EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No, 8586

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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According to the Philippine Cancer Control Program of the Depai of .
“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 ci

The Philippine Cancer Society Inc. (PCS!) 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 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.

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RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez
1. 8566

House Bi

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 Senale 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 shalt a period of four (4) years and
until their successors shall have been appointed to fill the vacancy shail 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;

(6) 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.

. 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;

(6) 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 io 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 Cenier of the Philippines shall be exempt from the payment of al
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.

0, 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
Officia! Gazette o: wSpaper of general circulation.