TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1323
of tlic £’:>n ft.nrp
25 SEP-2 A10 ;01
RECEIVED BY:
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 ieading causes of morbidity and mortaiity in the Philippines. 
In 2022, there were over 110,000 cancer deaths, placing it as the third ieading cause 
of death in the country. The same year also recorded almost 190,000 new diagnoses, 
and in addition, the Philippines has one of the highest records of premature cancer- 
related deaths in Southeast Asia.
The incidence and mortality rate of cancer in the Philippines has been increasing 
in the past decades. The lack of organized and specialized care and preventive 
measures against the disease contributed and shall continue to do so in its upwards 
trend, shouid such measures not be initiated.
Chemotherapy, one of the common cancer treatment options in the Phiiippines, 
often has a daunting cost 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 all, especially the 
underprivileged, it is high time that those who have less in life be given the lifeline to 
fight cancer disease despite their lack of resources.
Thus, this bill seeks to establish a Cancer Medicine and Treatment Fund for 
Filipino indigent and underprivileged cancer patients to provide adequate funds to 
those who cannot afford the necessary treatment for their diseases.
Therefore, urgent approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
MARK A. VILLAR


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
senate
^ 
/7 A
of tlji' i .'frptnrp
25 SEP-2 A10:0
RECEIVED BY:
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 Medicine and
2 
Treatment Fund for Filipinos'"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby a policy of the state to protect and
4 
promote the right to health of the people and to adopt and implement a system of
5 
efficient delivery of free medicine and free treatment to indigent and underprivileged
6 
cancer patients.
7 
Sec. 3. Establishment of a PHP 10 Billion Cancer Fund and Free Medicine
8 
Assistance Program. - There is hereby created a Ten Billion Peso Cancer Fund that
9 
can be availed by indigent and underprivileged cancer patients. For this purpose, a
10 
Cancer Treatment Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," is established
11 
and to be administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth)
12 
through its accredited government hospitals in each particular congressional district,
13 
to be known as the health district.
14 
The program shall be limited to indigent and underprivileged cancer patient
15 
beneficiaries to be identified by PhilHealth, in close coordination with the Department
16 
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and
17 
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).


. 1 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The PhilHealth, jointly with the
2 
DSWD, DOH and DILG, and the relevant private sector groups, including the
3 
association of hospitals and medical institutions and groups of patients, shall
4 
prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provision
5 
of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof.
6 
Sec 5. Appropriations. -The amount needed for the initial implementation of
7 
this Act shall be taken from the current year's appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter,
8 
such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall. Be included
9 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.
10 
Sec 6. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
11 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
12 
remain in force and effect.
13 
Sec 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
14 
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this
15 
Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
16 
Sec 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
17 
compiete publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,