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Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES) pate? 2 JUN 2016
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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS, BY:
First Regular Session
342 REC!STRATION UNIT
HOUSE BILL NO. BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

Introduced by HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMULADEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Cancer results when cell grow out of control and form a tumor. The cancer is very serious
if the tumor begins to spread throughout the body. Of the over 200 different known cancers that
afflict human, 90-95% of cases are attributed to environmental factors and 5-10% due to
genetics. Common environmental factors that contribute to cancer death include tobacco, diet
and obesity, infections, radiation, stress, lack of physical activity, and environmental pollutants.

Cancer has a reputation as 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. This makes cancer the leading cause of death in the developed world and the second
leading cause of death in the developing world including the Philippines.

This bill aims to create a Cancer Center of The Philippines because 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. The Center will house and nurture the above and related activities and
provide care for more difficult and problematic cases. To achieve this purpose, this bill also
intends to provide financial and materials 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 earnestly sought.

{YEDDA ROMUALDEZ

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
342

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. YEDDA MARIE K. ROMULADEZ

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CANCER CENTER TO BE KNOWN AS THE
PHILIPPINES NATIONAL CANCER CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Republic 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 Philippine National Cancer
Center.

SECTION 2. Board of Trustees. The Philippines National Cancer Center 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 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 Philippine National Cancer Center.

SECTION 3. Government Contribution. — The Government shall contribute the
necessary land, building, equipment and facilities to the Philippine National Cancer Center.


SECTION 4. Property of the Center. ~ The property of the Philippine National Cancer
Center 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
Philippine National Cancer Center 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 5. Purposes and Objectives. ~ The Philippine National Cancer Center 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, 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 stimulate the information of other organizations for the purpose of aiding
government’s efforts, policies and programs relative to the purposes and objectives
enumerated herein,

SECTION 6. Powers. — For the attainment and/or furtherance of the above enumerated
purposes and objectives, the Philippine National Cancer Center, 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 Philippine National Cancer Center,

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 Philippine National Cancer Center 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 Philippine National Cancer Center;

5. To advance the training of personnel of the Philippine conventions, conferences,
congresses, seminars to accomplish the purpose and objectives of the Philippine National
Cancer Center,

6. To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes to the Philippine National Cancer Center.

SECTION 7. Tax Exemption, etc. — All donations, contributions or endowment which
may be made by entities or persons to the Philippine National Cancer Center shall be exempt
from income and gift taxes.

The Philippine National Cancer Center 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 Philippine National Cancer
Center 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 Philippine National Cancer Center 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
Philippine National Cancer Center shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 10. Auditing. — The books of accounts of the Philippine National Cancer
Center shall be subject to periodic auditing by the Commission on Audit.

SECTION 11. Annual report. ~ The Philippine National Cancer Center shall render to
the Department of Health an annual report on its operations and accomplishments.


SECTION 12. Effect of dissolution. — If, for any reason, the Philippine National Cancer
Center 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 13. — Reparability Clause. The provisions of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional; the reminder of the Act not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and
effect

SECTION 14. Effectivity ~ This shall take affect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
two (2) newspapers of general circular

Approved.

YEDDA MAR#W/K. ROMUALDEZ