Ilocos cancer patients urged to avail of government aid
STATE OF THE ART. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. checks on the equipment inside the Region 1 Medical Center Cancer Institute in Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City, Pangasinan on Friday (May 23, 2025). (Photo courtesy of Region 1 Medical Center)
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Region Director Paula Paz Sydiongco asked cancer patients to avail of the cancer assistance fund (CAF) being offered by the national government.
CAF provides financial services not covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and persons whose needs are only partially covered by the Malasakit Program.
“They just need to provide documents necessary to avail such as prescriptions, treatment protocols and medical abstracts, which shall first undergo evaluation before approval and availing of services,” she said in a statement.
CAF is available at the Region 1 Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center in San Fernando, La Union.
The fund can also be obtained at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
It is an existing financial support exclusive to cancer patients, persons living with cancer and cancer survivors.
Sydiongco on Thursday also urged patients to avail of services in the newly inaugurated R1MC Cancer Institute in Dagupan City.
“I encourage those who are suffering from cancer to visit the facility and avail themselves of its services,” she said.
On May 23, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the R1MC Cancer Institute.
This place features state-of-the-art cancer diagnostic and treatment machines including a 128 CT scan, 1.5 Tesla MRI, linear accelerator, brachytherapy, chemotherapy, radiology and palliative care.
“R1MC is serving at least 18 cancer patients daily including screening, consultation and treatment with the new facility,” Sydiongco said.
“This number is expected to grow, and unfortunately, it has become the second leading cause of mortality,” she lamented.
“There are many Filipinos who suffer from lung cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer and colorectal cancer, and with the Cancer Institute in place, we can accommodate them,” she said.
The facility also offers pediatric oncology and hematology, medical and radiation oncology, gynecology, surgical oncology, targeted therapy and blood transfusion.
R1MC Cancer Institute has served 59,643 cancer patients since its dry-run in 2023./apl
