July
2006-June 2007: Cancer Abatement & Rehabilitation Efforts (CARE) Program
In the field of research and training, the Foundation continued its linkage with two community-based cancer registries in the cities of Bacolod and Davao whiles a new initiative to support the Rizal Cancer Registry particularly its personnel in 2006 was made. One of its flagship projects, the cancer registry project is a developmental approach in the fight against cancer. Data generated by the research is used in designing information-education campaigns for the prevention or early detection of the type of cancer prevalent in the area. Registry data is also fed to the regional Center for Health Development offices for the same purpose, and for inclusion in national statistics.
A good indicator of the relevance of the registries is the fact that the projects received funding from other institutions, after Foundation support had ended. From 2000 to 2004, the Foundation released over P1.5 million to these two registries. When funding support was completed, the provincial government of Negros Occidental continued to fund the Bacolod registry, while the one in Davao received support from the regional office of the Department of Health. On the other hand, the Rizal Cancer Registry received funding commitment from the Department of Health for the year 2007.
 
Still under the research and training component, the Foundation also sponsored the 20th Andres Soriano Jr. Memorial Lectures for the year 2006. Aimed at increasing awareness on cancer, the Lecture Series started off in the early 80s as a purely medical lecture, meant only for oncologists and other related medical professionals. Then, discussions were quite scientific, with topics often being updates on cancer treatment modalities. In the mid-90s, the lectures started to become “more layman” in approach, targeting students, teachers, even nuns and priests. This year’s lecture in General Santos City focused on the Basics of Cancer and Anti-Smoking Campaign and the audience largely consisted of local care givers from both private and public hospitals
 The second component of the CARE Program is the one that allows the Foundation contact with the poor. Through the UP-PGH Cancer Institute/Andres Soriano Jr. Cancer Center, the Foundation is able to serve around 400 out-patients daily with free medical consultation, free ward confinement, and medical social services. The Cancer Center can accommodate 51 adult in-patients and 8 pediatric in-patients. It also houses the Munting Paraiso for pediatric cancer patients, a recreational center built and supported by noted hairstylist Ricky Reyes and the Avon Breast Cancer Clinic. In partnership with the Cancer Institute, a “Cancer Center Chemo Fund” was established to help solely indigent cancer patients being treated at the CI. The Foundation has so far donated some P300,000 since 2005 and has made a commitment to continue supporting the same. The Fund is being managed by the CI Foundation of the UP-PGH and its allocation is overseen by the Center’s Medical Social Services.
Aside from directly serving cancer patients, the Center is also home to the Oncology Library. The Library is a valuable resource center for medical students and practicing oncologists. Its collection of medical books, journals and periodicals come not only from abroad but are also donated by local doctors. The Foundation annually provides P104,000 for the continued operations of the Oncology Library.
Funding for the maintenance of the Center, particularly for minor repairs and rehabilitation work, is taken from a Maintenance Fund set-up by the Foundation and managed by the University of the Philippines-Manila. The Maintenance Fund amounts to some P2.2 million; a portion of its interest income is used for the maintenance of the Center while the rest is returned to the corpus fund. Lately, the Foundation has renovated the entire flooring of the Oncology Library and donated a brand new air-conditioning unit to improve the ventilation of the room.
 The component on consensus building is how the Foundation gets to meet and work with cancer support groups and advocates from all over the country, with the purpose of strengthening the Philippine Cancer Control Program (PCCP). The Foundation annually co-sponsors the National Conference of Community-based Cancer Care Networks, which provides support groups with the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns and share experiences and possible solutions.
The
ASF-PCS Cancer Fund
The Cancer Fund is managed by the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) and its utilization is decided upon by an Executive Committee composed by some officers from both the Foundation and the Society. It is through the Cancer Fund that the Foundation is able to widen its reach by granting partial subsidy to projects or activities of other institutions and organizations also involved in cancer treatment and management.
Since the Cancer Fund’s establishment in 1999, the Foundation has been able to support such projects as the printing of chemotherapy books for children with cancer, the publication of medical oncology training manuals, national conventions of cancer support groups, provincial lectures, the establishment of community-based cancer registries and the maintenance of an oncology library. Following the new direction of the Foundation in terms of its Fellowship Program, the Foundation in partnership with the Philippine Oncology Nurses’ Association provided a grant amounting to P300,000 with the objective to further enhance oncology nursing practice in the Philippines. The grant was used to fund a two-part seminar on Cancer Chemotherapy: Its trends, issues and concerns attended by over 120 oncology nurses all over the country.
As of June 2005, the Cancer Fund stands at P15.6 million. As with most endowment funds, only 80% of the Cancer Fund’s interest income is used for programs and projects while the remaining 20% is plowed back to the principal. For the Year 2006, P1.1 million was used to support part of the Nursing Oncology Training, plus regular annual activities such as the provincial conventions and lectures.
“The
word ‘cancer’ is arresting and fearsome. When we see it in print, we want
to read what is written about it, hoping to learn that a breakthrough has been
made for curing the dreaded disease permanently. The Andres Soriano (Cancer
Research) Foundation is dedicated to the support of endeavors to attain the
ultimate goal in cancer diagnosis, treatment and cure.”
―
Andres Soriano Cancer Research Fund, 1975 Annual Report
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