Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5037

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this representation
respectfully refiles this measure, which has constantly been receiving support from
the past and present Congress.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 14
million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths. 60% of the world’s total
new annual cases occur in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. The
following regions also account for 70% of the world’s cancer related deaths.

Cancer still remains as a national health priority in the country for it has significant
implications for individuals, families, communities, and the overall health system.
In this country, it ranked as the third leading cause of death and among Filipinos.
The 6 most common sites of cancers according to the research done by Globocan
are: breast, cervix, lung, colon/rectum, ovary, and liver. Moreover, 189 of every
100,000 Filipinos are afflicted with cancer and an estimated number of four
Filipinos die of cancer every hour.

This measure seeks to create a Philippine Cancer Center that will be specializing in
cancer treatments including the following: Chemotherapy, Radiation and Cobalt
Therapy. The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall also develop and
implement programs that would address the prevention and early detection of
cancer to lower the risks of developing cancer in the country. The aforementioned
center shall also serve as the center for research and training institution in regard
to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

In view of the foregoing reasons, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly
sought.

JOH IN YYUL SERVO” C. NIETO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
House Bill No. _5037

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Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

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AN ACT
CREATING THE NATIONAL CANCER CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES,
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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".

Section 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is hereby declared as the policy of the
State to secure the well-being of its people by providing them with specialized
health services and address the increasing incidences of deadly diseases like
cancer in the country. Towards this end, the State shall establish a specialized
public hospital for the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.

Section 3. Creation of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. -
There is hereby created and established, under the supervision of the Department
of Health (DOH), a specialized center for the benefit primarily of the Filipino people
under the name and style of " National Cancer Center of the Philippines”.

Section 4. Board of Trustees. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines
shall be administered by a Board of Trustees composed of seven (7) members to
be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the
Department of Health. The six appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall
serve for a period of four (4) years until their successors shall have been
appointed and qualified.

The Board of Trustees, as provided for in the preceding section, shall have the
following powers and functions:

(a) To elect a Chairman from among them who shall be the presiding officer
of the Board of Trustees;

(b) To appoint a Director of the Cancer Center who shall serve as Vice-
Chairman of the Board;

(c) To formulate policies and adopt measures which are necessary to carry
out the provisions of this Act;


(d) To prescribe, amend, and repeal its by-laws, rules, and regulations
governing the manner in which the general business of The National Cancer
Center of the Philippines may be conducted and its power exercised; and

(e) To perform such other functions as maybe necessary to achieve the
objectives of this Act.

Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to
transact business and any decision made by all the 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.

Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appointment by the President of
the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Department of Health and
the appointee shall serve for the unexpired term.

Section 5. Director of the Cancer Center. - The Director of the Center shall act
as the chief executive officer of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines with
the following powers and functions:

(a) To appoint, remove, and the compensation of the personnel thereof
subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and in accordance with
existing relevant laws;

(b) To prepare the agenda for the meeting of the Board and to submit
policies and other important measures for the consideration of the Board;

(c) To execute and administer the policies and measures approved by the
Board; and

(d) To direct and supervise the internal operations and administration of The
National Cancer Center of the Philippines.

Section 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall have the following purpose and objectives:

(a) To construct, establish, operate, and maintain a cancer center for the
public welfare including a specialized cancer hospital;

(b) To promote, encourage, and engage in scientific research on the
prevention of cancer and the care and/or treatment of cancer patients and
related activities, including sponsorship and conduct of relevant congresses,
conventions, seminars, and conferences,

(c) To stimulate and/or underwrite scientific researches on the biological,
demographic, social, economic, physiological aspects of cancer, its
abnormalities and control; and gather, compile, and publish the findings of
such researches for public dissemination;

(d) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and
information on the prevention, treatment, and control of cancer; to raise,


enhance, and develop public interest on cancer awareness, general heaith,
and physical fitness;

(e) To encourage and/or undertake the training of physicians, nurses,
medical technicians, health officers, and social workers on the practical and
scientific conduct and implementation of cancer healthcare services and
related activities;

(f) To assist universities, hospitals, and research institutions in their studies
of cellular anomalies, to encourage advanced training on matters of or
affecting the human cell and related field, and to support educational
programs of value to general health;

(g) To encourage the formation of other organization on the national,
provincial, city, municipal, or barangay level and to coordinate their various
efforts and activities foi the purpose of achieving a more effective
programmatic approach on the common problems relative to the objectives
herein enumerated; and

(h) To extend medical services to the general public especially the poor and
less fortunate in life who are suffering from cancer.

Section 7. Powers of The National Cancer Center of the Philippines. - The
National Cancer Center of the Philippines, as a corporate body acting through its
Board of Trustees, shall have the following powers

(a) To acquire and hold in any property of whatever nature or description
and to dispose of such property under any mode of encumbrance or
conveyance;

(b) To contract and be contracted with;

(c) To mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, convey, or otherwise dispose of its
properties;

(d) To solicit and receive donations, endowments, and funds in the form of
contributions, whether in cash or in kind, from both the public and private
sectors;

(e) To open such accounts in banks and other financial institutions, and to
disburse such funds or invest the same as the Board may direct to
accomplish or advance the purposes or interest of The National Cancer
Center of the Philippines;

(f) 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;

(g) To send the personnel of The National Cancer Center of the Philippines to
research institutes, medical institutes, or universities for advance training or
observation and to attend international or regional conventions, conferences,
congresses, and seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish


the purposes and objectives of The National Cancer Center of the
Philippines;

(h) To develop or support patient care programs and other programs that
would provide pain relief and psycho-social support for the terminally-ill
cancer patient and his/her family;

(i) To adopt a set of by-laws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with law
and the provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation of the
affairs of The National Cancer Center of the Philippines; and

(j) To do all such other acts and things as are may be necessary or
incidental for the accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of The
National Cancer Center of the Philippines.

Section 8. Research Programs. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines
in coordination with the Department of Health shall, directly or through grants to
public or non-private entities, carry out the following:

(a) Research with priority to research concerning
(i) Diagnosis and treatment of cancer;
(ii) Strains of cancer/s resistant to drugs;
(iii) Cases of cancer that affect certain populations, and
(iv) Clinical trials.

(b) Public information and education programs;

(c) Education, training, and clinical skills improvement activities for health
professionals;

(d) Support of model centers to carry out activities under Section 6
paragraphs (a) to (c);

(e) Collaboration with international organizations and foreign countries in
carrying out such activities; and

(f) Enhancement of basic and clinical research on cancer and its relation to
other diseases.

Section 9. Education Programs. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines
in coordination with the Department of Health and the Commission on Higher
Education, shall encourage faculties of schools of medicine, nursing, osteopathic
medicine and other related filed to intensify their program for information and
education programs, including the development of their curricula, to significantly
increase the opportunities for students and for practicing providers to learn the
principles and practices of preventing, managing, and treatment of cancer.

Section 10. Government Contribution. - The Government shall constitute the
necessary land, building, equipment, and facilities to The National Cancer Center


of the Philippines, and shall pay such obligations for real, personal, and mixed
Properties arising from such undertaking under a deferred payment arrangement
within five (5) years at a preferred rate of interest.

Section 11. 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 Philippine Government, its branches and instrumentalities, any foreign
government, as well as by trust, foundations, corporations, or persons, aliens, or
domestic, in order to carry out its purposes and objectives as set forth herein.

Section 12. Assistance from other Government Offices. - The National
Cancer Center of the Philippines may call upon any department, bureau, office,
agency, or instrumentality of the Government, including government-owned or
controlled corporations for such assistance as it may need in the pursuit of its
purposes and objectives.

Section 13. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, contributions, or endowments
which may be made by entities or persons to The National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall be exempt from income and donor's taxes, and the same shall
further be deductible in full for purposes of computing the maximum amount
deductible under Section 101 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as
amended.

The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall also be exempt from the
payment of all taxes, charges, and fees imposed by the Government or any
political subdivision or instrumentality thereof for a period of ten (10) years.

Section 14. Appropriation. - The amount of three hundred million
(P300,000,000.00) for the structure, equipment, initial operation, and
maintenance of The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be sourced
from the appropriations for the Department of Health. Subsequent subsidy for the
years thereafter shall be included in the General Appropriations Act under the
Budgetary Support for Government Corporations.

Section 15. Audit. - The books and accounts of The National Cancer Center of
the Philippines shall be subject to periodic auditing by the duly authorized
representative of the Commission on Audit.

Section 16. Annual Report. - The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall
render to the Department of Health and the President of the Philippines an annual
report of its activities, accomplishments. and recommendations.

Section 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health and the Department of
Budge and Management shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the proper implementation of this Act.


Section 18. Effect of Dissolution of the Cancer Center. - If for any reason,
The National Cancer Center of the Philippines is dissolved, its assets, and
Properties remaining at the time of dissolution shall revert to the Philippine
Government for disposition in accordance with law.

Section 19. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation,
contrary to or inconsistent with the Provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

Section 20. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is heid
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

Section 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,