House sets P3.75 billion fund for cancer patients

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The national government plans to spend P3.75 billion for the cancer assistance fund or CAF in 2027 to help more Filipinos access essential cancer services, as the disease continues to claim nearly 200 lives daily.

House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said yesterday that the amount under the 2027 National Expenditure Program is 150 percent higher than the P1.5 billion appropriated for CAF this year.

“As members of Congress, it is our duty not only to scrutinize how public funds are allocated, but also to inform the people where their money is going, especially when it comes to programs that directly affect their health and welfare,” Libanan said.

He added that the increased funding aims to help more Filipinos gain access to cancer screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and other essential medical services.

“The numbers tell us that cancer is not just a health issue. It also imposes a tremendous financial and social burden on Filipino families. The CAF can help ease that burden and ensure that a cancer diagnosis does not automatically force a family to choose between life-saving treatment and putting food on the table,” Libanan said.

Aside from the P3.75-billion allocation for CAF, the House of Representatives earmarked P1.31 billion for the Cancer Control Program in 2027.

In June, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that 70,668 Filipinos died from neoplasms or cancers last year, making it the country’s second-leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease.

The number translates to around 194 cancer-related deaths daily and accounted for 11.4 percent of all recorded deaths nationwide.

The Philippine Cancer Society reported that more than 150,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed in the country annually.

The government’s priority cancer programs cover breast, childhood and gynecologic cancers, liver and other digestive tract cancers, head and neck cancers and lung cancer, among others.