Clark Freeport – A provincial hospital that aims to provide affordable and accessible health services is set to rise in this Freeport as President Rodrigo Duterte and other key government officials broke ground on Sunday for the construction of the medical facility.
“Let me congratulate the provincial government of Pampanga and other partner agencies who helped us achieve this significant feat. I am honored to be with you as I commemorate my last labor day as president. I urge you to remain steadfast in pushing your initiatives to advance the government’s holistic approach towards social development,” Duterte said while he expressed elation over the development of the Pampanga Provincial Hospital in Clark.
The president also cited the suitability of this Freeport as a prime location for the project. “The strategic location of this hospital will make our services and assistance programs more accessible to neighboring communities,” he added.
According to Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, the medical facility will be established in a 9,259 sq. meter lot area at the Changi Gateway in Clark Global City (CGC). The provincial government poured in P200 million and an additional P 500 million approved loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines for the development of the three-storey health facility and parking and service road.
The national government through the Department of Health (DOH) also allotted P50 million for the construction of a two-storey support service building that will complement the hospital.
The structure of the provincial hospital was designed based on the licensing requirement by the DOH for Level 2 hospital. It will have a 126 bed capacity including isolation rooms, private and semi-private rooms, and wards.
Meanwhile, Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan said that the hospital will further enhance the health service provided to the workers, stakeholders, and residents of Freeport.
“We welcome this new development as we break ground for the establishment of this extension to the hospital services of the Pampanga Provincial Hospital. This will definitely create a major impact to the employees and the communities in and around Clark, especially in times of extreme need for emergency and long-term hospital services,” Gaerlan added.
Other key government officials who witnessed the groundbreaking rites are former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Senator Lawrence “Bong” Go, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, Congressman Carmelo Lazatin II, and Metro Clark local executives including Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, Jr., and Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo.
In 2018, CDC and the Provincial Government of Pampanga signed a deed of usufruct for the establishment of the said provincial hospital in Clark.