Senate approves bill establishing hospital for PCG personnel

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday approved a measure seeking the construction and establishment of a hospital for coast guards and their dependents.

House Bill No. 833 was approved in consideration of the Senate Bill No. 2128, which was introduced and sponsored by Senator JV Ejercito.

Under the bill, which would be named as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) General Hospital, shall be located at the Coast Guard Base in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City.

The hospital is tasked to provide comprehensive and total health services to all PCG personnel and employees, their dependents and retired uniformed personnel.

The measure mandates the hospital to conduct a medical examination of all the trainees of the PCG, monitor the condition of the patients, and generate relevant information and data in aid of policy information.

If the bill is enacted into law, PCG dependents would include the legitimate spouse who is not a PCG personnel or employee; legitimate, legitimated, illegitimate acknowledged children, legally adopted or stepchildren below 21 years old; children of PCG personnel and employees over 21 years old who are unmarrried and unemployed, or who are incapacitated and incapable of self-support due to mental, physical or any disability; and parents who rely upon the PCG personnel or employee for financial support.

Funding for the hospital will be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the Department of Transportation. (Editor: Eden Estopace)