PRESS RELEASE

No.

Releasing Officer:

 

Date

Apr  11, 2008

 

MARINA M. AGUSTIN

 

 

Acting Chief, Office for Public and Legislative Affairs

Office for Public Affairs, Department of National Defense, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

 

Telephone Nos:  911-3339 / 911-4529

 

Catex: 911-6001 to 12, loc. 8445/8444

     Fax No.: 911-7113

 

Teodoro assures vets of continuous healthcare service at the VMMC

  

“Until a new hospital is standing and operating, we will not leave the area because uninterrupted medical service is a sine qua non for our veterans.  

Thus said Secretary Teodoro during the Paggunita sa Capas on Thursday     (April 10) at the Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.  

In his speech, Secretary Teodoro confirmed that the VMMC property is part of the plan to develop a central business in Quezon City which will be managed by the Urban Triangle Development (TriDev) Commission headed by Vice President Noli de Castro.   

“We were approached with the idea that the present location of the VMMC would form part of the central business district,” he said. 

While he did not object to the plan due to some non-negotiable conditions, Secretary Teodoro said he is mandated to provide quality healthcare to the veterans so he set conditions for TriDev to fulfill to ensure continuous delivery of medical treatment and services to the veterans.   

“I told them I do not mind, but you (TriDev) must replicate the VMMC a new hospital within the TriDev area with equal or more patient capacity or bed space at no cost to the government whatsoever,” he said. 

He said he also insisted on a reasonable share of the revenues that will be generated from the development of the VMMC property to improve delivery of medical services to the veterans.  

“You (TriDev) must give us a share of the proceeds, whether by lease or by purchase of the area, in order for us to add to the budget of the VMMC. This is to provide more medicines, more inputs to care for the veterans,” the defense chief said.  

Secretary Teodoro said he has created a technical working group that will negotiate with the TriDev Commission for the final agreement on the planned development of VMMC.    

“There is no Memorandum of Agreement entered into yet. We constituted a Technical Working Group headed by Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina who will negotiate with the TriDev Commission to get what is our fair share in the development of the area,” he said.

Having explained the matter, he said he hopes the matter is laid to rest until such time the TWG submits a formal document for his consideration.