Daven Tamayo

Marcos Jr. inaugurates specialized pediatric center in Clark

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a specialized hospital for children in Pampanga Friday, July 24 as he vowed to continue to expand access to specialized healthcare so families would no longer make &quot;difficult trips&quot; to Metro Manila.Located inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat City, the Department of Health-Jose B. Lingad Children&#x27;s Medical Center (DOH-JBL CMC) is the first completed facility under the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center complex. In his speech, Marcos Jr. recalled his directive of establishing regional specialty hospitals across the country to improve the overall healthcare system and the timely completion of the Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center.“Next week, on the 1st of August, this hospital will open its doors to patients, making specialized pediatric services accessible to more communities. More importantly, it will bring hope and relief to countless Filipino families,” he said. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/7/21/half-of-metro-manila-cities-immunize-95-of-targets-against-measles-rubella-1357">Half of Metro Manila cities immunize 95% of targets against measles-rubella </a> </div>This state-of-the-art pediatric facility will provide “free, high-quality care” for children and families from various part for Luzon, according to the president.He also vowed to continue bringing down out-of-pocket expenses through the health department’s Zero Balance Billing. “Here in this hospital, I am happy to announce that the Zero Balance Billing program will certainly continue. And that way, no individual will be denied care simply because they do not have the capacity to pay,” he said.The upcoming Clark Multi-Specialty Medical Center will soon offer other specialized centers for renal, cardiovascular, and oncology services.“Parents seeking specialized treatment for their children will no longer have to make difficult trips to Metro Manila, sometimes even having to go abroad,” he stated. The chief executive also thanked those who contributed to the project namely the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc. represented in the event by business tycoon Enrique Razon, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Clark Development Corporation.Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. also led the distribution of patient transport vehicles under the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s initiative to Regions I, II, III and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/28/doh-why-nipah-virus-outbreak-is-unlikely-in-metro-manila-1335">DOH : Why Nipah virus outbreak is unlikely in Metro Manila</a></div>“We have now completed 100% distribution of PTVs [patient transport vehicles] to every province, to every city, to every municipality in the Philippines,” the president said.Select governors from Luzon received the vehicles on behalf of their provinces, including Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando. The chief executive said they are now working on providing firetrucks to all local government units.“Nabili na itong mga firetruck na ito. Hinihintay na lang natin ang pagdating nila bago i-distribute,” he noted.  Marcos Jr. also inspected the Pampanga Food Security Complex in Bgy. Sta. Catalina in Lubao.The ₱465.76-million integrated rice-processing facility is expected to benefit 30,995 rice farmers cultivating almost 43,000 hectares of rice-producing land across the province. The provincial government said it has a projected annual output of 136,800 bags of dry palay and 78,000 bags of milled rice with each bag weighing 50 kilograms.The said post-harvest facility provides farmer accreditation, palay procurement and receiving, drying, milling, storage, inventory management, packaging and distribution, according to Pampanga LGU.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a specialized hospital for children in Pampanga Friday, July 24 as he vowed to continue to expand access to specialized healthcare so families would no longer make "difficult trips" to Metro Manila.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of a specialized hospital for children in Pampanga Friday, July 24 as he vowed to continue to expand access to specialized healthcare so families would no longer make "difficult trips" to Metro Manila.