Congress has increased the allocation for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) to P1.25 billion in a bid to help a greater number of patients fight the disease that is killing 96 Filipinos every day, according to Makati City Rep. Luis Campos Jr.
“The new money for the CAF is P1.25 billion. This is itemized in the 2024 national budget. The amount is 150 percent higher than the P500 million for the CAF in 2023,” he said.
Campos, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay’s husband, is the vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations.
“The CAF will directly benefit cancer patients, persons living with cancer, cancer survivors, and high-risk individuals,” he said.
The country is observing National Cancer Awareness Month.
“The fund will pay for the cost of cancer screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and its care-related components, including the required diagnostics and laboratories for eight priority cancer types,” Campos said.
He credited Speaker Martin Romualdez for the increase in the CAF money.
“The P1.25 billion for the CAF is on top of the P1 billion earmarked this year for the National Integrated Cancer Control Program,” he said.
The CAF may be availed through Department of Health-run hospitals.
At least 96 Filipinos die of cancer-related causes every day, while 184 cancer cases are diagnosed in 100,000 patients, according to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology.
The top five cancers that kill the greatest number of Filipinos are lung cancer, followed by liver, breast, colon and prostate.