A panel in the House of Representatives has approved a substituted bill authored by Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which provides the Veterans Memorial Medical Center with “a juridical or corporate personality.”
The House committee on ways and means approved the substituted bill to House Bill 1240, as Arroyo calls for the immediate enactment of the bill for the welfare of not only Filipino veterans and military retirees who served the country, but also their dependents.
“Recognizing the invaluable sacrifices and services of our veterans and military retirees, it is only imperative that a medical facility dedicated to serve their and their dependents’ medical needs must be stable, viable, and provided with ample resources to ensure that they receive quality medical and health services,” Arroyo said in the bill’s explanatory notes.
The bill proposes to establish the VMMC as a prime state hospital and to preserve the hospital’s viability and existence.
In the explanatory note, Arroyo also acknowledged that the VMMC has played a key role in history, like no other hospital in the country.
“The VMMC is one of the landmark institutions dedicated to honor the bravery and nationalism of Filipino soldiers. It is one of the historical institutions that remind us of the patriotism of our soldiers, [who are] ready to fight and defend our sovereignty,” Speaker Arroyo said.
Arroyo also said that the hospital’s service for several notable political leaders, including former presidents Sergio Osmeña and Carlos P. Garcia. The late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was also admitted and confined at the VMMC when he went ino a hunger strike during the martial law regime.
She also cited what she described as “outstanding” services provided by the VMMC.
“The Veterans Hospital has emerged as one of the leading state hospitals in the Philippines, equipped with excellent facilities and competent staffing.”
Under the measure, the VMMC shall be treated in a manner consistent with its institutional mission to serve the veterans and shall be autonomous in the exercise of its jurisdiction to be able to execute more flexible operations.
The VMMC’s objectives include undertaking scientific research for public dissemination on the various aspects of health disorders and abnormalities, promoting trainings for hospital employees on practical and scientific conduct, implementation and delivery of health services, and extending medical outreach programs to the general public.
To be able to accomplish their objectives and fulfill their mandate, Arroyo said in her bill that the VMMC, acting through its Board of Trustees, shall be authorized to take on the following powers: (1) acquire and hold properties, (2) enter into contracts, (3) open accounts in banks and other financial institutions, (4) enter into agreements and arrangements with other hospitals or institutions, and (5) establish VMMC branches in other cities or provinces in the Philippines, among others.
The Board of Trustees shall be in charge of governing and overseeing the medical institution.
The VMMC may also request for assistance from any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the government, including the Government-owned and Controlled Corporations if the hospital finds the need to do so.
The bill enjoins all of the individuals, entities, and institutions concerned to provide full assistance and coordination to the VMMC to help accomplish its activities and objectives.