THE national government plans to allocate a record P3.75 billion for the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF) in 2027 to help more Filipinos access essential cancer services as the disease continues to claim nearly 200 lives daily, House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan said Sunday.
The figure is P2.25 billion more, or 150 percent higher, than the P1.5 billion included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
“In the 2027 National Expenditure Program, the P3.75-billion allocation for the CAF is 150 percent higher than the P1.5 billion appropriated for the fund this year,” Libanan said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
The lawmaker said the increased funding aims to expand access to cancer screening, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and other essential medical services.
The CAF is accessible through Department of Health-run hospitals and health facilities nationwide.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 70,668 Filipinos died from cancers in 2025, making the disease the country’s second-leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease. This translates to about 194 deaths daily, accounting for 11.4 percent of all recorded deaths nationwide.
The Philippine Cancer Society has reported more than 150,000 new cancer cases annually.
It said 70,668 Filipinos died from neoplasms, or cancers, in 2025, making the disease the country’s second-leading cause of death after ischemic heart disease, the PSA noted.
“The numbers tell us that cancer is not just a health issue. It also imposes a tremendous financial and social burden on Filipino families,” he said.
“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,” he added.
The proposed P3.75 billion CAF allocation is in addition to the P1.31 billion earmarked for the Cancer Control Program for next year.
Among the government’s priority cancer programs are breast cancer; childhood cancers; gynecologic cancers; liver and other digestive tract cancers, including colorectal cancer; head and neck cancers, including thyroid cancer; lung cancer; and prostate, renal and urinary bladder cancers.
