Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the 
Philippines, imposing a heavy burden not only on patients and their families but also on 
the nation’s health system. Despite advances in medical science, access to 
comprehensive cancer care and research facilities remains limited, especially for the 
underprivileged. The burden is even heavier for those in the provinces, where specialized 
treatment centers are scarce or nonexistent. 
The State, under Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, is mandated to 
“protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness 
among them.” In line with this, Republic Act No. 11215, or the “National Integrated Cancer 
Control Act,” established a national framework for cancer prevention, treatment, and 
research, and recognized the need for specialized institutions to address the growing 
cancer burden. 
However, the current landscape reveals a gap in the availability of a national center 
that can serve as the country’s primary institution for cancer care, research, training, and 
policy development. While specialty centers have been established in various regions 
pursuant to Republic Act No. 11959, or the “Regional Specialty Centers Act,” there is a 
compelling need for a central institution that can lead, coordinate, and elevate the 
standards of cancer management nationwide. 
This bill seeks to create the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, which will 
serve as the primary institution for cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and 
education. The Center will not only provide direct medical services to patients, especially 
the poor and marginalized, but will also foster scientific research, professional training, 
and public awareness on cancer and related diseases. 
By establishing the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, this measure aims 
to bring the country closer to the vision of accessible, equitable, and high-quality cancer 
care for all Filipinos, while advancing the frontiers of medical research and public health. 
August 28, 2025
1:54 pm
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In view of the urgent need to address the growing burden of cancer in the country, 
the immediate approval of this bill is respectfully sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.____ 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE NATIONAL CANCER CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, 
DEFINING ITS POWERS, PROVIDING FOR ITS FUNDING, 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 target the eradication of deadly diseases in the country. Towards this end and in line 
with the policy declared in the 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. 
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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 Vice 
Chairman 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; 
 
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 
research 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 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; 
 
g) 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 provisions 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,