House Speaker Martin Romualdez (leftmost) gives comfort to cancer-striken children during the townhall meeting at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) on July 17, 2023. (Speaker’s office)




As he spoke with and held cancer-striken children in his arms, House Speaker Martin Romualdez opened up on the government's plan to construct the Philippine Cancer Center (PCC). Romualdez attended on Monday afternoon, July 17 a townhall meeting at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City wherein he vowed to help address the various problems of indigent cancer patients and their families. He said the House understands the need for a cancer research program in the country to make available to local patients the latest innovations in the field of cancer treatment. The proposed PCC will soon rise in Quezon City for this purpose, the House leader said. “Ang Philippine Cancer Center ay isa sa magiging legacy project ng administrasyong Marcos. Magsisilbi itong pagamutan ng mga may cancer, research facility at training ground na rin para sa ating mga cancer specialists na tututok sa mga lugar outside Metro Manila,” he said. (The Philippine Canter Center will be among the legacy projects of the Marcos administration. It will serve as a medical facility for cancer patients, as well as a research facility and training ground for our cancer specialists who will be sent outside Metro Manila). Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative, thanked Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte after she announced that the city council was amenable to remove the standing height restriction under the city’s ordinance for buildings, particularly for the envisioned PCC. Speaker Romualdez said the House will also look for funding to continue the “Lungsod ng Kabataan” project initiated by former First Lady Imelda Marcos. The project is meant to make the child’s hospital stay a soothing and comfortable experience. It will serve also as a temporary shelter or halfway house for young cancer patients and their parents who traveled from the province to Metro Manila in order to get treatment. “What we are doing is all about inclusive governance. Sa Bagong Pilipinas (In the New Philippines), needs will prevail and every centavo spent will redound to the benefit of our people. Cancer patients will be a priority,” he added referring to the government’s rebranding efforts under President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world with 10 million fatalities recorded since 2020. The most common forms of cancer are lung cancer, breast cancer, colon and rectal cancer, and prostate cancer.