President Marcos has approved the P9.49 billion increase for the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Cancer Center and the Department of Education’s master plan for equal access to education.
The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, approved the initiatives during its 15th meeting on Thursday, April 25.
The budget for the UP-PGH Cancer Center, which had an increase of P3.44 billion, will cover the higher construction cost as the built-up area was expanded from 20 to 27 floors.
It will also cover the procurement of cutting-edge technology and equipment to provide patients and medical students with world-class services and facilities for education.
The UP-PGH updated the bidding documents to comply with the PPP mode of procurement to cover the additional expenses, NEDA said.
The UP-PGH Cancer Center will be a 300-bed hospital providing state-of-the-art cancer treatment to both charity and paying patients.
It will also serve as a teaching and research facility to meet the country's demand for more medical professionals specializing in cancer prevention and treatment.
The Cancer Center will also be a critical component of a healthcare ecosystem for precision medical treatment that includes the Philippine Genome Center and Science and Medical Technology Parks.
The hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and will start operations by early 2028.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that cancer was the second leading cause of death in 2022, with lung, breast and liver cancers topping the mortality list.
On the other hand, the NEDA board also approved the DepEd’s Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) for 2030 and the MATATAG Agenda, which aims to provide all children, out-of-school youth, and adults with equal access to quality basic education.
The BEDP 2030, which will be implemented through the MATATAG Agenda, comprises four critical components, namely: (1) MAking the curriculum relevant; (2) TAking steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education facilities and services; (3) TAking good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and (4) Giving support to teachers to be able to teach better.
The BEDP 2030 and the MATATAG Agenda are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 on providing quality education and is also consistent with AmBisyon Natin 2040 and the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, NEDA stated.
"As we envision Filipinos enjoying the benefits of livable communities, the government remains committed to providing them with basic needs such as healthcare and education toward sustained improvements in their overall quality of life," said Arsenio M. Balisacan, NEDA secretary and NEDA board vice-chair.