CAMP PANACAN, Davao City—The Camp Panacan Station Hospital in Naval Station Felix Apolinario, a 38-bed capacity hospital initially assigned to the Philippine Army, has been transferred to the Philippine Navy under the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao after being renovated by SM Foundation.
The hospital—the 22nd military facility refurbished by the corporate social responsibility arm of the giant mall firm—provides health care for 5,000 military personnel and hosts a health information drive and mother-class lectures for their dependents.
The completed facility was formally turned over by Connie Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs, to Vice Admiral Joseph Mercado, Navy Flag Officer in Command in a ceremony held at the Station Hospital.
Its renovation will result in an accreditation as a Department of Health Level 1 Health Care Facility on top of its accreditation as PhilHealth member, hospital officials noted.
It was the third health facility renovated by the Foundation in the Davao region, the others being the Tagum Main Health Center and the Outpatient Department of the Southern Philippines Health Center.
The one-storey facility located on a 1,000-sq m lot has an operating room, emergency room, and seven hospital wards. They include an Officers’ Ward, a Heroes Ward for battle casualties, a physical therapy room, an outpatient department, a pharmacy room, a reception and waiting area, a storage room, an administrative office and the Commanding Officer’s Room.
The facility is now equipped with basic ancillary services such as 12-lead ECG, radiography with complete laboratory, an ECG room, and an x-ray room.
At the turnover, Angeles said the renovation is “a humble gift of (SM founder) Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. and his family to all of you who risk your lives that we may enjoy the power of freedom.”
“The SM Foundation has been renovating and refurbishing military health facilities. In fact, this is the 22nd facility (renovated) to make these more responsive and conducive to the recuperation of the uniformed men and women who dedicate their lives for the defense and security of our country.”
Mercado paid tribute to the Foundation as a “fellow comrade-in-arms.”
“This facility and all other facilities improved by SM is a big morale booster to our men for if something happens to them, they are provided with the best medical attention,” the Navy officer said.
At the time of the inauguration, two wards were already occupied by battle casualties and dengue/ malaria cases, including a Presidential Security Group member who was among those ambushed recently in Arakan, North Cotabato.
Some of the military health facilities renovated and refurbished by SM Foundation are the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui Hospital in San Antonio, Zambales; Camp Aquino Station Hospital in Tarlac; First Scout Ranger Regiment Dispensary in San Miguel, Bulacan; Fort Del Pilar Station Hospital in Baguio; Fort Magsaysay Station in Nueva Ecija, Air Force Hospital in Clark, Pampanga;
Camp Nakar Station Hospital in Lucena; Basa Airbase in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Navy Special Operations Group Clinic at Sangley Point in Cavite; Navy Training Institute and Health Service in Canlubang; and the AFP Medical Center.