Recognizing their courage and perseverance, Sen. Bong Go remains committed to bringing hope and support to Filipino cancer patients as he lauded the 5th Anniversary of Touch of Love on Thursday, 15 December at Sto. Niño Elementary School in San Mateo, Rizal.

Touch of Love is a non-profit organization founded in 2018. It was formed after John Paul Culiao, a leukemia patient, expressed his vision to encourage and give hope to other children who are battling cancer.

"Talaga pong malapit sa aking puso ang mga kabataang Pilipino kaya naman sobrang humahanga ako lalo sa ating mga batang kahit na mahirap ang kanilang pinagdadaanan nang dahil sa sakit na cancer ay buong tapang nila ito hinaharap at patuloy pa rin silang lumalaban," remarked Go in his video message.

"Nais ko naman pasalamatan ang lahat ng bumubuo ng Touch of Love dahil patuloy niyong binibigyan ng pag-asa ang ating mga kabataang cancer patients. Marahil naiisip ng ating mga kabataan na naging madaya ang panahon sa kanila pero ipagpatuloy lang natin ang malasakit sa kanila at huwag tayong magsasawang bigyan sila ng maganda na buhay dahil kinakailangan po talaga nila tayo ngayon," he acknowledged.

Go, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, reaffirmed his commitment to support more programs and measures to help ease the burden of Filipino cancer patients and their families.

Previously, the Department of Health launched the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF), which Go persistently pushed to be included in the government's 2022 budget. He also pushed the same for the 2023 General Appropriations Act, amounting to PhP500M.

"I am always one with you in the fight against this disease. In fact, during the budget deliberations last year, I pushed for an additional budget for the cancer assistance fund to subsidize the cost of cancer treatment, including the needed diagnostics and laboratory tests," recounted Go.

"With the support of my colleagues in the Senate, we were able to add PhP529 million for this program in the 2022 budget," he cited.