Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bil No, 3945

Introduced by REP. LEX ANTHONY CRIS A. COLADA

The 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that the State shall protect and
promote the right to health of the people. It is also the primary policy of the state to
adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the
people at affordable cost. In fact, the latest gauge of the nation’s progress is through its
medical services and facilities.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), cancer is the leading cause of
death worldwide, with approximately 10 million mortalities recorded in 2020, accounting
for nearly one in every six deaths, Cancers in the lung, breast, colon, rectum, and
prostate are common cancers (World Health Organization, 2021). In the Philippines,
189 of every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by cancer, with four (4) Filipinos dying of
cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day. This is according to a study
undertaken by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National
Institutes of Health. Cancer in all its forms accounts for 0.25 percent of total mortality in
Region 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN), according to Department's data from 2015 to 2019.

Further, the DOH declares that cancer is one of four epidemic non-
communicable diseases (NCDs) or lifestyle-related illnesses (LRDs), which include
cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease. Cancer is
term that refers to conditions in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and can
invade neighboring tissues. The cancer cells can also spread through the blood and
lymphatic systems to other parts of the body. NCDs are now regarded as a massive
“silent disaster" ravaging the Filipino population, claiming 300,000 lives each year, 800
each day, and 33 each hour. Its human cost has been compared to "two 747 planes
packed with passengers colliding every day.” These NCDs have several risk factors in
common, including tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity, and
harmful alcohol use.


This bill proposes the creation of National Cancer Center of the Philippines that
will specialized in cancer treatment such as 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 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
specialist in the country to render service to 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.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought fer”)

REP. LEX ANTHONY CRIS COLADA
Party-list AAMBIS-OWA

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“= ,
House Bill No. 3545

INTRODUCED BY REP. LEX ANTHONY CRIS A. COLADA

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 Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Cancer Center of the
Philippines Act.”

SEC. 2. Establishment of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines (NCCP). —
There is hereby created the National Cancer Center of the Philippines (NCCP), under
the supervision of the Department of Health. The NCCP is a government corporate
facility that will offer comprehensive care of patients suffering from any kind of cancer
including surgery operations, chemotherapy, radiation and other aggressive treatment.
It shall also have a strong teaching program and research capability to serve the Filipino
people. It shall be located along Quezon Avenue, Quezon City and shall have perpetual
succession with powers of a corporation.

SEC. 3. Purposes and Objectives. ~ The NCCP 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 congress, 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;

(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.

SEC. 4, Powers and Functions. - To attain the above enumerated purposes and
objectives, the NCCP 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 NCCP;

(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 NCCP may reasonably and necessarily require subject to
the limitations prescribed by law;

(4) To invite foreign cancer specialist and similar experts in the various medical
fields to train the personnel or trainees or residents of the NCCP;

(6) To advance the training of personnel of the Philippine conventions, conferences,
congresses, seminars to accomplish the purpose and objectives of the NCCP;
and

(6) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out
the purposes of the NCCP;

SEC, 5. Board of Trustees. - The NCCP 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 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.

SEC. 6. Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director. - Tne NCCP shall be
headed by the Executive Director who shall have the following duties and
responsibilities:

a. Prepare the agenda for the meetings of the board, and to submit for
consideration of the board such policies and measures as he/she believe(s)
necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of this Act;

b. Execute, administer and implement the policies and measures approved by the
board;

c. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties provided in the by-
laws and as vested to him by the board.

SEC. 7. Property of the NCCP. — The property of the NCCP shall consist of such real,
personal, mixed and other type of property, now owned or reserved for, or any may
hereafter be given, donated, acquired, transferred or conveyed to the NCCP 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.

SEC. 8. Tax Exemption on Donations. ~ All grants, bequests, endowments, donations
and contributions made to the NCCP to be used actually, directly, and exclusively by the
NCCP shall be exempt from donor's tax and the same shall be considered as allowable
deduction from the gross income of the donor, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended.

The importation of equipment, machinery and spare parts which are used solely and
exclusively for the operation of the NCCP and are not available locally shall be exempt
from value-added tax and customs duty.

SEC. 9. Assistance from Government Offices. - The NCCP may call upon any
department, bureau, offices, and agency or instrumentality of the Government, including
government-owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it may need in the
pursuit of purposes and objectives.

SEC. 10. Government Contribution. — The Government shall contribute the necessary
land, building, equipment and facilities to the NCCP.

SEC. 11. Program for indigents. - The Department of Health shall ensure that the
NCCP shall adopt and enforce a program for indigents needing liveriliver products and
patients with liver diseases in accordance to the implementing guidelines on


classification of patients on Availment of Medical Social Services in Government
Hospitals.

SEC. 12. Retention of Income. - The NCCP is hereby authorized to retain and utilize
their income derived from its operation and non-patient related activities for the
maintenance of the other operating expenditures, including capital outlay especially in
the acquisition of equipment and supplies, subject to auditing rules and regulations.
Further, no amount from such income shall be used to augment the salaries and other
compensation of the NCCP personnel beyond the amounts determined by the
Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC),
as provide for in RA No. 10149.

SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount of one billion (P1,0000,000,000.00) is hereby
appropriated for the initial operation of the NCCP which shall be charged to the
appropriations of the DOH under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the
necessary amount to support the continued operation and maintenance of the NCCP
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14, Annual Report. - The NCCP shall render to the DOH an annual report on its
operations and accomplishments.

SEC, 15, Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from the
completion of the appointment of its members, the Corporation's Board of Trustees shall
convene to formulate the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this
Act.

SEC. 16. 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.

SEC. 17. 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.

SEC. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.