President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday formally opened the Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC) Cancer Institute in Dagupan City, reinforcing the government’s goal of decentralizing specialized healthcare and addressing the growing burden of cancer in the country.
Speaking at the inauguration in Bonuan Binloc, the President emphasized the importance of making comprehensive cancer care more accessible to Filipinos, especially those living outside Metro Manila.
“During the time of my father, specialty hospitals were established in Metro Manila. But it is not enough that these hospitals are only in Manila,” he said. “We need to make the services accessible considering that it is difficult to travel with illness so it is a big factor to have complete services in the province.”
The R1MC Cancer Institute, which began operations in 2023, is now one of Northern Luzon’s leading cancer hubs. The facility is fully equipped with high-end diagnostic and treatment technologies, including a 128-slice CT scan, a 1.5 Tesla MRI, linear accelerator, brachytherapy units, and facilities for chemotherapy, radiology, and palliative care.
R1MC Director Dr. Roland Joseph Mejia said the center has already attended to nearly 60,000 patients in less than two years, averaging around 18 cancer-related consultations and treatments daily—a testament to the pressing need for such services in the region.
“What truly sets us apart is the multidisciplinary approach where experts from different specialties come together to create the best, most personalized treatment plan for patients, and all of these for free,” Mejia shared.
The cancer care services are made accessible through the Department of Health’s Cancer Assistance Fund and the Cancer and Supportive Palliative Medicine Access Program.
Marcos also underlined the broader impact of health services on national development. “Even with more jobs and higher salaries, Filipinos won’t feel true progress if they’re burdened by illness,” he noted.
One of the patients, 71-year-old Myrna Tadeo from Manaoag, Pangasinan, praised the quality of care at the center. “Government employees are very patient and the service is very good,” she said.