GOVERNOR Dennis Pineda has lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for his support to Kapampangans, giving time to attend the groundbreaking rites for the first-ever government-owned hospital inside Clark Freeport.

The Pampanga Provincial Hospital-Clark (PPH-C) aims to provide accessible and low-cost health services to more than 120,000 workers within Clark, as well as to the residents of Pampanga and its neighboring areas.

“I am honored to be with you as I commemorate my last Labor Day as President... I urge you to remain steadfast in pushing your initiatives to advance the government’s holistic approach towards social development,” Duterte said in his message during the ceremonies.

He noted that the strategic location of the infrastructure at the Changi Gateway, Clark Global City will make the national government’s services and assistance programs more accessible to the neighboring communities, and at the same time help decongest the other healthcare facilities in the region especially in times of major public health crisis.

“As we try to respond to various healthcare challenges, we remain resolute in maximizing our capacities and utilizing everything. We have to save as many lives as we can,” the President said.

Citing the local government units of Pampanga for providing accessible healthcare services, and addressing the basic needs of their constituents, Duterte said: “You have helped us realize our goal for healthier and more productive Filipino citizens... Elected officials should develop a more responsive and discerning character so they can govern the country for genuine social change.”

The 125-bed capacity hospital will have three isolation rooms, 14 private rooms, 16 semi-private rooms, 14 wards with four beds each, and six wards with six beds each.

The Provincial Government of Pampanga allotted a total of P200 million, augmented by an approved P500-million loan from Landbank and another P50 million from the national government through the Department of Health, for the construction of a separate 2,979-square-meter structure.