Republic of the Philippines =
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: BY —_
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3610

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by
OFW Family Party-List Representative ROY V. SENERES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Anyone who has ever had to deal with cancer or kidney disease
knows the staggering financial burdens the disease imposes on both the
patients and their families. These diseases have claimed thousands of
lives and amounting to billions of pesos in healthcare and treatment cost
for chemotherapy and dialysis.

In the Philippines, cancer ranks third in leading causes of morbidity
and mortality after communicable diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
At present, cancer prevention consciousness is low and most cancer
patients seek consultation only at advanced stages. And patients with
end-stage renal disease are at increased overall risk for cancer.

This bill aims to establish a financial program to help and assist
underprivileged cancer or kidney patients including overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) afflicted with the disease to help them cope-up from the
staggering financial burden that they have to bear. OFWs who are afflicted
with these diseases are considered the country’s economic soldiers for
their invaluable contribution to our countt
development and therefore deserve to be at
against poverty. }

77, PRESS

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Brito, 36 10

Introduced by
OFW Family Party-List Representative ROY V. SENERES

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A FREE MEDICAL AND HOSPITALIZATION
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE POOR AND FOR OVERSEAS
FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWs) WHO ARE AFFLICTED WITH CANCER
OR KIDNEY DISEASE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Assistance
Program for the Poor and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with Cancer
or Kidney Disease Act of 2013.”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby the policy of the
state to promote the right to health and well-being of the people and to
adopt a system of effecting the delivery of free health services to those
who have less life and overseas Filipino workers afflicted with cancer and

kidney ailments.

SEC. 3. Establishment of Free Medical and Hospitalization
Assistance Program. - There is hereby established a free medical and
hospitalization assistance program, hereinafter referred to as the
“Program”, to be administered by the Department of Health (DOH)
through its Regional Medical Centers, Specialized Hospitals and Institutes
for Disease Prevention and Control.


SEC. 4. Eligible Beneficiaries. ~The program shall be limited to
eligible beneficiaries who are considered indigents under the National
Household Targeting System (NHTS) and overseas Filipino workers who
are afflicted with cancer or kidney disease, to be identified by the DOH in
coordination and consultation with DSWD, POEA and OWWA.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of
One Hundred Million Pesos (Php100,000,000.00) to fund the initial
budgetary requirements of this Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department
of Health (DOH) in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Administrator of the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the
Administrator of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA),
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act
is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions
not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules
and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,