Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso met with families of 20 young patients under the city government’s Kaagapay Program on Friday afternoon, March 6, as the local government released ₱32,296,900.40 to fund life-saving liver transplant surgeries in India.
Of the 20 patients, six will undergo procedures at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, while 14 others are scheduled for surgery at Max Healthcare, also based in New Delhi.
The patients include 18 children diagnosed with biliary atresia, one case of liver cirrhosis, and one chronic liver condition, according to city officials.
During a dialogue with the families, Domagoso acknowledged the long struggle many parents faced while searching for funds for the costly procedures, saying the city government stepped in to shorten that journey.
“Your long journey, it’s now going to be shorter, and hopefully God will guide you and keep your child safe,” Domagoso told the parents during the meeting.
The Mayor emphasized that the financial assistance came from taxpayers of the City of Manila, noting that the city prioritizes healthcare programs that directly save lives.
“It’s from the taxpayers of the City of Manila. Hindi ako magdadalawang-isip gumastos ng milyon, mabuhay lang ang isang tao. ‘Yung pera mawawala, kikitain ulit. Pero yung buhay, walang kapalit,” the mayor said.
Domagoso also shared that hospitals in India have come to trust the city government’s commitment to pay for the procedures, allowing some patients to be accepted for treatment once Manila provides financial guarantees.
The Mayor expressed optimism about the outcomes of the surgeries, noting that many children previously sent to India through the program have returned to the Philippines alive and healthier after undergoing successful transplants.
The latest batch brings the city government’s total assistance for critical medical cases under the Kaagapay Program to more than ₱96 million, building on the ₱64,226,374.85 previously released for 71 patients as of February this year.
Those earlier disbursements included funds for pediatric liver transplants in India, heart surgeries at the Philippine Heart Center, cochlear implant procedures, and other life-saving treatments performed in major hospitals across the Philippines.
