Philippine National Cancer Summit 2026 Launches Unified "National Cancer Grid" to Tackle 300 Daily Deaths

MANILA, Philippines — Leaders from the medical, government, and civil society sectors have united at the Philippine National Cancer Summit (PNCS) 2026 to launch a transformative movement: the Philippine National Cancer Grid. The initiative aims to transition the country from "pockets of excellence" to a unified, person-centered healthcare system.

The urgency is fueled by a staggering reality from the Globocan report: cancer is now the second leading cause of death in the Philippines, claiming more than 300 lives every day.

"Fragmentation is our biggest challenge," said Dr. Catherine SC Teh, Chair of the PCS Cancer Commission. "We have skilled clinicians, but the burden of integrating care is currently placed on the sick patient rather than the system. Every year, 1.5 million families are pushed into poverty by health expenses. This must change."

The National Cancer Grid serves as a flagship framework to standardize care across regions, integrate data silos, and ensure that no Filipino is left behind. Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa set a bold national target for the initiative: "Our goal is increasing screening, diagnosis, and treatment by 50% by 2028."

The summit emphasized that cancer is a "governance and social equity issue," according to DILG Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon, requiring action beyond hospital walls. Dr. Ravi Kannan, 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, noted that true success requires constant investment in the community, while PhilHealth, represented by Dr. Alfred Philip De Dios, reaffirmed its commitment to covering the full spectrum of care.

The PNCS 2026 calls on all sectors—government, private partners, and every Filipino—to move beyond awareness and into action. By scaling person-centered care through the National Cancer Grid, the Philippines is finally building a system that puts the human being at the heart of the cure.

Scaling Up What Matters Most in Cancer Care

Building on years of collaboration and action, the Philippine National Cancer Summit 2026 brings together leaders, advocates, and partners across sectors to advance person-centered and integrated cancer care for every Filipino.

Join the growing cancer care community shaping policies, strengthening partnerships, and turning shared commitment into real impact—for patients, families, and survivors.

Be part of the movement. Be part of the Summit.

SUMMIT OBJECTIVES

• Accelerate NICCA Implementation: Identify and address institutional bottlenecks to fast-track the full implementation of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act.

• Bridge Policy and Practice: Forge a clear roadmap for translating national health policies into tangible, on-the-ground improvements in patient-centered care.

• Strengthen Multi-sectoral Collaboration: Foster lasting partnerships among government agencies, medical professionals, patient advocates, and the private sector to create a unified and sustainable cancer care ecosystem.

• Empower Patients and Communities: Place the lived experience of patients and their families at the center of policy and program design, ensuring that their voices are heard and valued.

• Advance Data-Driven Decisions: Champion the use of data, digital tools, and research to identify health inequities and create targeted interventions that benefit underserved populations.

MOST OUTSTANDING IN PERSON-CENTEREDNESS

Prize Viela Mae D. Remo, MD (1st Prize)

Exploring Women’s Perspective on Sexual Health of Post Mastectomy vs. Post Lumpectomy Of Breast Cancer Patients in the Department of Surgery, Makati Medical Center

Paulo Miguel Pineda, MD (Runner Up)

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of Women Regarding Breast Cancer Screening Programs  

MOST OUTSTANDING IN INNOVATIVE STRATEGY

Ruby C. Cerdeno, MD (1st Prize)

Precision with Purpose: Integrating Next-Generation Sequencing into Person-Centered Conversion Surgery for Initially Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma — A Two-Case Experience from the Philippines

Matthew A. Sardeng, MD (Runner Up) 

Breinalysis.net: Brain Tumor Analysis in 2D and 3D MR Images Using Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Network Classifier VGG19 and Calibrated U-Net Segmentation

MOST OUTSTANDING IN COLLOBARATIVE WORK/OUTCOMES

Michael Soriano, MD (1st Prize)

Chemotherapy Catastrophic Health Expenditure: A Comparative Analysis of Drug Affordability in Australia and the Philippines

Jaime Vinc Angelo D. Landero, MD (Runner Up)

Diagnostic-to-Treatment Delays in Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer in Western Visayas Medical Center Surgery Out Patient Department