Villar wants establishment of veteran hospitals in Visayas, Mindanao

Sen. Mark Villar (Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Mark Villar has filed a bill pushing for the establishment of war veterans’ hospitals in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In his Senate Bill (SB) No. 2544, Villar highlighted the “invaluable and extraordinary contributions” of war veterans in safeguarding Philippine security. These immeasurable contributions, according to Villar, should be recognized.

“In recognition of their heroic acts and sacrifices, it is necessary for the government to provide adequate care to them, such as quality hospitalization, medical care and treatment. However, there is only one veterans hospital in the Philippines,” said Villar, pertaining to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center located in Metro Manila.

“The existing veterans hospital may not be easily accessible to some of our veterans who are situated in far-flung areas, and those who are residing in Visayas and Mindanao,” he added.

According to Villar, the proposed hospitals would provide “comprehensive and total health care services” to Filipino veterans. Its services would primarily cater medical, surgical, and psychiatric needs.

Apart from these, the senator said the veterans with service-connected disabilities may benefit from the hospitals’ “rehabilitative and long-term care.”

Villar said the hospitals will also serve as “centers for healthcare research” in a bid to improve medical care for war veterans.

But prior to Villar’s filing of SBN 2544, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. already expressed his plan to put up this type of hospital in Visayas and Mindanao.

In 2022, Marcos said the government will remain active in pushing for programs that will address war veterans’ needs, including the establishment of hospitals.