JINGGOY PROPOSES P10B CANCER FUND FOR INDIGENT FILIPINOS

WITH the high cost of cancer treatment pushing many Filipinos into debt or worse, forcing them to forgo life-saving care, due to the heavy financial burden on patients and their families, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has proposed the creation of a P10 billion Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund to help indigent and underprivileged Filipinos battling cancer.

“Kapag mahirap ka at may cancer, doble ang bigat na pinapasan mo. Karaniwan na nating naririnig ang panlilimos ng tulong pinansyal ng mahihirap nating kababayan para ipangtustos sa kaanak nilang may iniindang cancer. Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang ito, makakasiguro sila ng agarang tulong sa pagpapagamot ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Mabibigyan sila ng pag-asa na gumaling dahil may pangtustos sa kanilang gastusin,” Estrada said.

Under Senate Bill No. 1057, Estrada is seeking the establishment of a P10 billion cancer fund that will help cover the costs of cancer diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and maintenance medicines.

The program will be administered by PhilHealth through its accredited government hospitals in every congressional district, ensuring that proper assistance reach patients in their own communities.

The fund will specifically benefit indigent and underprivileged cancer patients, to be identified by PhilHealth in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

To ensure transparency and fairness, the measure mandates clear eligibility guidelines, a streamlined application process, and regular audits to safeguard public funds. It also requires that the fund be sustained annually through the national budget.

Estrada stressed that the proposed measure is rooted in compassion and social justice. “This is about giving every Filipino — regardless of income — a fair chance at survival and recovery. Cancer should not be a death sentence for the poor,” he said.

If enacted, the Cancer Medicine and Treatment Assistance Fund for Filipinos will mark a major step towards inclusive healthcare, ensuring that the fight against cancer is not limited by economic status and that every Filipino will have high hopes for survival, Estrada added.