Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is eyeing to increase the number of government-run dialysis centers in the province should he get the highest post in the country.

Marcos said Tuesday, Dec. 14, that he wants that more Filipinos would have access to essential services, such as dialysis centers, after a recent webinar tackling COVID-19 and Dialysis showed that one person dies of kidney failure every hour and that about 35,000 Filipinos undergo dialysis.

According to him, the plight of patients who are going to Manila from provinces only to avail of dialysis services should be looked into.

"Imbes na sana ipambili na ng gamot at bitamina nila ay napupunta pa sa other expenses katulad ng pamasahe o pangungupahan (Instead of just using their money for medicines, they use it for other expenses, such as fare and rent) We need to build more dialysis centers in the provinces para hindi na sila bumiyahe o mangungupahan (so they won't have to travel or rent a place,” he said.

Marcos said that if he were elected president, he would form a task force that would coordinate with the local government units and other government agencies to also ensure free dialysis treatment for patients.

"Balak din nating gawing libre ‘yung pagda-dialysis, ang mahalaga dito ay maisalba natin sila sa paghihirap at madugtungan natin ‘yung kanilang buhay. Hirap na sila sa buhay, hirap pa magpagamot kaya makikipag-ugnayan tayo sa lokal na pamahalaan at sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na responsable sa ganitong sitwasyon (We also plan to make it free. What's important here is we save the patients from the burden. They're already financially challenged. So we will coordinate with the local government units that are responsible for this situation)," he said.