The Quezon City government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) to expand quality cancer care in the city.

The agreement, signed on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the presence of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) and the Quezon City Health Department, coincided with the observance of World Cancer Day and marked Quezon City’s official onboarding as a C/Can City. 

The partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing equitable, accessible, and high-quality cancer services through sustained systems strengthening and multi-sector collaboration.

Quezon City, the largest local government unit in Metro Manila with an estimated population of 3.2 million, faces a growing cancer burden. 

National data show cancer as the second leading cause of death among Filipinos, with lung, liver, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers among the most prevalent. 

“This partnership with City Cancer Challenge is a significant step toward strengthening our collective response to cancer. By working closely with local and international partners, we aim to make quality cancer care more accessible and equitable for every Filipino,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said. 

The partnership with C/Can is expected to help address gaps in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care delivery.

Quezon City’s inclusion in the C/Can network also builds on recent policy reforms. 

In 2024, the Quezon City Council passed City Ordinance SP-3285, S-2024, institutionalizing what is considered the country’s first integrated cancer control policy. 

The ordinance established a comprehensive framework to address cancer through coordinated prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship programs.

City Cancer Challenge, a global initiative that works with cities in low- and middle-income countries, supports locally led efforts to transform how cancer care is planned and delivered. 

It brings together stakeholders from government, hospitals, health authorities, civil society groups, and patient organizations to identify priority needs and implement long-term, community-driven solutions.

Under the partnership, C/Can will work with local and national partners in Quezon City to co-create tailored and scalable interventions aimed at improving cancer care services and expanding equitable access nationwide. 

Quezon City becomes C/Can’s 17th city globally and joins a growing network of urban leaders committed to reimagining cancer care.

C/Can CEO Isabel Mestres said the collaboration highlights Quezon City’s leadership in building inclusive and sustainable cancer systems. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Quezon City into the C/Can network. This collaboration underscores the city’s leadership and commitment to building sustainable, inclusive cancer care. Together, we will translate local innovation into global learning that advances equitable cancer care for everyone, everywhere,” she said. 

The initiative in Quezon City will follow C/Can’s ten-year City Engagement Process Framework, a step-by-step, locally driven model designed to identify system gaps and mobilize solutions. 

Implementation will be guided by a City Executive Committee, supported by a dedicated city manager and C/Can experts, to ensure programs respond directly to community needs.