City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan takes its stand in addressing health issues with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Global Care Cancer Institute Inc. to further expand medical service to Tomasinos.

Noting cancer as a complex and catastrophic disease treated as an urgent public health concern, Mayor Marasigan ensure that treatment and care will be more equitable for all, most especially to underprivileged, marginalized and disadvantaged sectors.

“Reducing premature mortality from this invasive disease attributed to late diagnosis, combined with poor access due to high abandonment of treatment primarily because of unaffordable costs of treatment and medicines is our immediate concern”, the mayor said.

The city government aims to increase efforts to strengthen health system to guarantee early detection, accessible, affordable and utmost care – reducing risk factors for cancer through adequate policies and programs.

The partnership between the city government and the Global Care Cancer Institute Inc. serves as a major leap toward realizing our commitment to making health as an inclusive right, not just a privileged that favors the few, the mayor added.

Mayor Marasigan pointed out that his administration is governing with inclusivity, providing equal access to opportunities and resources to all Tomasinos, ensuring that no one will be left behind.

The mayor also mentions that the memorandum of agreement is the many action plans of the city government in response to city Ordinance 2024-65 mandating the establishment of the Girl Power Integrated Cancer Control Program (GPICCP) in a bid to expand efforts in strengthening integrative, multi-disciplinary, patient and family-centered cancer control policies, programs, systems, interventions, and service at all levels of the existing health care delivery system.

The program also aims of improving survivorship from adult and childhood cancers, investing for healthy prevention of cancer, better screening, early discovery, prompt and accurate diagnosis, responsive palliative care and pain management, timely and optimal treatment, effective survivorship care, effects management and rehabilitation.

The city recognizes the role of private cancer treatment facility in the delivery of Oncologic care and acknowledges the willingness of the Global Care Cancer Institute Inc. to work hand-in-hand with the city government in providing the needed diagnostic and therapeutic services through their required facilities, equipment, trained personnel and medical specialist to carry out the necessary services.

Since 2022, the city health office has recorded 137 deaths relating to this invasive illness – an issue the city hopes to prevent prematurely by giving early diagnosis.

With the partnership, according to Mayor Marasigan, qualified city residents provided with financial assistance could now afford needed medical treatment.