Cancer patients in Tanay and nearby municipalities in Rizal Province will soon have greater access to medical care, as the country’s first municipality-funded cancer treatment center is set to be constructed in the area.

The Tanay municipal government announced that it will establish the country’s first municipality-funded and free-standing cancer treatment center through a partnership with the private healthcare group Prime Cancer Treatment Center Inc. (PCTCI), a sister company of Detoxicare Phils Inc.

Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco led local officials in signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PCTCI for the construction of the Tanay Cancer Treatment Center (TCTC).

Aside from the mayor, also present during the MOA signing were former Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco and Dr. Gjay Ordinal, managing director of PCTCI. Other local officials, including Sangguniang Bayan members and executives from PCTCI, likewise witnessed the signing ceremony held recently.

They also led the groundbreaking ceremony for the project, which will rise inside the Tanay National Government Complex in Barangay Tandang Kutyo, which is expected to give life-saving care to cancer patients in Tanay and nearby towns in Rizal.

“Only in the Philippines, LGU-Tanay lamang, mayroon ganitong cancer treatment center. Kaya ito ang ating pagsisikap ng ating pamahalaan at ito yung kolaborasyon ng ating Sangguniang Bayan (Only in the Philippines, LGU-Tanay alone, has this kind of cancer treatment center. That is why this is our government's effort and this is the collaboration of our Sanggunian Bayan)," the mayor said.

“This will be done by our government, the building, but the operation, the equipment, and the machines will be provided by Prime Cancer Treatment Center,” Tanjuatco added.

Ordinal, for his part, said the center will serve as a beacon of hope and change, not just for cancer patients and their families, but for the entire community of Tanay.

Aside from chemotherapy, the center will also provide innovative and targeted treatments like monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors once operational. The center will also have an available social worker who will assist patients in accessing charitable institutions to help make treatments accessible to all.

“Because of this cancer center, it will be easier to access quality treatment for our fellow patients here in Tanay and nearby towns. Our patients won't need to travel far anymore, which will greatly help reduce their expenses on transportation and will lighten the burden on their families,” Ordinal emphasized.

“This is an important step towards more equitable healthcare services for everyone, regardless of their status or location. Sama-sama nating itatatag ang isang kinabukasan where every Filipino has the chance to fight and win against cancer (Together we will establish a future where every Filipino has the chance to fight and win against cancer)," the PCTCI official said.

The mayor described the initiative as a whole-of-government approach to making cancer treatment more affordable and accessible for the Tanay residents and those from the neighboring towns as well.

“Pagtulung-tulungan natin na mabigyan ng magandang health services ang ating mga kababayan. Nasabi nating nawawalan ng pag-asa, pero ngayon, bibigyan natin ang pag-asa para sila muling bumangon sa kanilang karamdaman (Let's work together to provide good health services to our countrymen. We have said that they are losing hope, but now, we will give them hope so that they can rise again from their illness)," the mayor said.