NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  9738
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Philippine Cancer Control Program of the Department of Health, 
“Cancer remains a national health priority in the country with significant implications for 
individuals, families, communities and the health system”. 
According to data from the Cancer Coalition Philippines, 11 new cancer cases are 
reported each day.  Every hour, seven adults and eight children die of cancer. Data from the 
Philippine Statistics Authority show that one out of every 10 deaths in the country is caused 
by cancer.  
The Philippine Cancer Society Inc. (PCSI) reported that 91 percent of cancers occur 
between the ages of 35 and above. Three-fourths of all cancer cases in the country emerge 
among those between the ages 60 and above. Incidence of cancer is higher among females 
than males.  
Among Filipino men, the six most common sites of cancer are lung, liver, colon/rectum, 
prostate, stomach and leukemia. Among Filipino women, the six most common sites are 
breast, cervix, lung, colon/rectum, ovary and liver. 
Despite all these data, the Philippines does not have a cancer specialty hospital like 
the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, or the Philippine Heart Center, or the Philippine 
Lung Center. 
This bill proposes the creation of national cancer center, to be known as the National 
Cancer Center of the Philippines, that will specialize in cancer treatment, including among 
others, chemotherapy, radiation and cobalt therapy. It shall be strategically located to provide 
services and address the medical needs especially of patients coming from areas with high 
prevalence of cancer cases.  
This shall benefit cancer patients who will be given world class cancer treatment. The 
Center will also be the leaders in cancer research, provide a state-of-the-art training of medical 
and technical personnel as well as render specialized treatment for the prevention, control 
and treatment of cancer.  
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
December 12, 2023
2:37 pm


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  9738
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CANCER CENTER TO BE KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL 
CANCER CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Creation of the Philippine National Cancer Center. - There is hereby created, 
under the supervision of the Department of Health, the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines.  
Section 2. Board of Trustees. The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be 
governed and its activities and properties be directed, controlled and managed, by a Board of 
Trustees, which shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members, all of whom to be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Department of 
Health.  
The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of four (4) years and 
until their successors shall have been appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the 
unexpired term of the member. 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. 
The Board shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be presiding 
officer of the Board of Trustees. The Medical Director of the Philippine National Cancer Center 
shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board.  
Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to transact 
business and any decision of such four (4) members on any matter duly presented to the 
Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding act of the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines.  
Section 3. Government Contribution. - The Government shall contribute the necessary 
land, building, equipment and facilities to the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. 
Section 4. Property of the Center. - The property of the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines shall consist of such real, personal, mixed, and other type of property, now owned 
or reserved for, or may hereafter be given, donated, acquired, transferred or conveyed to the 
National Cancer Center of the Philippines by the government, its branches and 
instrumentalities, any foreign government, as well as by trust, foundations, corporations, or 
persons, alien or domestic, in order to carry out its purposes and objectives as set forth herein. 
Section 4.  Purposes and Objectives. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall 
have the following purposes and objectives: 
(1) To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer and operate a specialized
hospital for diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation and/or relief of cancer
patients;


(2) To promote medical research relative to the prevention and treatment of cancer 
including sponsorship and conduct of relevant congresses, convention, seminars 
and conferences;  
 
(3) To create awareness on cancer prevention, treatment and control through public 
information dissemination;  
 
(4) To encourage the training physicians, nurses, medical technicians, health officers 
and social workers on the practical and scientific conduct and implementation of 
services, and related activities;  
 
(5) To assist universities, colleges, hospitals and research institutions in their studies 
of cancer and encourage advanced training and specialization on matters of, or 
affecting cancer;  
 
(6) To provide psychosocial support services and counseling to the patient and family 
members; and  
 
(7) To consolidate the information from other related organizations for the purpose of 
aiding government's efforts, policies and programs relative to the purposes and 
objectives enumerated herein. 
 
Section 5. Powers. - For the attainment and/or furtherance of the above enumerated 
purposes and objectives, the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, acting through its 
Board of Trustees, shall have the following orders and functions, among other things: 
 
(1) To contract and be contracted with; 
 
(2) To adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not contrary to law to govern the 
administration and operation of the affairs of the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines;  
 
(3) To purchase, receive, take or grant, hold, convey, sell, lease, pledge, mortgage 
and otherwise deal with such property of whatever nature the transaction of the 
lawful business of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines may reasonably 
and necessarily require subject to the limitations prescribed by law;  
 
(4) To invite foreign cancer specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields 
to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines;  
 
(5) To advance the training of personnel of the Philippine conventions, conferences, 
congresses, seminars to accomplish the purpose and objectives of the National 
Cancer Center of the Philippines; 
 
(6) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out the 
purposes of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. 
 
Section 7. Tax Exemption on Donations. - All donations, contributions or endowment which 
may be made by entities or persons to the National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be 
exempt from income and gift taxes.  
The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be exempt from the payment of all 
taxes, charges and fees imposed by the government or any political subdivision or 
instrumentality thereof  


Section 8. Assistance from Government Offices. -The National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines may call upon any department, bureau, offices, and agency or instrumentally of 
the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance 
as it may need in the pursuit of purposes and objectives.  
 
Section 9. Appropriations. - The amount of one billion pesos is hereby appropriated for the 
initial operation of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines which shall be charged to the 
appropriations of the Department of Health under the current General Appropriations Act. 
Thereafter, the necessary amount to support the continued operation and maintenance of the 
National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.  
 
Section 10. Auditing. -The books of accounts of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines 
shall be subject to periodic auditing by the Commission on Audit.  
 
Section 11. Annual Report. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall render to 
the Department of Health an annual report on its operations and accomplishments. 
 
Section 11.  Effect of Dissolution. - If for any reason, the National Cancer Center of the 
Philippines is dissolved, its properties and assets remaining at the time of such dissolution 
shall revert to the Philippine Government for disposition in accordance with law  
 
Section 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional 
the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.  
 
Section 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders and rules and regulations contrary 
to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.  
 
Section 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,