President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed to stand with children and their families by providing quality healthcare, early diagnosis, necessary treatments, and various forms of medical and financial assistance.
In his speech, President Marcos expressed his commitment to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) Legacy Tower, stating that its advanced capabilities for specialty care shall serve as a beacon of hope for generations of children.
“To our little warriors and their families: You are not alone in this fight. Kami ay nandito po, kasama ninyo at kabalikat ninyo … gagawin (natin) ang lahat upang tulungan ang inyong mga anak na maging malusog at maging malakas. We stand with you, ensuring that quality healthcare, early diagnosis, necessary treatments, and medical assistance for indigent and financially incapacitated patients are accessible to you and to all,” President Marcos said.
“The PCMC Legacy Tower, with its advanced capabilities for specialty care, shall be a beacon of hope for generations of children to come,” he added.
The President noted that PCMC’s newly installed diagnostic imaging machines—the 3 Tesla MRI, the 128-slice CT scan, and the Dynamic DR X-ray machine—will allow faster and more efficient diagnosis for every child.
Recognizing that precise diagnosis can significantly improve the quality of life for children with cancer, President Marcos announced an additional PhP150 million for the upgrading of medical equipment.
“As early cancer diagnosis and prevention of treatment delays can significantly improve the quality of life for children with cancer, a precise diagnosis is crucial. That is why an additional PhP150,000,000 shall be given by the Office of the President, which we just handed over to the PCMC for further equipment upgrading,” he said.
Before concluding his speech, President Marcos thanked the men and women of PCMC for their dedication to the fight against cancer in children.
“That is why I thank the men, women of PCMC— those of you and your white lab coats who bear the invisible battle scars within, and those who simply wear a smile and assist in whatever way they can to make these children’s lives a little better—for remaining committed to the fight against children’s cancer,” the President said.
“Your dedication is felt far beyond the halls of PCMC. Every patient, you are there, making a difference. You remind us that quiet work carries the greatest impact, and that true strength is not about winning the fight but about never giving up,” he added. PND
