Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

5321

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative LEAH S. PAQUIZ of ANG NARS Party - List

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Department of Health (DOH) identifies cancer as the third leading cause of death in
the Philippines, afllicting 189 per 100,000 Filipinos. It kills 103. Filipinos a day or four (4)
Filipinos per hour. Moreover, one out of five (1:5) Filipinos is expected to acquire cancer up to the
age of seventy five (75).

‘The top cancer sites in the Philippines, according to the DOH, include cancers of the
Jung/larynx, liver, cervix and colon/rectum/ stomach. These are cancers whose major causes
are known and where action can therefore be taken for primary prevention. For example,
anti-smoking campaign for cancer of the lung/larynx, vaccination against hepatitis B virus for
cancer of the liver, safe sex for cancer of the cervix, and a healthy diet for cancer of the
colon/rectum/stomach. Except for liver cancer, the top Philippine cancer sites are also the top
cancer sites worldwide.

In 2012, the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology reported that the Philippines is at the
center of the fight against breast cancer in Asia, with the highest incidence of breast cancer in
the continent. According to the report, an estimated three out of one hundred (3:100) Filipino
wom en will contract the disease before the age of seventy five(75) and one out of one
hundred(1:100) will die before the age of seventy five(75). Consequently, the Department of
Health and the Philippine Cancer Society, Ine, reports that breast cancer is the most common
cancer in the country, comprising sixteen percent (16%) of the 80,000 new cancer cases in 2010.

In the Philippines, the problem of childhood cancer is more significant than in Western
countries, because of the relatively young Filipino population, ‘The overall pattern is, howevei
similar and is dominated by leukemia. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as the most common childhood cancer; and despite the enormous
progress in therapy, fifteen percent (15%) to twenty percent (20%) of the children are
incurable and all are subjected to highly toxic chemotherapy. Hence, the challenge is to identify
leukemia-specific genetic alterations that could be used both as biomarkers for high-risk leukemia
and as targets for novel therapy

Worldwide, the economic burden resulting from lung cancer, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease adds up to approximately
US$ 1 billion (59% from health care costs, 49% from premature deaths and 2% from productivity
loss),a figure estimated by the WHO.



‘The Department of Health estimates that thirty to fifty percent (80-50%) of cancer
patients in all stages of the disease will experience pain and seventy to ninety-five percent (70
95%) with advanced disease will have significant pain, but only a fraction of these patients receive
adequate treatment. In a study conducted by the Philippine Cancer Society(PCS) on cancer pain
among Filipino patients, seventy three percent (78%) had pain related to their disease, sixty
percent (60%) of which was persistent.

‘The Department of Health ~ Philippine Canes
with its six Pillars of (1) Epidemiology and Res.
Education, (3) Prevention and Early Detection, (1) Treatment, (5) Training and (6) Pain Relief ~
identified cancer pain relief as a priority activity in 1989. It was the first activity that led the way
to the Outreach Patient Services (the Hospice-At-Home Concept), pioneered by the PCS.

Control Program (DOH-PCCP) ~ in line
rch, (2) Public Information and Health

Perforce, unless organized and sustained specialized care and preven
cancer are initiated, these trends are expected to continue to rise. ‘These facts imply that there is
much to be done for cancer education and the implementation of all aspects of cancer
prevention. At present, there is a low cancer prevention and consciousness rate in the country
and most cancer patients seek consultation only at advanced stages. Thus, the goal is to establish
and maintain a system that integrates scientifie progress and its practical applications into a
comprehensive program that will reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in the Philippi

ive measures against

Hence, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. Tih S. PAQUIZ.

Representative

ANG NARS Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5321

Introduced by Representative LEAH 8. PAQUIZ of ANG NARS Party = List

AN ACT
CREATING A NATIONAL CANCER CARE, RESEARCH,
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS,
STRUCTURE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of the Representative of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “National Cancer Care, Research, and
Development Authority (National Cancer Authority).”

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy. ~\t is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make health care,
medicines and other social services available to all people at affordable cost. It is therefore the
policy of the State to develop a comprehensive cancer program that would develop the most
effective methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through research, human
resource development and management of cancer patients.

Section 8. Creation of National Cancer Care, Research, and Development Authority. To
implement the policy declared in this Act, there is hereby created a National Cancer Ci
Research, and Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the National Cancer Authority,
which shall replace and absorb the National Cancer Institute of the University of the Philippines ~
Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) and the personnel and functions pertaining the
Department of Health,

Section 4, Nature and Purpose of the National Cancer Authority ~The National Cancer
Authority mandated to promote the nature of its creation and attain the purpose of its existen

(a) To be the specialized multidisciplinary and comprehensive cancer research
and development, dissemination and/or utilization of the results of research
and development including the formulation, updating and implementation
of a comprehensive cancer control program with the aim of overcoming
cancer;

(b) To be the national referral and coordinating center for
the regional cancer centers as well as referrals from indiv
organizations;

er patients from
jual and other

(6) To promote evidence-based multidisciplis
diagnosis and treatment of cancer;

ry early detection, screening,

3


(4) To introduce, develop, and encourage alternative forms of treatment;

(©) Develop primary health care programs such as promotion of health and
prevention of cancer incidence;

(® Promote palliative care, such as pain management, rehabilitation, hospice
care, including psychosocial, spiritual, and pastoral care, and other
measures to improve the quality of life of cancer patients until the end of
life;

(g) To develop internationally competitive health professionals by acting as the
Jead agency in their training and development towards comprehensive care
and management of cancer patients;

(h) To exercise regulatory powers on maintaining the standards of care and
competence of health professional in cancer care.

(i) To have fiscal autonomy towards promotion and attainment of this Act.

Section 5. Composition of the National Cancer Board, ~The National Cancer Board shall be
composed of the following Ex-Officio members:

Director of the National Cancer Auth = Chairperson

UP- PGI. Medical Director - "o- Chairperson
Secretary of Department of Health =  Co-Chairperson
President of Philhealth = Member
Secretary of Department of Seience and Technology = Member
Secretary of Department of Social Work and Development = Member

President of Philhealth = Member

3 Representatives from various related and relevant Civie Society Organization/ Non-

Governmental Organizations as members to be recommended by the National Cancer Secretariat.

‘The National Cancer Board shall meet at least once a year, or as frequently as may be deemed
necessary by its Chairperson, in the latter’s absence, a Co-Chairperson shall preside.

‘The benefits, privileges and emoluments of the Board shall be consistent with existing laws and
rules.

Section 6, Powers and Function of the National Cancer Board - The National Cancer
Authority Board shall be the primarily be responsible for formulating, continuing, coordinating
and integrating the state-of -the-art methods and techniques in cancer prevention, treatment and
care, development policies, plans and programs taking. into consideration the following:

(a) ‘To promulgate, after due consultation with stakeholders, NGOs, and
CSOs, policies and adopt measures that will promote and realize the
provisions of this Act;

(b) To monitor and evaluate the development and execution of programs,
activities, and projects carried-out by the Secretariat, and report directly
to the President of the Philippines;


{e} To exercise quasijudicial powers to settle controversies relative to any
violation of the provisions of this Act.

(a) To submit to the President periodic progress reports on the development
and enhancement of Programs:

(e) To organize and constitute various standing committees, subsidiary groups,
or technical working groups for efficient integration, coordination,
monitoring, and realization of the intention of this Act, at the national,
regional, and local level

( To enter into, make, execute, perform and carry-out domestic and foreign
contracts subject to existing laws, rules and regulations;

(g) To restructure the entire sub-sector consisting of all institutions and
programs involved in the promotion and development of primary health
care, primary care, secondary and tertiary care on cancer prevention and
curew

Section 7. Director of the National Cancer Authority - The Divector of the National Cancer
Authority shall exercise direct supervision to and over-all coordination with all activities of the
Department of Health (DOH) and other Department of the government and non-governmental
agencies or other advocacy and interest groups relating to cancer and the cancer programs.

‘The Director of the National Cancer Authority shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines as among the nominees submitted by the Board. The Director shall serve for a term
of 3 years,

Section 8. National Cancer Secretariat ~ There is hereby created a National Cancer Secretariat
(Secretariat), hereinafter referred to as the Board, to be composed of nine members to serve as
follows:

Q)
(2) Deputy Director for Training and Development

ration

(3) Deputy Director for Research
(#) Deputy Director for Nursing Service
(5) Deputy Director for Public Affairs

(6) Deputy Director for Health Operation

al Services

(7) Deputy Director for
(8) Deputy Director for Legal Affairs

(10) Director of the National Cancer Authority



Section 9. Functions of the Secretariat —'To dfectively carry out its mandate, the Institute shall
perform the following functions:

(@) Closely coordinate with DOH in the National Cancer Control Program
for the implementation of the program:

(b) Plan and develop a comprehensive cancer program of the
National Cancer Institute, here in after refer to the Program;

(©) Coordinate with the Department of Health National Cancer Prevention
Program office in planning, development and implementation of the
program;

the
jical

(a) Conduct and assist in researches and investigations into
causes, prevention and treatment of cancer, involving basic and cl
sciences;

Collect and collate a cancer registry information from the regional
centers and all over the country;

(Enter into collaborative undertakings with private individuals/entities
and international universities/colleges to advance knowledge
and technology in the field of cancer; and,

(g) Perform such other functions as needed and necessary for the
implementation of this Act

Section 10. Cancer Centers. Regional Cancer Centers (RCC) for each region in the country are
hereby established. The RCCs shall coordinate with the National Cancer Center, through its
Executive Chief Officer, to administer the programs developed by the National Cancer Center.

Section 11. Appropriations. - The amount of one billion pesos (Php. 1,000,000,000.00) for the
establishment of the Institute including initial implementation of its Programs shall be
appropriated from the Annual General Appropriations Act. During this period, such amount shall
be appropriated directly to the Cancer Institute under the Philippine General Hospital
‘Thereafter, the amount of two hundred million pesos (Php. 200,000,000.00) every year shall be
appropriated for the operational expenses of the Institute.

Section 19, Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The Board, in consultation with concerned
agencies and non-profit organizations, shall issne the Implementing Rules and Regulations within
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of this Act not otherwise aflected shall remain valid
and subsisting.

Section 14. Repealing Clause.— All laws, decrees, executive orders, department or memorandum
orders and other administrative issuance or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity Clause, This Act shall take effect filteen (15) days after its publication at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.