EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
H.B.No. 6385

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Malignant neoplasm also known as cancer ranks third, after heart and vascular
diseases, in the list of top ten leading causes of mortality in the Philippines today. A report
of the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) states that one in every ten registered deaths
in the country is attributable to cancer. Global annual death toll due to cancer is also high
at 11 million. The said number is projected to reach 17 million in 2030.

Cancer occurs when human cells undergo an abnormal growth that forms a tumor
and spreads throughout the body. It comes in different forms and targets different parts
of the human body. The most prevalent cases affecting the Filipinos are lung. breast,
colon, cervical, liver and prostate cancers. Cancer chooses no one. It occurs to both men
and women, young and old. Seventy-five percent (75%) of cancer patients in the country
are from ages 50 years and above while 3.2% belong to the pediatric age bracket of 0 to
14 years.

However, in spite of the above-mentioned cancer statistics, the Philippines does
not have a specialized national hospital to cater to cancer patients in the country. 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.

The establishment and maintenance of the cancer center would primarily benefit
the people suffering from cancer, and would further enhance the noble undertaking of
research in cancer, provide a state of the art training of medical and technical personnel
and render specialized medical services for the prevention, control and treatment of
cancer.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

TEODORICO arom JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No. §385

Introduced by Representative TEODORICO T. HARESCO, JR.

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 House of 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
ofall 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,