective successors shall have 
been duly appointed and qualified. The President of the Philippines may, however, 
remove any member of the Board for cause. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the 
Board, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term 
of the member replaced.  
 
The President and each member of the Board shall receive compensation in 
accordance with current standards and as may be determined by the Department of 
Health (DOH).  
 
SEC. 6. Power and Functions of the Board. - The Board shall have the following 
powers and functions:  
(a) To formulate policies, guidelines and programs to effectively implement and 
carry out the purposes and objectives of this Decree;  
(b) To prescribe, review and revise the amount of the fees, charges, and 
assessments levied and collected for the support and maintenance of the 
operations of the NDCF;  
(c) To control the management, operation and administration of NDCF;  


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(d) To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary or proper for 
the effective exercise of power and functions as well as the discharge of the 
duties, responsibilities of the NDCF, its officers and employees;  
(e) To authorize such expenditures of the NDCF as may be necessary or proper 
for the effective management, operation and administration of the NDCF;  
(f) Upon the recommendation of the President of the NDCF, to determine and 
organize its organizational and administrative structure or pattern, and to 
establish and fix, review, revise and adjust the appropriate compensation 
scheme its officers and employees, with reasonable allowances, bonuses and 
other incentives as may be recommended by the President;  
(g) To adopt the annual and supplemental budget of receipts and expenditures of 
the NDCF;  
(h) To appoint, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the Executive Vice- 
President and other officers of the NDCF occupying executive and senior 
management positions;  
 
SEC. 7. Officers. - The Board shall determine the officers of the NDCF who shall be 
appointed by the President of the NDCF, subject to confirmation by the Board. The 
NDCF shall have an Executive Vice-President and as many Directors as may be 
required for its effective operation.  
 
SEC. 8. The President, His Term and Remuneration. -The President of the NDCF 
shall be appointed by, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the President of the 
Philippines. The salary of the President of the NDCF shall be fixed by the Board, 
subject to the approval of the President of the Philippines.  
 
SEC. 9. Powers and Duties of the President. - The President of the NDCF shall 
also be concurrent Chief Executive Officer. He/She shall exercise the following 
powers and duties:  
(a) To execute the policies, guidelines and programs approved by the Board, and 
to be responsible for the efficient discharge of management and operational 
functions;  
(b) To submit for the consideration and approval of the Board proposed measures, 
policies, guidelines and programs as he/she may deem necessary or proper 
for the effective implementation of the purposes and objectives of this Decree;  
(c) To direct and supervise the management, operation and administration of the 
NDCF, and, for this purpose, he/she may delegate some of his/her 
administrative responsibilities and duties to other officers of the NDCF; 
(d) To execute, on behalf of the NDCF, all contracts and agreements which he/she 
may enter into, and to execute, accomplish and deliver any and all documents 
relative to such contracts and agreements;  


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(e) To represent the NDCF in alt dealing with other offices, agencies and 
instrumentalities of the Government, and all other persons or entities, whether 
domestic or foreign and whether government or private; 
(f) To appoint, promote, transfer, remove, suspend or otherwise discipline the 
officers and employees of the NDCF, except those appointed by the Board;  
(g) To exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or 
reposed upon him/her by the Board.  
 
SEC. 10. Assistance from the Government. - The NDCF 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 the purposes and 
objectives of this Act.  
 
SEC. 11. Donations to the Foundation. - The NDCF is hereby authorized to solicit and 
receive donations, grants, contributions, gifts or endowments from all sources whether 
foreign or domestic, and whether government or private, without the need of securing a 
permit, approval or registration from any government agency.  
 
SEC. 12. Exemption from Fees, Duties and Taxes. - The NDCF is hereby declared exempt 
from all income and all other internal revenue taxes, tariff and customs duties and all other 
kinds of taxes, fees, charges and assessments levied by the Government and its political 
subdivisions agencies and instrumentalities. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 
contrary, all donations, grants, contributions, gifts or endowments which may be made by 
entities or persons to the NDCF shall be exempt from income and gift taxes, and the same 
shall be further deductible in full for purposes of computing the maximum amount deductible 
under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended.  
 
SEC. 13. Appointment, Promotion; Terms and Conditions of Employment. – The NDCF 
and its officers and employees shall not be covered by the Civil Service Law, rules and 
regulations, and by the Office of the Compensation and Position Classification. The officers 
and employees of the NDCF shall be appointed or promoted pursuant to such management 
policies and/or appropriate merit and fitness system as may be adopted by the Board.  
 
SEC. 
14. 
Government 
Contribution. 
– 
The 
amount 
of 
Ten 
Billion 
Pesos 
(P10,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
Corporation (PAGCOR) to defray the initial operational expenses of the NDCF. Thereafter, 
the necessary amount to support the continued operation and maintenance of the NDCF 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.  
 
SEC. 15. Annual Report. – The NDCF shall render to the President of the Philippines an 
annual report on its operations and accomplishments.  
 
SEC. 16. Applicability of the Corporation Law. – The provisions of the general corporation 
law, insofar as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and with the purposes 
and objectives for which the NDCF is formed, shall apply to the NDCF.  


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SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – The provisions of this Decree are hereby declared to be 
separable, and if any provision or section of this Decree or application thereof to any person 
or circumstance should for any reason be held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or 
unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions or sections of this Decree.  
 
SEC. 18. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect immediately.  
 
 
 
 
Approved,