Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

Puerto Princesa City

Sanggunian Draft Ordinance No. ________

AN ORDINANCE STRENGTHENING THE CAPABILITY OF

PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES, PROVISION
OF SERVICES AND CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR CANCER
PATIENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF PUERTO PRINCESA,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Authored by: HON. MARIA NANCY M. SOCRATES

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine

Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them;

WHEREAS, Every local government unit shall exercise the

powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well
as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and
effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion
of the general welfare. Within their respective territorial jurisdictions,
local government units shall ensure and support, among other things,
the promotion of health;

WHEREAS, The implementation of the Local Government

Code of 1991 resulted in the devolution of health services to local
government units (LGUs) which included, among others, the
provision, management and maintenance of health services at
different levels of LGUs, including the implementation of programs
and projects on primary health care and communicable and non-
communicable disease control services; access to secondary and
tertiary health services; purchase of medicine, medical supplies, and
equipment needed to carry out the services herein enumerated;

WHEREAS, under Republic Act 11215 better known as the

“National Integrated Cancer Control Act”, cancer is recognized as one
of the leading causes of death in the Philippines, and it is therefore the
declared policy of the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive
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approach to health development which includes the strengthening of
integrative, multidisciplinary, patient and family centered cancer
control policies, programs, systems, interventions and services at all
levels of the existing health care delivery system. Towards this end,
the State shall endeavor to prevent cancer and improve cancer
survivorship by scaling up essential programs and increasing
investments for robust prevention of cancer, better screening, prompt
and accurate diagnosis, timely and optimal treatment, responsive
palliative care and pain management, effective survivorship care and
late effects management and rehabilitation. It shall likewise make
cancer treatment and care more equitable and affordable for all,
especially for the underprivileged, poor and marginalized Filipinos;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council

assembled in session that:

Section 1. SHORT TITLE. This Ordinance shall be known

and referred to as “Puerto Princesa Cancer Care System Ordinance”.

Sec. 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. The City

Government of Puerto Princesa recognizes that a healthy community
accelerates economic prosperity thus, it is essential to provide and
develop robust and effective health services particularly in cancer care
and treatment being one of the leading causes of death in the
Philippines, thereby allocating adequate resources and ensuring that
health facilities, local health centers and essential medicines or
vaccines are accessible and affordable for cancer patients.

Sec. 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. The terms used in this

Ordinance shall be defined as follows:

a. Cancer refers to a genetic term for a large group of

diseases that can affect any part of the body. Other terms used are
malignant tumors and neoplasms. One defining feature of cancer is
the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual
boundaries, and which can then invade adjoining parts of the body and
spread to other organs;

b. Cancer control refers to the strategies to reduce the

incidence, morbidity and mortality and improve the quality of life of
cancer patients in a defined population, through the systematic
implementation of evidence-based interventions for prevention, early
detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care;

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 c. Cancer screening refers to the process of detecting
cancer symptoms start to appear. This may involve blood tests,
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) tests, urine tests and other tests such as
medical imaging;

d. Cancer treatment refers to the series of interventions that

are aimed at curing the disease and improve the patient’s quality of
life, such as psychological and nutritional support, surgery,
radiotherapy, radioisotope therapy, and drug therapy, which includes
chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, biotherapeutics, immunotherapy,
gene therapy and supportive therapy;

e. Carer refers to anyone who provides care for cancer

patients and family members;

f. City refers to Puerto Princesa City;

g. CHO refers to City Health Office;

h. Continuum of care refers to delivery of comprehensive

health care services, which includes risk assessment, primary
prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and end-of-
life care;

i. Hospice care refers to the palliation of a chronically ill,

terminally ill or seriously ill patient’s pain and symptoms, otherwise
known as end-of-life care that consists of medical, psychological and
spiritual support;

j. Optimal treatment and care refers to a quality treatment

care that adheres to the standards of treatment and care founded on
evidence-based guidelines;

k. Palliative care refers to an approach that improves the

quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem
associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and
relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable
assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical,
psychosocial and spiritual;

l. R.A. 11215 refers to the “National Integrated Cancer

Control Act”;

m. R.A. 10173 refers to the “Data Privacy Act of 2012”.

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 n. Residing refers to an act of permanently establishing
domicile within the City of Puerto Princesa or if temporarily absent
thereat for a certain purpose, e.g. work, study or leisure, he/she always
intended to return;

o. Supportive care refers to prevention and management of

the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment which includes
management of physical and psychological symptoms and side effects
across the continuum of the cancer experience.

Sec. 4. IMPLEMENTING BODY. The City Health Office

(CHO) shall be the lead City Government Office to effectively and
efficiently implement this Ordinance.

It shall, among others, formulate a quality health care system,

coordinate and develop linkages with concerned government agencies
and civil society organizations pertaining to cancer prevention and
treatment, enhance cancer care infrastructure, and strengthen cancer
control.

Sec. 5. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. The

CHO shall include, as one of its human resource intervention
activities, a capacity development program or trainings for its health
care workers particularly in cancer care service and support at all
levels of health care delivery system to ensure effective and efficient
implementation of this Ordinance.

Sec. 6. PROVISION OF CANCER DRUGS AND

VACCINES. The CHO shall provide a reliable supply of cancer
drugs and cancer control related vaccines to qualified patients who are
residing in this City.

For this purpose, the CHO shall formulate policies and

guidelines, particularly as to the qualification of the patients, to
efficiently implement this provision with the end view of facilitating
quick access to medicine and vaccines of cancer patient and
developing a more responsive system for effectively addressing
emergency cases.
.
Sec 7. HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROMOTION IN
THE WORKPLACE IN ALL CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Pursuant to Section 18 of R.A. 11215, the CHO, in coordination with
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concerned City and National Government Offices/Institutions, shall
develop policies and provide technical guidance to the
officials/employees of the City Government of Puerto Princesa
pertaining, but not limited to:

a.) The promotion and integration of gender sensitive key

messages on cancer risk factors, early warning signs and
symptoms of adult cancer and childhood cancer, cancer
prevention and control, adoption of healthy lifestyles and
healthy diets, in their communication initiatives, health and
wellness programs, and employee development programs;

b.) The mainstreaming of practical supportive care and

psychosocial support programs for people living with cancer,
cancer survivors, and their family members;

c.) The integration of appropriate cancer services in their health

services and clinics; and

d.) The development of programs, initiatives or mechanisms

that shall minimize or eliminate stigma and discrimination in
the workplace that is experienced by people living with cancer,
cancer survivors, and their families.

Sec. 8. CANCER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. The CHO is

hereby mandated to include in its program an intensified cancer
awareness campaign and provide the latest and evidence-based
information for the prevention and treatment of cancer including
practical advice, support and referral for cancer patients, people living
with cancer, cancer survivors, their families and carers. It shall
collaborate with concerned government and civil society
organizations to disseminate information to all persons residing in this
City. The awareness campaign must increase cancer literacy and
understanding of risk factors associated with cancer, dispel myths and
misconceptions about cancer, and reduce the anxiety, fear, distress
and uncertainty related to cancer.

Sec. 9. NATIONAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. 

Section 16 of R.A. 11215 declaring month of February of every year
as the “National Cancer Awareness Month” throughout the Philppines
is hereby adopted. The CHO shall collaborate with concerned
government agencies, cancer focused professional societies, and
academic institutions for the observance of this celebration. It shall

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likewise spearhead the promotion of age appropriate and gender
sensitive cancer-focused health education.

For this purpose, the CHO may coordinate with the cinemas or
movie houses within the City to advertise a Cancer Awareness Video
prior to its movie screening, preferably for the whole month of
February of every year. Provided, that the video contains evidence-
based information on cancer awareness and shall not exceed one
hundred twenty (120) seconds.

Sec. 10. SOCIAL PROTECTION MECHANISMS.

Pursuant to Section 22 of R.A. 11215 the CHO is hereby directed to
develop appropriate and easily accessible social protection
mechanisms for those residing in this City who are cancer patients,
people living with cancer, cancer survivors, their families and carers.
It shall aim to encourage the underprivileged and marginalized people
living with cancer to undergo the necessary treatment and care.

The CHO shall formulate a cancer control policy for the

employees of the City Government which will cover the entire cancer
continuum, from prevention, including genetic counseling and testing,
to screening, diagnosis and palliative care, treatment, rehabilitation,
survivorship or hospice care.

Sec. 11.   PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.  Pursuant to

Section 25 of R.A. 11215 declaring cancer patients, persons living
with cancer and cancer survivors as persons with disabilities (PWDs),
the Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) of the City
Government of Puerto Princesa shall facilitate the registration of the
foregoing persons as PWD provided they are residing in this City. As
such, they shall enjoy the same rights and privileges accorded to
PWDs by national and local laws;

Sec. 12. LOCAL CANCER REGISTRY AND

MONITORING SYSTEM.  The CHO shall maintain a cancer
registry of its cancer patients. The registry must record the patients’
profile which include, among others, personal identification of cancer
patients, cancer type, treatment received and its results and other data
that the Department of Health (DOH) may prescribe.

The CHO shall furnish the DOH with a copy of the cancer
registry which covers all forms of cancer among adults and children
and aims to provide a framework for assessing and controlling the
impact of cancer on the community.
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 The cancer registry shall be in accordance with the National
Health Data Standards and R.A. 10173, otherwise known as the “Data
Privacy Act of 2012”.

Sec. 13. ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL ONCOLOGISTS.

All oncology professionals, such as medical oncologists, radiation
oncologists, surgical oncologists, specialized radiation technologists,
medical physicists, oncology nurses, and other specialized oncology
professionals who exercise such professions within the City are
hereby encouraged to form an association and apply for Sangguniang
Panlungsod accreditation.

The duly accredited association shall assist the CHO by

providing technical guidance and support and shall aid in the
implementation of this Ordinance.

Sec. 14. APPROPRIATIONS. - The amount of not less than

One Million Pesos (Php1,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Ordinance shall be included in the annual budget of
the CHO.

Sec. 15. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. In the event that any

section or provision of this Ordinance shall be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain
valid.

Sec. 16. EFFECTIVITY. This Ordinance shall take effect

immediately.

SO ORDAINED.

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