He also emphasized the need to strengthen the collaboration between local and national governments to enhance the country’s healthcare system.
On Thursday, November 27, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the rehabilitated President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital in Manila.
It was last September 5 when the city government of Manila opened the President Corazon C. Aquino General Hospital, also known as Baseco Hospital, to serve the residents of Baseco Compound—one of the city’s poorest communities.
During his speech, he announced an additional PHP15 million funding for the hospital that was allocated by the Office of the President.
“Ito ay ginawa ng ating local government. Kami naman sa national government… ay lahat ng suporta, lahat ng benepisyo na maaaring gawin ng pamahalaan ay gagawin natin,” said the President.
Marcos, who previously sat as the governor of Ilocos Norte, said that he understood the situation of local government units (LGUs) and the need for closer coordination and cooperation between LGUs and the national government to deliver public services.
Meanwhile, the chief executive was impressed by the facility, which serves an average of 200 to 220 patients each day and while it is still an outpatient department at present, the facility is preparing to become a full Level 1 hospital.
In addition, around 20,000 residents in Baseco have been registered with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). Marcos also highlighted the government’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), an enhanced primary care services package from PhilHealth.
The hospital is a PhilHealth-accredited YAKAP clinic that provides free consultations, primary care check-up and diagnostic and screening tests.
The President then recognized the service provided by Barangay Health Workers (BHW), Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and district city personnel in promoting PhilHealth programs.
He then reiterated his administration’s priority to strengthen the healthcare system and told, “Kaya’t ang administrasyon pong ito ay ginagawa ang lahat upang mapatibay natin ang ating tinatawag na healthcare system.”
“Nandito po ang pamahalaan para tumulong sa inyo, para hindi ninyo na kailangan maubos ang inyong inipon na pera, na maubos dito sa healthcare. Kami na po ang bahala,” he added.