-I
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.
2b AUG-6 P2 33
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE FUND 
FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the 
Philippines. Each year, thousands of Filipinos are diagnosed with various forms of 
cancer, many of whom come from low-income and marginalized backgrounds. The 
high cost of cancer treatment—including diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, 
surgery, and maintenance medicines—places a significant financial burden on patients 
and their families, often pushing them into debt or forcing them to forgo treatment 
altogether.
Despite government efforts to provide healthcare support, many cancer 
patients—especially those who are indigent or underprivileged—continue to face 
insurmountable barriers to accessing timely and adequate care. The existing public 
health programs are often overstretched and underfunded, leaving a critical gap in 
life-saving assistance for those most in need.
This bill aims to address this urgent healthcare concern by establishing a Cancer 
Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund, dedicated specifically to supporting indigent 
and underprivileged Filipinos undergoing cancer treatment. This measure will


institutionalize a targeted funding mechanism to ensure that no Filipino battling cancer 
is left without access to essential therapies due to poverty or lack of resources.
Filed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar in the 19th Congress, this bill reaffirms the 
State's duty to uphold the right to health and social justice for all citizens. It 
underscores the government's evolving role in ensuring equitable access to specialized 
healthcare services and recognizes the need for responsive policies that prioritize 
vulnerable sectors in times of grave medical crisis.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. 
The creation of a Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund under 
the Department of Health (DOH), to be used exclusively for subsidizing 
the cost of cancer diagnostics, treatment, and maintenance medications 
for indigent and underprivileged patients;
2. 
Coordination with public hospitals, cancer centers, and local government 
units to implement and monitor the distribution of funds;
3. 
The formulation of clear eligibility guidelines and a streamlined 
application process to ensure transparency and accessibility;
4. 
Regular reporting and auditing mechanisms to safeguard the proper use 
of public resources;
5. 
The annual appropriation of funds in the General Appropriations Act to 
ensure sustainability of the program.
This proposed legislation embodies a compassionate and inclusive vision for 
healthcare—one where the fight against cancer is not limited by economic status, and 
where every Filipino is given a fair chance at survival and recovery.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
7t' -L
NGGuY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No.^Q57
25 AUG-6 P2 34
R!;Cr.l .'.D B\
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CANCER MEDICINE AND TREATMENT ASSISTANCE FUND 
FOR INDIGENT AND UNDERPRIVILEGED FILIPINOS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the 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 Fiiipinod'.
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 
effecting the delivery of free medicine and free treatment to indigent and
6 
underprivileged 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 Cancer Fund that can be
9 
availed by indigent and underprivileged cancer patients. For the purpose, a Cancer
10 
Treatment Program, hereinafter referred to as the "Program," is established and to be
11 
administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through its
12 
accredited government hospitals in each particular congressional district, to be known
13 
as the health district.
14 
The program shall be limited to indigent and underprivileged cancer patient
15 
beneficiaries to be identified by the PhilHealth in close coordination with the


1 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health
2 
(DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
3 
The PhilHealth, jointly with the DSWD, DOH and DILG and the relevant
4 
private groups including the association of hospitals and medical institutions and
5 
groups of patients, shall prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to
6 
carry out the provision of this Act within six (6) months from the effectivity hereof.
7 
Sec. 4. Appropriations. - There is hereby appropriated the sum of Ten billion
8 
pesos (P10,000,000,000.00) for the implementation of the Program. The National
9 
Government shall subsequently include in the budget of the Department of Health in
10 
the General Appropriations Act such amount as may be necessary to carry out the
11 
objectives of this Act.
12 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including
13 
rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified
14 
accordingly.
15 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
16 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
17 
circulation.
Approved,