Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE 
FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines, and the 
leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the country are lung, liver, breast, colon 
cancers, and leukemia. 
The National Nutrition Council states that in the Philippines, 189 of every 100,000 
Filipinos are affected by cancer, with four 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. 
In the Philippines, the cancer treatment price can range from Php 120,000 to as much as 
Php 1 million pesos or more. In a country in which most Filipinos have a hard time buying 
basic commodities, they cannot afford to pay for cancer treatment.  
This bill aims to solve the problem of indigent Filipinos. If this bill becomes a law, the 
government will set aside a 10 billion Peso Fund and a Free Medical Assistance Program 
for indigent Filipinos.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
December 2, 2022
4:16 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE 
FUND FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS 
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 ``Cancer Medicine and Treatment 
Fund for Filipinos." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby a policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right to health of the people and to adopt and implement a system of 
effecting the delivery of free medicine and free treatment to indigent and 
underprivileged cancer patients. 
SEC. 3. Establishment Of a Php 10 Billion Cancer Fund and Free Medicine 
Assistance Program. There is hereby created a Ten Billion Cancer Fund that can be 
availed by indigent and underprivileged cancer patients. For the purpose, a Cancer 
Treatment Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," is established and to be 
administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) through 
its accredited government hospitals in each particular congressional district, to be 
known 
as 
the 
health 
district. 
The 
program 
shall 
be 
limited 
to 
indigent 
and 
underprivileged 
cancer 
patient beneficiaries to be identified by the Philhealth in dose coordination with the 
Department of Social Welfare and Development DSWD), the Department of Health 
(DOH) 
and 
the 
Department 
of 
Interior 
and 
Local 
Government 
(DILG). 
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. 
SEC. 4. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of Ten Billion 
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Pesos (PHP 10,000,000,000.00) for the implementation of the Program. The National 
Government shall subsequently include in the budget of the Department of Health 
in the General Appropriations Act such amount as may be necessary to carry out the 
objectives of this Act. 
 
SEC 5. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including 
rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general 
circulation. 
 
 
Approved,