Image: Instagram/@niceprintphoto via @alfredvargasofficial
Actor and politician Alfred Vargas could not contain his joy after House Bill No. 8636 or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act was passed into law. Vargas was one of the almost 200 coauthors of the bill, which was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on Feb. 14.
Vargas took to social media where he dedicated his triumph to his mother Susana who died of cancer in 2014.
“Finally! This is for Mom and all the cancer victims, survivor, and every Filipino family who fought endlessly against the big C,” he said via Instagram last Feb. 19.
“Magkakasama tayong lahat sa laban na ito,” he further shared. “At ngayon, lalo pa nating kasama ang gobyerno upang tuluyan nang puksain ang lubos na nakasisirang sakit na ito.”
(We are all together in this fight. And now, all the more are we together with the government to totally eradicate this highly deadly disease.)
The overcome Vargas also told his fans and supporters that today is a time of hope.
“Ito na ang panahon ng pag-asa. Casado na po ang National Integrated Cancer Control Act!” he said. (This is the season of hope. The National Integrated Cancer Control Act is all set.)
According to the Department of Health, there are over 110,0000 new cases of cancer and 66,000 cancer deaths in just a year alone. Meanwhile, cancer incidence in the country would increase by as much as 80 percent by 2030, as per Cancer Coalition Philippines.
The National Integrated Cancer Control Act mandates the adoption of “an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development” which strengthens the cancer control policies, programs and services of the currently existing health care system.
The law also rallies for “affordable and accessible” treatment through a National Integrated Cancer Control Program to prevent deaths from cancer. JB
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