BOI approves advanced cancer treatment project in Philippines
(Manila Bulletin file photo)
The Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the registration of the country’s most advanced cancer treatment technology yet, poised to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to offer more precise and non-invasive care for Filipino patients.
In a statement on Monday, Aug. 11, the BOI said it has approved the ₱334-million project of CyberKnife Radiotherapy Service of Asian Hospital Inc. (AHI).
The CyberKnife system, which will operate within the Asian Cancer Institute, is a robotic radiosurgery platform capable of addressing both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
The medical device uses real-time robotic targeting and AI motion tracking to deliver radiation from multiple angles with extreme precision.
This is expected to reduce exposure to healthy tissues and minimize treatment from the typical 28 to 39 sessions to just one to five sessions.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said such a project is aligned with the country’s efforts to foster healthcare infrastructure and promote high-impact investments.
“We are proud to support forward-looking investments like CyberKnife that harness state-of-the-art technology to address the country’s pressing public health needs,” said Roque.
AHI is set to begin the commercial operations CyberKnife this month, with plans to expand to other facilities beyond Asian Cancer Institute already underway.
AHI, in particular, is expected to partner with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center to serve pediatric cancer patients through the government’s no balance billing (NBB) program.
As a BOI-registered firm, AHI will enjoy a range of fiscal incentives such as tax holidays, tax credits, and additional deduction for labor expenses, among others.
In a related development, the BOI said it has reached a major milestone in the Kalayaan 2 Wind Power Project of Laguna Wind Energy Corp. through its One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSACSI).
The agency said the company has successfully transported turbine components to the project site, with installation and commissioning activities set to begin immediately.
Upon completion, the Kalayaan 2 Wind Power Project is expected to generate 100.8 megawatts (MW) of clean energy.