The Christmas season always brings back memories of Tatay Digong, as it is our time to visit cancer patients in our hometown in Davao City. It was our way of giving them hope that made them happy.

We also made a point of attending the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer Inc.’s Survivors’ Day, where we would reunite with cancer patients who had previously suffered from the illness and now live life to the fullest as cancer-free patients.

The House of Hope has been a sanctuary for children with cancer, providing not just medical support but also a loving environment for patients and their families.

On 8 December, we were in Lanang, Davao City, to commemorate the Thanksgiving and Survivors’ Day of the foundation with Ms. Minda Cruz, President of the House of Hope and Dr. Mae Dolendo, head of the Children’s Cancer Institute of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

The thanksgiving celebration is dedicated to children and adolescents undergoing or who have completed cancer treatment.

During the event, I could not help but remember how Tatay Digong and I used to visit the House of Hope. He always has a soft spot for cancer patients, especially children. For sure, when he is in the Philippines, he would be celebrating the milestone again with them.

Despite his physical absence, I carry with me his values and legacy in taking care of cancer patients.

That is why I want to continue to emphasize the importance of the Cancer Assistance Fund (CAF). Over the years, as the former Chairperson and now the Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, we have consistently pushed for an increase in the budget for CAF year after year, which is a key component of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) or the Republic Act No. 11215. Through this, it eased the financial burdens faced by patients and families.

We have also persistently advocated for improvements in the benefits offered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), understanding how vital this support is for patients grappling with serious illnesses. Following numerous appeals from us, PhilHealth committed to introducing an expanded range of benefit packages addressing the country’s top mortality illnesses.

These now cover treatments like chemotherapy for cancer patients, therapy for severe cardiac conditions, and a range of diagnostic services, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. The benefits have also been extended to medical transportation services and critical assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and crutches.

As your senator, I am one of the authors and the principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 11959, which mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing Department of Health (DOH) regional hospitals.

Through this law, SPMC now has specialty centers such as the Cancer Institute and the Kidney and Transplant Institute, bringing advanced medical services closer to patients. These centers help ease the burden on families by reducing the need for costly travel and accommodation in the capital, especially for those living in far-flung areas.

As we move forward, may we continue to draw inspiration from our cancer warriors—their strength, resilience, and hope remind us of our duty to serve with compassion, especially during this season of giving.

On the first day of the Bicameral Conference Committee discussions on the proposed 2026 national budget, we reiterated the urgency to address the double whammy that poor Filipino patients had to endure.

First, the P60 billion excess funds of PhilHealth were unconstitutionally transferred back to the National Treasury in 2024.

Second, PhilHealth was slapped with zero budget for 2025 — one of the reasons why I did not sign the bicam report last year.

Strong health defender

Right from the very start, I already expressed strong disapproval of the immoral fund transfer. Despite provisions found on the General Appropriations Act of 2024, which authorized the Executive Department to transfer excess funds from various Government Owned and Controlled Corporations, I have argued from day one that under the Universal Health Care Law, PhilHealth funds should only be used for PhilHealth.

The Executive Department, through the Department of Finance, should have spared the funds of PhilHealth. Ang pondo ng Philhealth ay para health!

As the then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I presided over 14 public hearings to provide a venue and voice for Filipinos on their health concerns. We pushed for critical issues, including the long-overdue Health Emergency Allowance for healthcare workers, and took a strong, unwavering stand against the PhilHealth Fund transfer. In the first place, PhilHealth could have avoided having excesses if it had utilized the funds optimally to increase case rates and expand benefits early on — before we even raised and urged such reforms during our hearings.

With the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision that the transfer of PhilHealth’s funds violated the law, we will be vigilant so that Filipinos can utilize health funds for their health concerns.

Meanwhile, we attended the Bicameral Conference Committee Meeting on 13 December in Pasay City as one of the Senate conferees, where I emphasized the urgent need to restore and properly utilize the approximately P60 billion in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds ordered returned by the Supreme Court.

I stressed that these funds should be directed straight to essential health services, especially for Filipinos who need medical assistance the most. I further underscored the importance of transparency in the approval and use of public funds, reminding everyone that these are people’s funds that must translate into accessible and quality services for our people.

Also, on 11 December, we personally aided the 295 fire victims in Caloocan City. The previous week, our Malasakit Team also went to the grassroots and aided our various kababayans as they gave immediate assistance to fire victims in Cebu City, and typhoon victims in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

We also gave additional assistance to displaced workers in Batad, Estancia, and Dueñas, Iloilo; Loboc, Bohol; Pasig City; and Cagayan de Oro City.

Our team likewise attended the turnover ceremony of the new Super Health Center in Pikit, North Cotabato.

As Mr. Malasakit, I will continue to serve my fellow Filipinos dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.