QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said that the local government has forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), marking a shared commitment to “advancing equitable, accessible, and high-quality cancer [patient] care.”
Belmonte said the collaboration with C/Can, an international nonprofit organization, underscored the importance of collective action and sustained systems strengthening to improve outcomes in the fight against cancer.
“This partnership with City Cancer Challenge is a significant step toward strengthening our collective response to cancer. By working closely with local and international partners, we aim to make quality cancer care more accessible and equitable for every Filipino,” Belmonte said.
Isabel Mestres, C/Can CEO, said their group in Quezon City will work hand-in-hand with local and national partners to co-create tailored, scalable solutions that strengthen cancer care services and advance equitable access to quality care across the Philippines.
To date, C/Can has worked with three cities in the region: Greater Petaling (Malaysia), Yangon (Myanmar), and Phnom Penh (Cambodia).
C/Can in Quezon City will also be supported by the Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI), a key stakeholder in advancing accessible, quality cancer care from the ground up.
“We are thrilled to welcome Quezon City into the C/Can network. This collaboration underscores the city’s leadership and commitment to building sustainable, inclusive care for patients with cancer,” Mestres said.
“Together, we will translate local innovation into global learning that advances equitable cancer care for everyone, everywhere,” she pointed out.
C/Can partners with cities in low-and middle-income countries to transform how cancer care is planned and delivered, strengthening local health systems and building sustainable, community-driven solutions from the ground up, according to a statement emailed to The Manila Times.
By engaging diverse stakeholders across the private and public sectors, including hospitals, health authorities, health care professionals, civil society organizations, and patients, C/Can supports cities in identifying priority needs, designing and implementing practical, long-term, and localized solutions, it added.
