Senators Push for Special Budget to Support Indigent Cancer Patients
In a recent development, several senators have expressed their commitment to creating a special budget aimed at providing treatment for indigent cancer patients. Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has proposed an initial endowment fund of P100 million for this cause, which will be named after the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople.
Zubiri explained that Ople’s personal experience with the high cost of cancer treatment inspired her dream of helping indigent patients. Unfortunately, Ople passed away before she could see her vision come to fruition, prompting the Senate to take the lead in establishing the fund.
Furthermore, House Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed support for the proposal and suggested increasing the initial amount. The senators are considering allocating the funds to the Department of Health (DOH), a specialty hospital, or the cancer center at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Zubiri plans to discuss the matter with Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. He believes that the proposal will receive full support from their colleagues in the Senate.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has also reiterated his commitment to continuously increasing the allocation of the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) in next year’s budget. During the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) deliberations, Go successfully pushed for an additional budget for the CAF after the initial budget had no allocation for it. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate allocated P500 million for the CAF.
Go, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, mentioned that the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) considers the CAF as a crucial component in providing financial support to cancer patients in the country. Under NICCA, cancer patients can access free financial assistance for various needs, including screening tests, specialized treatments, diagnosis, palliative care, and medications.
Go intends to double the amount allocated to the CAF in 2024 to strengthen the fund and assist more cancer patients. He emphasized that the fight against cancer requires collective effort and aims to make the country cancer-free.
It is worth noting that Susan “Toots” Ople, a long-time advocate for Filipino migrant workers’ rights, passed away on August 22, 2023. She was the daughter of former labor secretary Blas Ople and the first person to head the DMW. Her dedication and years of service to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) led President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to consider her the ideal candidate for the position.
With the senators’ unwavering commitment and support from various government officials, the establishment of a dedicated budget for indigent cancer patients seems promising. This development brings hope to those battling cancer and aligns with the broader goal of improving healthcare access for all.
