President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday inaugurated the Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center at the OFW Hospital in Pampanga.
Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data that ranks cancer as the second leading cause of death in the country from January to May this year, the President emphasized the urgency of building facilities to support patients.
“Aggressive as this terrible disease is, we need to be equally aggressive in providing treatment for our patients—to give them hope, to provide them with care, and to make them feel at home when they need it most,” Mr. Marcos said.
The cancer care center, set to occupy the hospital’s second floor, will function as an outpatient department and treatment facility.
It is expected to accommodate 64 patients and offer chemotherapy, diagnostic services, surgical oncology, and other treatments.
Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2025, with completion targeted for November 2025. Afterward, the center is slated to open in early 2026, pending required permits and certifications from the Department of Health (DOH).
The new cancer care center aims to alleviate the hospital’s strained capacity while strengthening the government’s commitment to OFWs and their families.