President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to pursue the completion of new specialty centers for cancer patients.

Ongoing projects such as the UP-PGH Cancer Center and the Philippine Cancer Center of the Department of Health (DOH) would be “Godsend”facilities for patients suffering from the disease.

“The UP-PGH Cancer Center is the first PPP to be approved in this administration. Together with the Philippine Cancer Center of the DOH, which broke ground last March, these two specialty hospitals will soon join our nation’s fight against cancer,” President Marcos said during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

“These centers will be a Godsend to the more than four hundred thousand Filipinos who are afflicted with this deadly disease,” he added.

The Chief Executive also reported the increased PhilHealth coverage for patients suffering from breast and colon cancer.

“Upang mapaigting pa ang paglaban natin sa cancer, tinaasan ng PhilHealth nang mahigit isanlibong porsyento ang benepisyo para sa pagpapagamot ng breast cancer. Ang dating limit na isandaang libong piso, ngayon ay ginawa na nating 1.4 million pesos,” he said.

“Ang benepisyo naman para sa colon cancer ay pinag-ibayo na rin. At bago matapos ang taon, maisasama na rin sa mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth ang chemotherapy para sa cancer sa baga, atay, ovary, at prostate,” he added. PND