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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
F/rst Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 919
72 JUL-7 P5 51
RI-CEiVfDuV;
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT 
ASSISTANCE FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED
FILIPINOS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution expressly provides that:
"The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive 
approach to health development which shall endeavor to make 
essential foods, health, and other soda! services available to all 
the people at affordable cost There shall be priority for the needs 
of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and 
children. The State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to 
paupers."
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. 
The incidence and mortality rate of cancer in the Philippines has been increasing in 
the past decades. This trend is expected to continue if organized and sustained 
specialized care and preventive measures against cancer are not initiated.
Chemotherapy for cancer patients may have daunting costs per session. The 
cost of treatment by radiation or even examination by MRI, is burdensome even to 
middle-income patients, and often beyond the reach of the poor.


Considering that one of the goals of the national economy is a more equitable 
distribution of opportunities and raising the quality of life for ail, especially the 
underprivileged, it is high time that those who are less in life be given the lifeline to 
fight cancer disease despite their lack of resources.
MARK A. VILLAR
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No.
O ’? Q
oui'r n r'li'.v p
•22 JUL-7 P5 51
Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT 
ASSISTANCE FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED
FILIPINOS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cancer
2 
Medicine and Treatment Fund for Filipinos of 2022."'
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby a policy of the state to
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protect and promote the right to health of the people and to adopt and
5 
implement a system of effecting the delivery of free medicine and free
6 
treatment to indigent and underprivileged cancer patients.
7 
SEC. 3. Establishment of a Php 10 Billion Cancer Fund and Free
8 
Medicine Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a Ten Billion Peso
9 
Cancer Fund that can be availed by indigent and underprivileged cancer
10 
patients. For this purpose, a Cancer Treatment Program, hereinafter referred
11 
to as the "Program," is established and to be administered by the Philippine
12 
Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its accredited government
13 
hospitals in each particular congressional district, to be known as the health
14 
district.
1


The program shall be limited to indigent and underprivileged cancer 
patient beneficiaries to be identified by PhilHealth, in close coordination with 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department 
of Health (DOH), and the Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG).
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SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -The PhilHealth, jointly 
with the DSWD, DOH and DILG, and the relevant private groups, including the 
association of hospitals and medical institutions and groups of patients, shall 
prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
provision of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof.
11
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SEC 5. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial 
implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current year's 
appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for 
its continued implementation shall. Be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act.
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SEC 6. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act 
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not 
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.
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SEC 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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SEC 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,