In signing Executive Order No. 19 creating a Philippine Heart Center Annex in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, President Marcos is trying to decongest the PHCA in Diliman, Quezon City and make heart diagnostics and treatment more available to people in Pampanga, so they won’t travel to Manila for such services.
It aims to address the woes of Filipinos suffering from cardiovascular diseases who have to travel to Metro Manila to get treated, Manila Bulletin reported.
Marcos gave the directive through Executive Order (EO) No. 19 which he signed on March 8, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
“Subject to limitations under existing laws, rules and regulations, the National Government shall establish the Philippine Heart Center Annex in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga (PHC Clark), which will primarily render specialized medical services for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases,” the EO read.
"With world-class highways and an international airport, the Clark Freeport Zone is a gateway to Central Luzon. As such, establishing a specialty hospital annex in Clark Freeport Zone will bring quality healthcare closer to the people,” the EO read.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death in the country as of Oct. 31, 2022.
Under EO 19, the PHC is tasked to establish, manage, and administer PHC Clark and amend its existing hospital development plan to include the proposed programs and initiatives for the PHC Clark, consistent with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan 2020-2040, and in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) and other relevant government agencies.
The PHC, established under Presidential Decree No. 673 (s. 1975), is the sole specialty hospital in the Philippines that provides specialized medical services to Filipinos suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
The amount needed for the establishment and continued operations of the PHC Clark
“shall be charged against the available appropriations of the DOH and/or the annual corporate operating budget of the PHC, subject to the pertinent budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.”
The EO said additional funding may also be sourced from agreements that the PHC may enter into with other government agencies for the purpose of establishing and operating the PHC Clark.