ABOUT 3,000 war veterans in Northern Mindanao Region graced Tuesday's 43rd anniversary of the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation (Phividec) where they were promised that a hospital for the Mindanao veterans will be built in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental.
Jesus Guevarra II, Phividec Industrial Authority chairman of the board, said the hospital aims to improve the health care services to war veterans residing in Mindanao. The planned health facility will be an extension of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City.
"We do this event every year for the veterans' Christmas cheers. But now we want to do more that's why we announced that we intend to put up a health facility, of course this is a dream, and we will do it by phases," Guevarra said, adding that a study will be conducted next year to craft a plan for the hospital.
"One of the most expensive part of health care is the diagnostic aspect, like the x-ray test, blood chemistry, these are expensive that's why we are thinking that the hospital will shoulder all these tests for the veterans," he added.
"We only have one veterans hospital so when a veteran get sick for instance, in Davao, they will pay for the expenses at that moment, then reimburse them later. So our ultimate dream is really to provide a health facility for them in Mindanao," he said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana graced Tuesday's event and pledged a P1 billion amount for the veterans in Mindanao, while the Phividec will set aside a 5 hectare land for the health care facility.
Meanwhile, 6 oldest veterans who were in attendance received P5,000 cash incentive as well as wheelchairs, first aid kids, and Christmas presents.
The oldest war veteran was Sergio Colinares Sudaria, 101 years old, a resident of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, who served the country during the World War II from September 1941 to May 1947.
Also recognized were Marcial Soriano Avila, 100, Pangasinan; Ignacio, Arbuis, 99, of Talisayan, Misamis Oriental; Moises Tan Quirol, 98 of Bohol; Sulpecio Cabasan, 95, of Opol, Misamis Oriental; and Aligondo Dagondoa, 94, also from Opol. (With reports from Cyrill Garcia and Crystel Perpetua, USTP Interns)