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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Lawmakers vow to establish cancer fund for the poor in honor of Sec. Toots Ople

Lawmakers vow to establish cancer fund for the poor in honor of Sec. Toots Ople

Published Aug 27, 2023 03:54 am

Some senators have expressed their committment to continuously pursue creating a special budget for the treatment of indigent cancer patients. 

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The late Secretary Susan "Toots" Ople of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).           (MB file photo)

 

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said he is eyeing an initial endowment fund of P100-million for indigent cancer patients that would be named after the late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople. 

 

“Yan daw ang pangarap niya, Secretary Toots (Ople) na dahil sa kanyang experience, dahil sa kanyang karanasan, napakamahal ng babayaran ng isang tao lalo na’t may cancer siya. Ang gusto niya (Ople) ay mabigyan sila ng tulong ang ating mga indigent patients (That was Secretary Toots’ dream because of her personal experience, the cost of treatment is so expensive for one cancer patient. She wants to provide help to our indigent patients),” Zubiri said in a recent interview. 

 

“Unfortunately, she passed away before she sees its fruition so ang gagawin po namin (so what we will do), the Senate will spearhead the fund,” he said.

 

House Speaker Martin Romualdez has also agreed to the proposal so the initial amount can be bigger, Zubiri said.

 

“We will see where we can put this under the Department of Health (DOH) or under a specialty hospital, for example PGH (Philippine General Hospital),” he said.

 

“We can also put the funds under the cancer center,” the Senate leder added.

 

Zubiri also said he will discuss the matter with Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, who is currently leading the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing in the Senate on the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024.

 

“Sa tingin ko, walang maghihindi dito. Walang pipigil nito sa Senado. Magkakaroon ito ng full support sa aking mga kasamahan (I don’t think anyone will say no to this. Nobody will stop this in the Senate. This proposal would be fully supported by our colleagues),” Zubiri said. 

 

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also said he will pursue continuously increasing the allocation of the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) especially for next year’s budget. 

 

Go noted there was a successful push to increase the CAF in the 2023 GAA, especially after the proposed budget for 2023 under that year’s budget had initially no allocation for the fund.

 

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate were able to allocate P500-million for it.

 

“I am always one with you in the fight against this disease. In fact, during the budget deliberations last year, I pushed for an additional budget for the cancer assistance fund to subsidize the cost of cancer treatment, including the needed diagnostics and laboratory tests,” said Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

 

For 2024, Go said he hopes to double the amount allocated this year to strengthen the fund and help more cancer patients. 

 

Go noted that the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA), under Republic Act No. 11215, includes CAF as an essential component, offering complimentary financial support to cancer patients in the country.

 

Under Section 20 of NICCA, cancer patients have access to free financial assistance for various needs, including screening tests, specialized treatments, diagnosis, palliative care, and medications.

 

“Ang laban kontra sa kanser ay laban nating lahat. Patuloy tayong magkakaisa upang maabot ang ating pangarap na maging cancer-free ang ating bansa (the fight against cancer is everyone’s fight. We will continue to unite to achieve our dreams of making our country cancer-free),” said Go.

 

"With every fund, service, and support we provide, we take a step closer to better and just health for everyone,” he reiterated. 

 

A longtime advocate for Filipino migrant workers' rights, Ople passed away last August 22, 2023. The daughter of former labor secretary Blas Ople was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2019 and underwent surgery to remove the tumor in 2020. 

 

She was the first person to head the DMW. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said she was the only person he considered for the position due to her commitment and long years of service to the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). 

 

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Senate of the Phiippines cancer fund House of Representatives Toots Ople
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