𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘

𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗙𝗪 𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥

Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families will soon be able to avail treatment for cancer related diagnosis with the soon to be establish Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center as part of the Overseas Filipino Workers Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac led the groundbreaking of the new site for the DMW and OFW Hospital-Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center on December 10, 2024.

“Former Sec. Susan Ople’s legacy reminds us to approach every patient with compassion and care, assuring them that they are not alone in their fight. The realization of this project will require the collective efforts of the DMW, DPWH, DOH, many other government agencies and equally important are the private partners. I look forward to the completion of this facility and the procurement of necessary medical equipment. I noticed coming in marami sa inyong – ‘yung mga OFW lalo ay nagpapasalamat. Hindi po kayong magpasalamat sa amin. Kami ang nagpapasalamat sa inyo,” the President said.

The President further stressed the importance of the cancer facility “nawa’y ang cancer care (center) na ito ay maging simbolo ng ating mas magandang kinabukasan—kung saan ang sakripisyo ng ating mga OFWs ay masuklian, ang kanilang mga pangarap ay mabigyang katuparan, at ang kanilang kalusugan ay pinapahalagahan.”

A cancer facility and better equipped Out Patient Department will soon rise at the Hospital, a fulfilment of the wishes of the late DMW Secretary Susan V. Ople.

“Libre po ang lahat, OFW ka man ngayon, papunta pa lamang sa abroad o nagretiro na sa serbisyo, kayo at ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay ay tatanggapin dito sa OFW Hospital at pagsusumikapan natin matugunan lahat ng inyong pangangailangang medikal sa ilalim ng ating Bagong Pilipinas,” Sec. Cacdac said.

Key implementing agencies and partners are the Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Health, OFW Hospital, Department of Public Works and Highway, Department of Social Welfare and Development, the DOH-Center for Health and Development, Local Government of Pampanga, and Philhealth. The project cost for the new cancer facility amounts to P80,000,000 and is expected to be completed in November 2025. The cancer facility is expected to be operational in the year 2026.

The current Out Patient Department caters to more than 160 patients daily which results in overcrowding and the hospital is forced to repurpose other essential areas into triage zones. The OPD will be transferred to the new site upon its completion to better serve the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families who go to the hospital to avail of free consultations and take advantage of laboratory examinations available to them and their dependents.

“Malayo na, pero malayo pa ang puwedeng marating,” we have come so far yet there is still much work to be done. We continue to plan and implement the improvements we have set for the OFW Hospital, not only to provide chemotherapy treatments in our “Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center,” but we will work towards providing higher image diagnostic and radiotherapy in the future to truly embody the one stop healthcare facility we envisioned,” revealed Sec. Cacdac.

The new facility will free up the current outpatient department in the OFW Hospital which will be repurposed as a pre-departure and post-arrival medical examinations area for the OFWs.

The new facility will be offering chemotherapy services and, in the future, the DMW will partner with other institutions to offer radiotherapy in the new cancer facility. This comes at the intention of Secretary Cacdac that the OFW Hospital will be able to provide substantial services.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by more than 400 invited overseas Filipino workers and their families and other guests from the DMW, DPWH, DOH, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Province of Pampanga, and family members of DMW former Sec. Susan Ople.(Flordeliz Samonte)