SENATOR Joseph Victor Ejercito confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte has already signed Republic Act 11215, an act institutionalizing a national integrated cancer control program.
The senator, who has roots in Negros Occidental, said the signing of the said measure on February 14 was "heartwarming which turned as his Valentine presents to cancer patients and their families all over the country."
Ejercito, principal author and sponsor of the measure at the Senate, thanked various civic organizations and stakeholders including the Cancer Coalition Philippines for their support while it was still under deliberation.
Ejercito, also the author of the Universal Health Care measure, said the law would address the various gaps in the cancer care continuum and integrated solutions.
It mandates a more focused prevention and integrated cancer program that would improve the "survivorship" of cancer patients, noting that the dreaded illness is the third leading cause of adult death and fourth in child mortality, he added.
The Philippine Cancer Facts and Estimates of the Department of Health (DOH) reported an alarming increase in the incidence of cancer, estimating up to eight deaths per day for childhood cancer and up to 11 new cases and seven deaths every hour for adult cancer.
These account to approximately 110,000 new cancer cases and over 66,000 cancer deaths each year, it added. (CNC)