President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said Southeast Asia's largest dialysis center will be operational before the end of his term in 2028, expanding treatment for Filipinos with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Marcos made the announcement during an inspection of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) Legacy Building along East Avenue in Quezon City.

The President said the project was prompted by the growing number of Filipinos affected by CKD, which he said accounts for more than 11 percent of the population.

"Malaki ang pangangailangan sa ating populasyon dahil ang kanilang statistic, over 11 percent ng mga Pilipino ay may chronic kidney disease. Kaya't kailangang pagtibayin at palawakin natin ang ating serbisyo para sa pag-treat ng CKD. Pagkatapos nito, ito ang magiging pinakamalaking dialysis center sa Southeast Asia," Marcos said.

The 13-story NKTI Legacy Building will house 200 hemodialysis machines, operating rooms, and a Malasakit Center.

Marcos also highlighted expanded PhilHealth benefits for CKD patients, noting that dialysis coverage has increased from 90 to 156 sessions.

The PhilHealth benefit package for hemodialysis has also increased from P4,000 to P6,350 per session.

In addition, the annual Z Benefit Package for peritoneal dialysis has been raised to between P389,640 and P500,140 for adults, and from P510,000 to P1.2 million for pediatric patients.

The President said the country now has 904 PhilHealth-accredited dialysis centers.

According to Marcos, medical equipment for the new facility is scheduled for installation by early 2027, with the center expected to begin accepting patients about a year later.

Construction of the project's first phase, covering the ground to the fourth floor, was completed in July 2025. As of 24 June, the second phase, covering the fifth and sixth floors, was 70.5 percent complete.