Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1782

Introduced by Representatives Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr., Jose L. Atienza Jr. and Irwin C.
Tieng (BUHAY Party List)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Cancer is one of the leading cause of mortality in the country. The estimated incidence rate is 189
persons per 100,000 Filipinos. One (1) out of five (5) Filipinos is expected to acquire cancer up to the
age of 75. Despite this fact, there is no specialized care for all cancer patients in the Philippines.
Although there are several specialized hospitals with complete facilities for cancer patients, the same
are concentrated or centralized in Metro Manila primarily catering to the needs of cancer patients in the
National Capital Region which is one of the regions with the highest cases of cancer. However, the
cancer incidents are not only prevalent in the NCR. According to the 2004 Philippine Health Statistics,
the other regions with the highest prevalence of reported cases are Regions 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7. Apparently,
these regions do not have cancer hospitals with sufficient equipment and facilities to cater to the needs
of patients suffering from cancer.

The establishment and maintenance of the cancer center would primarily benefit the people suffering
from cancer and would also further enhance the noble undertaking of research in cancer, provide a
state-of-the-art training of medical and technical personnel and render specialized medical services for
the prevention, control and treatment of cancer.

‘This bill seeks to establish a national cancer center which shall be known as Philippine National Cancer
Center. It shall be established in the Province of Pampanga which is accessible to the patients from the
other areas with high prevalence of cancer incidents. It is strategically located to provide services and
address the cancer cases in the regions with the highest reported cases particularly in Region 3.

‘The number of cancer patients still continue to increase, and BUHAY Hayaan Yumabong Party List
intends to re-file this Bill in the hope to give assistance most specially to indigent cancer patient's
wide.

Thus, the Partyjis requesting fpr its immediate approval.

Hon. Jose L. Atienza Jr.
ee

fon. InwiC. Tieng


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill NoL' 782

Introduced by Representatives Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr., Jose L. Atienza Jr. and Irwin C.
‘Tieng_(BUHAY Party List)

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL CANCER CENTER TO BE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL CANCER CENTER AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Establishment. - There shall be established, under the supervision of the Department of
Health (DOH), the Philippine National Cancer Center in the Province of Pampanga, herein referred to as
“Cancer Center.”

The Cancer Center 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 members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of four (4) years and until their successors
shall have been appointed and qualified. 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.

SEC. 2. Board of Trustees. - The Board of Trustees, as provided for in the preceding section, shall have the
following powers and functions:

1. To elect a Chairman from among them, who shall be the presiding officer of the Board of
Truste

2. To appoint a Director of the Cancer Center who shall serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board;

3. To formulate policies and adopt measures which are necessary to carry out the provisions of this,
act;

4. To prescribe, amend, revise and repeal its by-laws, rules and regulations governing the manner
in which the general business of the Cancer Center shall be conducted and its power exercised;
and

5. To perform such other functions as maybe necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act.
‘The four (4) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum and may transact business. Any
decision of such four (4) members on any matter duly presented to the Board of Trustees shall constitute a

valid and binding act of the Cancer Center.

SEC. 3. Director of the Cancer Center. - The Cancer Center shall have a Director who shall be its chief
executive officer. The Director shall have the following powers and functions:

1. To appoint the personnel of the Cancer Center and determine their compensation and benefits,
subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees;

2. To prepare the agenda for the meeting of the Board and to submit for the consideration of
the Board, such policies and other important measures as may be necessary in the operation and
management of the Cancer Center;

3. To execute and administer the policies and measures approved by the Board; and


4. To direct and supervise the internal operations and administration of the Cancer Center.

SEC. 4. Government Contributions. - The Government shall contribute the necessary land, bui
equipment and facilities necessary in the establishment and operation of the Cancer Center.

ing,

SEC. 5. Property of the Cancer Center. - The Property of the Cancer Center shall consist of such real,
personal, mixed, and other types of property, now owned or reserved for, or may hereafter be given,
donated, acquired, transferred or conveyed to the Cancer Center by the Philippine Government, any of its
branches, agencies and instrumentalities, any foreign governments or organizations, 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.

SEC. 6. Purposes and Objectives. - The purposes and objectives of the Cancer Center are:

1. To construct, establish, operate and maintain a Cancer Center for the public welfare, including a
specialized cancer hospital;

2. To create awareness of cancer prevention, control and treatment in the general public, through
film showings, lectures, congresses, conventions, seminars, and conferences;

3. To promote, encourage, engage and assist m scientific research on the prevention, control and
treatment of cancer;

4. To create cancer control programs through the collection and recording of facts about cancer
incidence, and other data;

5. To gather, compile, and publish the findings of scientific researches for public dissemination;

6. To facilitate and encourage the dissemination and exchange of ideas and information on the
prevention, treatment and control of cancer, and to arouse, enhance and develop public interest
‘on cancer consciousness or awareness;

7. 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 family;

8. 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
services and related activities;

9. 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

10. To extend medical services to the general public, to help prevent, relieve or alleviate the
innumerable afflictions and maladies of the people, especially the poor and less fortunate in life,
without regard to race, creed, color or political belief.

SEC. 7. Powers of the Cancer Center. - For the attainment and/or furtherance of the above purposes and
“objectives, the Cancer Center, as a body corporate, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall have all the
powers pertaining to a juridical person and is, therefore, authorized, among other things:

To acquire and hold any property of whatever nature or description, and to dispose of such
property under any mode of encumbrance or conveyance;

2. To contract and be contracted with;
3. To mortgage, lease, sell, transfer, conveyor otherwise dispose of its properties;

4, 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;

5. 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
Cancer Center:



4

6. To send the personnel of the Cancer Center to research or medical institutes or universities for
advance training or observation and to attend international or regional conventions, conferences,
congresses, seminars as the Board may deem necessary to accomplish the purposes and
objectives of the Cancer Center;

7. 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 Cancer Center; and 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 family;

8. To perform and do all such other acts and things as are or may be necessary or incidental for the
accomplishment of the purposes and objectives of the Cancer Center.

SEC. 8. Tax Exemptions. - All donations, contributions or endowments that may be made by entities or
persons to the Cancer Center shall be exempt from income and gift taxes.

The Cancer Center shall be exempt from the payment of all taxes, charges and fees imposed by the
Government or any political subdivision or instrumentality thereof.

SEC. 9. Assistance from government offices. - The Cancer Center 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.

SEC. 10. Appropriations, - The amount of eight hundred million (P800,000,000.00) for the structure,
equipment and initial operation and maintenance of the Cancer Center shall be charged to the appropriations
for the Department of Health,

Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for the continued operation and maintenance of the Cancer
Center shall be included in the Genera Appropriations Act.

SEC. 11. Auditing. - The books and accounts of the Cancer Center shall be subject to periodic auditing by
the duly authorized representatives of the Commission on Audit.

C. 12, Annual Report. - The Cancer Center shall render to the Department of Health an annual report of
its activities, accomplishments and recommendations.

SEC. 13. Effect of Dissolution of the Cancer Center. — If, for any reason, the Cancer Center is dissolved,
its assets and properties remaining at the time of dissolution shall revert to the Philippine Government for
disposition in accordance with law.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - Any laws, decrees, ordinances or rules and regulations which are inconsistent
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official
Gas ‘or in two (2) Bost of general circulation.

Approved,
Hon. Mar|

. Jose L. Atienza Jr.