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Keisha Ta-Asan - The Philippine Star
January 24, 2026 | 12:00am
DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus said the equipment donation would allow NKTI to resume radiation oncology operations and expand access to cancer treatment, particularly for patients who depend on public hospitals for specialized care.
Businessworld / File
MANILA, Philippines — State-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has turned over a new Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), enabling the government hospital to restart radiation therapy services that had been suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic.
DBP president and CEO Michael de Jesus said the equipment donation would allow NKTI to resume radiation oncology operations and expand access to cancer treatment, particularly for patients who depend on public hospitals for specialized care.
“The donation to NKTI strengthens the bank’s commitment to supporting the government’s health care
program that benefits the marginalized and underserved communities. It is an initiative that will truly serve the Filipino people,” De Jesus said.
Radiation therapy is a critical component of cancer care. The absence of a functioning LINAC unit had forced NKTI to halt such services during the pandemic, adding to the burden on other government hospitals that offer similar treatment.
NKTI, a tertiary medical center established in 1981, is primarily known for renal care and transplants but also provides treatment for other complex and chronic illnesses, including cancer.
The restoration of its radiation therapy capability is expected to help decongest other public facilities and shorten waiting times for patients.
DBP, the ninth largest bank in the country in terms of assets, focuses its lending on four priority sectors: infrastructure and logistics, micro, small and medium enterprises, the environment and social services and community development.
The bank has increasingly positioned health care as part of its social services mandate.
De Jesus said DBP would continue to explore ways to support the health sector by working with the national government and the Department of Health, including state-run hospitals and medical institutions.
