Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Quezon City
September 10, 2024

“This place, once called Lungsod ng Kabataan, was borne out of my parents’ love for children and from their belief that children are this nation’s greatest treasure…They built this sanctuary not just for treatment, but for hope that every child, despite whatever diseases they are suffering from, can grow up to their full potential. Forty-four years later, the PCMC remains true to that mission and continues to improve the quality of care and attention that it provides,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said when he visited the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) during the Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September.

With the theme ‘Building A Future of Hope’, the President lauded the strength and courage of children stricken with cancer for demonstrating the human spirit of not giving up in the face of any adversity in life. He assures the parents, indigent and financially incapacitated patients that government stands with them by providing quality healthcare, early diagnosis, necessary treatments and medical assistance.

“The PCMC Legacy Tower, with its advanced capabilities for specialty care, shall be a beacon of hope for generations of children to come. The newly installed diagnostic imaging machines – the 3 Tesla MRI, the 128-slice CT scan and the Dynamic DR X-ray machine – they are not just shiny, new machines, new technologies; they are lifelines. They allow us to diagnose more quickly, treat more effectively and give every child a fighting chance,” he said in pertaining to the ongoing construction of the 20-storey Legacy Tower that is seen to advance pediatric specialty care and empower childhood cancer awareness throughout the nation.

“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,” the Chief Executive added.

He commended the men and women of PCMC for their commitment, dedication and empathy in helping the children battle the fight against cancer, as it teaches that true strength is not about winning the fight but in never giving up.

“Maraming salamat sa inspirasyon at sama-sama nating buuin ang isang mas malusog, matatag at maginhawang Bagong Pilipinas para sa lahat,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his keynote message.

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