Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No,__1150__

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and

HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

Malignant neoplasm or more commonly known as cancer is a deadly
disease. It is usually treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.
The chances of surviving the disease vary greatly by the type and location of
the cancer and the extent of disease at the start of treatment. Cancer rates are
expected to increase with ageing of populations and changes in lifestyles
associated with economic development. In 2008, approximately 12.7 million
cancers were diagnosed, and 7.6 million people died of cancer worldwide.
Cancers are accounted for approximately 13% of all deaths each year.

Cancer is currently the leading cause of death in the developed world
and the second leading cause of death in the developing world including the
Philippines. The estimated incidence rate is 189 persons per 100,000 Filipinos.
One (1) out of five (5) Filipinos is expected to acquire cancer up to the age of
75. While there are several specialized hospitals with complete facilities for
cancer patients in the country, there is no institution mandated to carry out
specialized care for all cancer patients. Presently, there is an urgent need to
put in place cancer-control health care policies focused in strengthening the
health system to cope with projected increases in cancer prevention, detection,
treatment and management needs.

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.

The establishment and maintenance of a cancer center would primarily
benefit cancer patients and their families and would further enhance the noble
undertaking of 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. It shall also develop programs that
would address the prevention and early detection of cancer to lower the risks
of developing cancer among the local population. Finally, the creation of the
cancer center will be an effective mechanism to attract the best cancer
specialists in the country to render service for indigent patients at affordable
rates.

Furthermore, this bill also intends to provide financial and material
support towards the establishment and maintenance of a cancer center for the
welfare and benefit of the Filipino people.

Hence, the passage of this bill is urgently sought.

Rep. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
Representative, Thgog Sinirangan

G, ROMUALDEZ
ntative, First District of Leyte



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
House Bil No,_2L50
TE

Introduced by
HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ
and
HON. FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ

-)..]

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 unti 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;


(8) 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
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. - It 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.