Liver Center of the Philippines Act

Senate Office of the samiretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session DEC -3 P1:32 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S.B. No. 1574 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LIVER CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE It is a fundamental duty of the State to ensure the health and well-being of its citizens. Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that: the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data published in 2020, liver disease caused 7,076 deaths in the Philippines, representing 1.05% of all deaths. The age-adjusted death rate is 8.65 per 100,000 population, ranking the Philippines 135th worldwide. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that, in 2020, liver cirrhosis accounted for 31.8% of liver-related deaths, while malignant neoplasms of the liver comprised 35.8%. Moreover, 27.3% of every 1,000 deaths in the country are associated with liver disease. These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for a dedicated institution to address liver health and prevent the further escalation of liver disease. This bill seeks to establish the Liver Center of the Philippines, a government institution that will provide comprehensive, high-quality care to Filipinos. The Center will offer state-of-the-art diagnosis, management, and treatment of liver diseases, and will conduct essential research in the field. Additionally, it will serve as the lead hospital for training and teaching medical

and paramedical professionals in liver disease treatment and liver transplantation. By doing so, the Center aims to set uniform scientific and professional standards for liver disease management and liver transplant services across the country. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ASANT Dareful RISA HONTIVEROS Senator

Office of the Secretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEG -3 P1:32 SENATE RECEIVED BY S.B. No. 1574 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE LIVER CENTER OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress enabled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Liver Center of the

2 Philippines Act."

Sec. 2. Establishment of the Liver Center of the Philippines. - There is hereby

4 established a national specialty center to be known as the Liver Center of the Philippines, 6 which shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH). It shall offer comprehensive care of patients with liver 7 disorders, including liver transplant e services, strong teaching and training programs, 8 and research capability to serve the Filipino people.

Sec. 3. Purposes and Objectives. - The Liver Center of the Philippines shall

have the following purposes and objectives: a. Establish and operate a liver rehabilitation, treatment or transplant center for the public welfare; b. Offer comprehensive care for patients with liver diseases; c. Conduct training and research on the prevention and treatment of blood liver diseases and those related to liver regeneration and transplant services including sponsorship and conduct of relevant congresses, conventions, seminars and conferences; d. Establish a state-of-the-art liver diseases laboratory including a molecular laboratory;

e. Establish a liver stem cell transplant program and donor registry; f. Recruit and retain voluntary liver donors; g. Collect liver organs from qualified voluntary liver donors; h. Process whole liver into liver components; i. Collect liver components; j. Store, issue, transport, and distribute whole liver to end-user hospitals and non- hospital health facilities; k. Ensure that safe supply of liver and liver products to all hospitals and other health facilities are adequate in terms of distribution and delivery; I. Implement and monitor quality assurance to selected regional liver centers; m. Test liver infections; and n. Provide special and confirmatory tests and perform liver examinations.

Sec. 4. Powers and Functions. - The Liver Center of the Philippines shall have

the following powers and functions: a. Serve as an apex hospital or end-referral facility which shall specialize in liver care and diseases; b. Establish and maintain professional and technical educational systems for the sustained development of the necessary manpower to manage and operate its affairs and business; c. Provide technical assistance and capacity building in the establishment of liver specialty centers in accordance with Republic Act No. 11959, otherwise known as the "Regional Specialty Centers Act"; d. Invest its funds as it may deem proper and necessary, but subject to applicable rules and regulations, in any activity related to the Liver Center of the Philippines, including in any bonds or securities and guaranteed by the Government of the Philippines; e. Acquire assets, real or personal, interest therein and encumber or otherwise dispose the same as it may deem proper and necessary in the conduct of its business; f. Borrow money from local or foreign sources as may be necessary for its operations, subject to applicable laws, rules and regulations;

g. Accept any gifts, contributions, endowments, grants, bequests and devices of any kind of real or personal property which are necessary and proper for the attainment of the purpose of the hospitals; and h. Perform such acts and exercise such functions as may be necessary and proper for the attainment of the purposes and objectives herein specified.

Sec. 5. Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director. - The Liver Center

of the Philippines shall be headed by the Executive Director who shall have the 8 following duties and responsibilities: a. Provide overall direction and strategic leadership to the Liver Center of the Philippines toward the provision of high-quality health services; b. Oversee all managerial and administrative processes and operations of all departments of the Liver Center of the Philippines; c. Supervise daily activities of functional units; d. Ensure high standards in clinical training for medical and allied medical personnel; e. Execute, on behalf of the hospital, all contracts and agreements which the hospital may enter into and accomplish and deliver any and all documents relative to such contracts and agreements, subject to the approval of the DOH Secretary; f. Represent the hospital in all dealing with other offices, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government and all other persons or entities, whether domestic or foreign and whether government or private; and g. Exercise such other powers and perform such duties as may be vested or reposed by the DOH.

Sec. 6. Program for Indigents. - The DOH shall ensure that the Liver Center of

the Philippines adopts and implements a program for indigent patients needing liver or liver-related products, as well as for patients with liver diseases, in accordance with the implementing guidelines on the classification of patients for the availment of Medical Social Services in government hospitals.

Sec. 7. Exemption from Taxes. - All donations, endowments, contributions,

grants and bequests used actually, directly and exclusively for and in accordance with

the purposes and functions of the Liver Center of the Philippines shall be exempt from donor's tax, and the same shall be considered as allowable deductions from gross income for purposes of computing the taxable income of the donors, in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. The Liver Center of the Philippines shall be exempt from income tax and 6 customs duty levied by the government and its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities subject to the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended and Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act." The Liver Center of the Philippines shall avail of the tax expenditure subsidy administered by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, subject to the provisions of Title 12 XIII (Tax Incentives) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, Executive Order No. 93, as amended, and the General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 8. Contracts. - The Liver Center of the Philippines shall have the authority

to enter into contracts with any person or entity, domestic or foreign and with government for the undertaking of the varied aspects of the Liver Center, including the acquisition, by way of purchase, lease, rent or other deferred payment arrangements of equipment and/or raw materials and supplies, as well as for services connected therewith under such terms and conditions as it may deem proper and reasonable. In the acquisition and disposal of property real or personal, a bidding process shall be necessary to conform to the requirements of public bidding as provided for in Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act 24 and related laws.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the approval of this Act, the DOH shall, in consultation with other stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation

of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the concerned departments and agencies. Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid

or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,

and other issuances or parts thereof, which are contrary to or inconsistent with this 5 Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. Approved,