Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death and disability that
cuts across all sectors and age groups, with children being the most
vulnerable. Here in the Philippines, it remains the second cause of mortality
and morbidity.
The enactment of Republic Act No. 11215, also known as the National
Integrated Cancer Control Act, in 2018, is a positive course toward a holistic
approach to the treatment and care of cancer patients, as well as the
psychosocial support for their carers, families, and communities.
Although there are healthcare institutions with specialized facilities
that cater to cancer patients, there is still the need for a dedicated national
institution mandated to carry out the comprehensive and integrated cancer
program under RA 11215. This bill, therefore, seeks the establishment of the
National Cancer Center of the Philippines that, among others, will ensure
Filipino
cancer patients and families, especially the marginalized and
underprivileged sectors, will receive treatment and care that is inclusive,
equitable, and affordable from the best medical specialists.
It was previously filed by Rep. Yedda Romualdez and Rep. Martin
Romualdez in the 18th Congress.
To this end, the approval of the bill is earnestly sought.
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
Representative, 4Ps Partylist
July 28, 2022
5:17 pm
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. _________
Introduced by 4Ps Representative
JONATHAN CLEMENT M. ABALOS II
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
the 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.
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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 types 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
an 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, conventions, seminars, and conferences;
(3) To create awareness of cancer prevention, treatment, and control
through public information dissemination;
(4) To
encourage
the
training
of
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 to
aid the 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, and seminars to accomplish the purpose
and objectives of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines;
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(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,
and endowments that 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, office, 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 12. 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 the law.
Section 13. 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 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Section 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.
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