AFP hospital gets 1500-M funding
President Duterte on Tuesday night announced that the government is allocating P500 million for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) on V. Luna Avenue, Quezon City.
According to the President, the money will be used to acquire state of the art medical equipment and to construct a new hospital building for the
country’s soldiers.
Duterte announced this during his visit to battle casualty patients at the AFPMC.
“Magpasalamat tayo kay (Budget) Secretary (Benjamin) Diokno. Binigay niya lahat ng gusto ninyo na equipment pati isang building,” he told injured troops doctors, and nurses.
Among the items to be purchased will be a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment and Gamma ray which is used for the non-invasive treatment of tumors.
He said these as he expressed surprise upon hearing that a national institution under the AFP does not even have an MRI.
He also noted that one of the buildings of the AFPMC is “not suitable anymore for the confinement of soldiers who are hospitalized,” so that he promised to give them a new building.
Construction of the new building would start two months from now, he said. And as for the equipment, Duterte said it should be of best quality to make sure that soldiers and their families get the best medical care.
“Basta ang binigay ni Sec. Diokno sa inyo ay half a billion (pesos) and it will be released soon,” said the President.
“There will be no compromise in the life of soldiers... Binigay niyo buhay niyo sa bayan, the least the country can do through me is to give you a state of the art (medical facility) pati equipment sa giyera,” Duterte said.
The President added: “Everything will be quality and fast,” as he also assured that “it will be strictly in accordance with the law.”
In his speech, Duterte also said that “in the fullness of God’s time,” he would implement a program that will provide free education to the children of soldiers.
The President took time to personally interact with and give medical assistance to soldiers currently confined at the said hospital.
The President even became emotional when he hugged young officer, 2Lt. Jerome Jacuba, 28, who sustained major injuries when an improvised explosive device went off as they were conducting clearing operation in March.
As a result of the blast, Jacuba is now totally blind in his right eye, while his left eye, which suffered retinal detachment, can only see light perception.
AFP doctors said there is no more chance for the young officer to be able to see again. He is currently undergoing visual rehabilitation at the AFPMC and would soon learn how to use the Braille system.
Jacuba, who is married with two children, is due for promotion to 1st Lieutenant.