REPUBLIC OF THE PHILI
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
QUEZON CITY

19TH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 340

Introduced by Honorable Michael Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 2 of Republic Act No. 11215, otherwise known as the National
Integrated Cancer Control Act, provided that cancer is recognized as one of the
leading causes of death in the Philippines and that the State shall provide an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which includes the
strengthening of integrative, multidisciplinary, patient and family centered
policies, programs, systems, interventions and services at all levels of existing
health care delivery system. Likewise, it has stated that the State shall endeavor
to make cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all, especially
the underprivileged, poor and marginalized Filipinos.

However, without a dedicated institute that will cater and ensure that
cancer treatment and care of cancer patients. This bill secks to establish the
National Cancer Center of the Philippines, a hospital that specializes on cancer
which will truly envision the purpose of the recently enacted law from accurate
diagnosis, to timely and optimal treatment, and responsive palliative care and pain
management up to late effects management and rehabilitation of cancer patients.

While there were provisions stipulated in the National Integrated Cancer
Control Act to establish cancer centers at the regional health care level, there is a
need to establish a specialty hospital at the national level to further enhance the
noble undertaking of the government and likewise complement the said cancer
control law.

approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

L. ROMERO Ph.D.
Representative
1-PACMAN Partylist


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

19TH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL No. 340

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero

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 Policy. It is hereby declared as the policy of the
State to secure the well-being of the people by providing them with specialized
health services that targets the eradication of deadly diseases in the country.
Towards this end and in line with the policy declared in Republic Act. No.
11215, otherwise known as National Integrated Cancer Control Act, a world-
class center that will specifically focus on the study of the prevention and
treatment of this disease shall be established.

SECTION 3. Creation of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. There
is hereby created a trust, for the benefit primarily of the Filipino people, under
the name and style of "National Cancer Center of the Philippines.”


‘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. The Director of the hospital shall be appointed by

the Board of Trustees.

The six (6) appointive members of the Board of Trustees shall serve
without compensation for a period of four (4) years and until their successors
have been appointed. Any vacancy in the Board shall be filled by appointment
by the President of the Philippines, and the appointee shall serve for the
unexpired term. The Board of Trustees of the National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall elect a Chairman among themselves, who shall be the
presiding officer of the Board of Trustees.

The Director of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall serve
as ViceChairman of the Board. The Director shall act as the Chief Executive
Officer of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines with authority, among
others, to appoint, remove, and fix the compensation of the personnel thereof,
subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and in accordance with
Republic Act No. 10149, otherwise known as the "GOCC Governance Act of
2011".

Four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum to
transact business and any decision made by four (4) members on any matter
duly presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a valid and binding
act of the Philippine National Cancer Hospital.

SECTION 4. Purpose and Objectives. The National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall cooperate with the cancer centers, established through R.A.
No. 11215, to carry out its purpose and objectives laid down in Sec. 10 of R.A.
No. 11215, and shall have the following purpose and objectives:

a) To construct, establish, operate and maintain a world-class
specialized cancer hospital for the public welfare;


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, convention, seminars and conferences;

©) 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;

4) To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas.
and information on the prevention, treatment and control of cancer,
to arouse, enhance and develop public interest on cancer awareness,
general health 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, related fields and to support
educational programs of value to general health;

) To encourage the formation of other organizations on the national,
provincial, city, municipal or barangay level and to coordinate their
various efforts and activities for 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 5. Powers of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. The
National Cancer Center of the Philippines, as corporate body acting through
its Board of Trustees, shall have the following powers:


a) To acquire and hold in any property of whatever nature of description,
and to dispose 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
public and private sectors; e) To open such accounts in banks and
other financial institution, 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 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 adopt a set of By-Laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with
law and provisions hereof to govern the administration and operation
of the affairs of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines; and

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

SECTION 6. 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 7. Property of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. 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 mat 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, alien or domestic, in order to carry out

its purposes and objectives as set forth herein.

SECTION 8. 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
and -controlled corporations, for such assistance it may need in pursuit of its

purposes and objectives.

SECTION 9. 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 donors taxes, and the same
shall be further 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 10. Appropriations. An initial amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
{Php 500,000,000.00) shall be allocated for the initial construction, operation,
and maintenance of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines which shall
be sourced from the General Appropriations. Subsequent funding for the years


thereafter shall be included in the General Appropriations Act under the
Budgetary Support for Government Corporations.

SECTION 11. Audit. The books and accounts of the National Cancer Center of
the Philippines shall be subject to periodic auditing by the Commission on
Audit (COA).

SECTION 12. Annual Report. The National Cancer Center of the Philippines
shall render to the President of the Philippines an annual report of its activities

and recommendations.

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days
after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Health (DOH) and the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is subsequently
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall

remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 15. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with any of the provision of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,