Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 3) — A ₱6-billion cancer center project expected to provide high-quality and affordable services got the green light from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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The government said the hospital, with a lot area of 3,000 square meters, will be located inside the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) campus in Manila and will be the Marcos administration’s first private-public partnership project.
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“The NEDA Board approved the solicited build-operate-transfer (BOT) proposal for the cancer center which will offer comprehensive, high-quality oncology care services while helping pay for itself for over 30 years,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters in a Palace briefing on Friday.
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Under a BOT arrangement, the government enters a deal with a private partner which will finance, build, and operate the project over a specified period, during which it is allowed to charge facility users.
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The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) explained that the state-owned UP-PGH will provide the site at no cost, transfer its existing equipment to the cancer institute, provide clinical services to non-paying charity patients, assume all associated costs of clinical manpower, drugs, and consumables, as well as undertake clinical teaching and research.
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After the fixed term, the private entity then transfers the facility to the government.
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“The project will upgrade the existing PGH capacity of 300 beds plus outpatient care to be integrated in a new dedicated cancer hospital that will modernize UP-PGH health infrastructure,” Balisacan said.
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According to the PCO, the hospital will provide a “full range” of cancer treatments, including radio oncology (radiotherapy), imaging, medical oncology, and support for the UP-PGH’s teaching and research activities.
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It added that the building will have 15 to 20 floors, 150 “charity beds” for the UP-PGH area and 150 other beds for the private area, 350 parking spaces, 1,000 square meters of commercial space, and an area for three linear accelerator bunkers.
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Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) report, neoplasms – commonly known as cancer — was the third leading cause of death in the country from January to September 2022, accounting for 42,497 recorded fatalities.
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