( 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S·B.12-83 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Claiming thousands of lives each year, and amounting to several billions of pesos in 
healti)care and treatment cost, cancer has become serious public health issue and both a clinical 
as well as economic burden'. 
In the Philippines, cancer is the third leading cause of death. It is outranked only by 
cominunicable and cardiovascular diseases, claiming one death for every two new cases within a 
year, while cancer, which afflicts 189 per 100,000, kills four Filipinos every hour or 103 every 
day. 
The incidence and mortality rate of cancer in the Philippines has been increasing in the 
past three decades. This trend is expected to continue if organized and sustained specialized care 
and preventive measures against cancer are not initiated. 
The chemotherapy for cancer patients may cost about PIOO,OOO 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. 
This is why cancer has gained a reputation as the disease for the rich. The painful truth is 
that it can afflict anybody, regardless of economic status. 
The legislation is submitted with the recognition that in our fundamental law, the right to 
healti) of the people is accorded premium attention. And considering too 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 the less fortunate be given the 
opp~rtunity to fight the cancer disease despite their lack of resources. 
For this reason, the passage ofthis bill is earnestly sought. 
~f.R-r~ 
reE POE 
. 
1 From a study of the Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines 
Manila, ihg.upm.edu.ph 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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AUG 14 P4 :09 
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RECEIVED BY: u> 
Introduced by Senator Poe 
AN ACT 
TO ASSIST INDIGENT CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE A CANCER ASSISTANCE FUND AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
It is a declared policy of the State to protect and promote the right to 
health of the people. For this purpose, the State shall implement a system of providing premium 
care and assistance to indigent cancer patients and their families. 
. Every year, the State shall automatically appropriate the amount of One Billion Pesos 
(Php 1,000,000,000.00) to support the cancer medicine and treatment assistance program to be 
administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth). The Program shall 
prioritize indigent and underprivileged cancer patient beneficiaries to be identified by the 
Philhealth in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
and the Department ofInterior and Local Government (DILG). 
The Philhealth in consultation with the DSWD and DILG and the representatives from 
hospital association, medical practitioners and civil society representing peasant and/or the 
marginalized sector shall formulate releavant rules and regulations within six (6) months from 
the approval of this Act. 
SEC 2. 
This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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