Around 150 cancer and dialysis patients living in Manila were given financial aid courtesy of the Manila local government on Friday, October 25, as part of its "People's Day" celebration.
Held at the city hall, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto led the distribution event, where they also had the chance to talk to the beneficiaries and learn their experiences in fighting the ailments.
The officials also informed them about the programs and initiatives the city government is initiating to aid in their fight for survival.
In June of this year, the mayor, together with Manila 5th District Rep. Irwin Tieng, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the five-story building of the Manila Cancer Center (MCC) which will provide free medical services for those suffering from cancer.
MCC will be located inside the compound of the Ospital ng Maynila and will be named after the late Gov. Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez, the father of Speaker Romualdez.
Ospital ng Maynila is one of six public hospitals being run by the local government providing free medical services to the residents of Manila.
According to Tieng, MCC will have the essential equipment for cancer patients, such as a CT scan machine and a linear accelerator, to provide them with non-invasive radiation therapy.
For her part, Pangan thanked the lawmaker for supporting her administration's efforts to provide a wide range of free health services for those who cannot afford them.