Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._5863.
Introduced by Representative Joseph Gilbert F. Violago

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This commendable bill had been filed in the past Congress and the present proponent
is acknowledging the wisdom and hard work of his predecessors.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death
worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in every six deaths.'
It also estimates that about 400,000 children develop cancer each year. Cancer is caused by the
interaction between a person's genetics and three categories of external agents, including:
physical carcinogens, chemical carcinogens: and biological carcinogens.

In the Philippines, around 189 for every 100,000 Filipinos are affected by cancer?
Based on the study conducted by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics,
National Institutes of Health, on average, four deaths are caused by cancer every hour or 96
cancer patients each day. In fact, in a report by the WHO, it estimates that 141,021 Filipinos
have cancer as of 2018, with 86,337 cancer deaths on the same year. * Breast cancer, lung
cancer, and colorectum cancer are the most common types. There is likewise a growing trend
in the number of breast and lung cancer cases over the years.

‘The 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them (Art. II, Sec. 15). Thus, this
‘measure seeks to establish a world-class institution that will focus on cancer prevention,
treatment, and elimination, in order to save the lives of the Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this measure is sought.

joan ensco

4 World Health Organization. “Cancer”. 03 February 2022. <https://www..who.int/news-room/act-
sheets/detail/cancer>

2 National Nutrition Council, “Bird's Eye View: Cancer in the Philippines”. 08 April 2022. <
https://nne.gov.ph/regional-offices/mindanao/region-xi-soccsksargen/7529-bird-s-eye-view-cancer-in-the-
philippines>

* World Health Organization, “Philippines Cancer Country Profile 2020.” 01 January 2020. <

hnttps://www. who.int/publications/m/tem/cancer-phk-2020>


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._5863
Introduced by Representative Jos

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

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 Act of
2022”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby the policy of the State to protect and promote
the right to health of the people and instill consciousness among them, and to secure the
wellbeing of the people by providing them with specialized health services that targets the
elimination of deadly diseases. To this end, a world-class center that will specifically focus on
research for the prevention and treatment of cancer shall be established.

SECTION 3. Creation of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines. — There is hereby
created, under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH), the National Cancer Center
of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Board of Trustees. — The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be
governed, and its activities and properties be directed, controlled, and managed, by a Board of
Trustees, which shall be composed of a Chairman and six (6) members, all of whom to be
appointed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the DOH.

‘The members of the Board of Trustees shall serve for a period of four (4) years and until their
successors shall have been appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term
of the member. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the Board, the person appointed to fill the
vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired term of the member.

The Board shall elect a Chairman from among themselves, who shall be the presiding officer
of the Board of Trustees. The Medical Director of the Philippine National Cancer Center shall
serve as Vice-Chairman of the Board.


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

SECTION 5. Government Contribution. — The Government shall contribute the necessary
land, building, equipment, and facilities to the National Cancer Center of the Philippines.

SECTION 6. Property of the Center. — The property of the National Cancer Center of the
Philippines 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
ational Cancer Center of the Philippines by the 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 an objectives as set forth herein..

SECTION 7. Purpose and Objectives. ~ The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall
have the following purposes and objectives:

1. To construct, establish, equip, maintain, administer, and operate a specialized hospital
for diagnosis, treatment, care, rehabilitation, and/or relief of cancer patients;

2. To promote scientific research relative to the prevention and treatment of cancer
including sponsorship and conduct of relevant seminars, congresses, conventions, and
conferences;

3. To create awareness of cancer prevention, treatment, and control through public
information dissemination;

4, To encourage the training of physicians, nurses, medical technicians, health officers,
and social workers on the practical and scientific conduct and implementation of
services, and related activities;

5. To assist universities, colleges, hospitals, and research institutions in their studies of
cancer and encourage advanced training and specialization on matters of, or affecting
cancer;

6. To provide psychosocial support services and counseling to the patient and family
members;

7. To consolidate the information from other related organizations to aid the government's
efforts, policies, and programs relative to the purposes and objectives enumerated
herein; and

8. To extend medical services to the general public, especially the marginalized sector of
society.

SECTION 8. Powers. — For the attainment and/or furtherance of the above-enumerated
purposes and objectives, the National Cancer Center of the Philippines, acting through its
Board of Trustees, shall have the following orders and functions, among other things:

1. To enter into contracts;

To adopt by-laws, rules and regulations not contrary to law to govern the administration

and operation of the affairs of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines;

3. To purchase, receive, take or grant, hold, convey, sell, lease, pledge, mortgage, and
otherwise deal with such property of whatever nature the transaction of the lawful



business of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines may reasonably and
necessarily require subject to the limitations prescribed by law;

4, To invite foreign cancer specialists and similar experts in the various medical fields to
train the personnel or trainees or residents of the National Cancer Center of the
Philippines:

5. To advance the training of personnel of the Philippine conventions, conferences,
congresses, and seminars to accomplish the purpose and objectives of the National
Cancer Center of the Philippines;

6. To exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines.

SECTION 9. Tax Exemption on Donations. All donations, contributions, and
endowments that may be made by entities or persons to the National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall be exempt from income and gift taxes.

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

SECTION 10. Assistance from Government Offices. ~ The National Cancer Center of the
Philippines may call upon any department, bureau, office, and agency or instrumentally of the
Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, for such assistance as it
may need in the pursuit of purposes and objectives.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. - The amount of One Billion Pesos (Php1,000,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated for the initial operation of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines
which shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department of Health under the current
General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the necessary amount to support the continued
operation and maintenance of the National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall be included
in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 12. Auditing. ~ The books of accounts of the National Cancer Center of the
Philippines shall be subject to periodic auditing by the Commission on Audit.

SECTION 13. Annual Report. ~ The National Cancer Center of the Philippines shall render
to the Department of Health an annual report on its operations and accomplishments.

SECTION 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
promulgation of this Act, the implementing rules and regulations for the proper implementation
of its provisions shall be formulated by the DOH in coordination with other relevant
government agencies.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
or invalid, the remainder or any of this provision hereof not affected thereby shall remai
force and effect.



SECTION 16. Repeating Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances
and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette, or in any newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,