Senator Joel Villanueva lauded the passage of Senate Bill No. 1850 or “An Act Institutionalizing A National Integrated Cancer Control Program and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”
The bill, which Villanueva authored, was passed on third and final reading with 18 affirmative votes. It institutionalizes a National Integrated Cancer Control Program by integrating cancer consciousness into schools’ curriculum, strengthening patient and family-centered cancer control programs, increasing public funding for robust prevention of cancer, better screening, and most importantly, making cancer treatment and care affordable for all, especially to our poor kababayan.
“Kung mayroon pong komprehensibong plano at sapat na pondo laban sa cancer, mas matututukan po ang problema at matutulungan din natin ang ating mga manggagawang dumaranas ng sakit na ito lalo na po at napag-alaman noon pa na pito sa bawat sampung pasyente ang hindi nagpapatuloy sa pagpapagamot dahil sa kawalan ng sapat na pinansya,” the seasoned legislator said.
“Seven out of 10 cancer patients cannot afford treatment because of lack of financial support.”
“Sa tindi po ng problema ng ating mga kababayan dahil sa sakit na cancer at sa taas po ng bilang ng mga cancer-stricken Pinoy, napapanahon po ang pagpasa ng batas na ito sa Senado upang magkaroon ng abot-kayang pagpapagamot para sa ating mga kababayan na dumaranas ng cancer,” the veteran legislator added.
“Malaking pasasalamat din kay Sen. JV Ejercito na principal author at sponsor ng panukalang ito, gayundin sa mga kapwa nating mambabatas na sumuporta sa pagpasa nitong panukalang batas,” the senator added.
The Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society found out that the Philippines has the highest prevalence of breast cancer among 197 countries. In 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (lARC) revealed that there were 269 new adult cancer cases in the Philippines every day.
Furthermore, the Cancer Coalition of the Philippines said that around 3,900 children are diagnosed with cancer yearly and that the average survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer is only at 30 percent.
Around 3,900 children are diagnosed with cancer yearly and that the average survival rate of children diagnosed with cancer is only at 30 percent.
The Philippines observes the National Cancer Consciousness Week – a very laudable initiative that stresses the synchronization of efforts by both public and private organizations towards the prevention and control of cancer.
“We hope that the immediate passage of this important measure will ensure quality health care for all Filipino children and adults with cancer by increasing investments for the prevention, early and accurate detection, and optimal treatment for all forms of cancer,” Villanueva concluded.
