A hospital dedicated for the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG’s) active and retired personnel as well as their dependents will soon be established.
This, after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11372 or the Philippine Coast Guard General Hospital Act last August 8 but a copy of it was only released to the public on Wednesday, August 14.
The new law mandates the construction of the PCG General Hospital in the Coast Guard Base in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.
The hospital shall provide comprehensive and total health care services, complement existing services under the health care program, conduct medical examination to all PCG trainees to ensure their physical and mental capability, monitor patient’s condition, and generate relevant information and data in aid of policy information.
Eligible dependents include PCG personnel or employees’ legitimate spouse; the legitimate, illegitimate, or legally adopted children who are 21 years old below, unmarried and not gainfully employed, or over the age but incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to a mental or physical defect; and parents dependent on the PCG personnel.
The PCG General Hospital will be administered by a board of directors with the commandant of the PCG being the chairperson, while the deputy commandant will serve as the vice chair.
The board of directors is mandated to develop a program of patient care and hospital administration, organize the structure of the PCG General Hospital in accordance with the staffing pattern approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), appoint the hospital’s officials and employees, train all hospital personnel in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Health (DOH), formulate and implement programs and measures, and enter into agreements and contracts in connection with its establishment, maintenance, operations, and objectives.
The construction and operationalization of the PCG General Hospital will be included in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr’s) programs. The funding for it will be included in the General Appropriations Act.
Meanwhile, PCG commandant Admiral Elson Hermogin thanked the Chief Executive for signing RA No. 11372.
“In behalf of all the members, retirees and dependents of PCG personnel, we are beyond grateful to the government, especially to President Duterte, for the grants given to PCG in the furtherance of our missions in protecting the Philippines’ maritime jurisdiction and in saving lives and properties at sea,” Hermogin said in a statement.
“In the performance of our duties and responsibilities, our lives as coastguardians are at risks and as a third uniformed armed service of the Philippines, we are also in need of treatment and hospital facilities in times of such unwanted circumstances,” he continued.