Davao — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized his administration's strong commitment to upgrading public healthcare infrastructure during his inspection of the Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital (DDOPH) in Montevista. The medical facility previously sustained major structural damage following a strong earthquake, prompting the national government to step in with immediate financial and logistical rescue efforts. During his visit, the President inspected newly constructed wards, checked on recovering patients, and outlined plans to elevate the hospital's capabilities to better serve regional communities.
Inspecting Quake Recovery and Delivering Millions in Financial Aid
During his inspection tour, President Marcos evaluated the newly established medical ward building designed to expand patient capacity at DDOPH-Montevista. To accelerate structural repairs and ongoing facility improvements, the administration released PHP147.95 million through the Socio-Civic Projects Fund. Although the hospital maintains a bed capacity of 160, it frequently handles an average of 263 inpatients, 205 outpatients, and 105 emergency room patients daily, making these infrastructure expansions critical.
Advancing Preventive Healthcare and Financial Relief Programs
Speaking at the "Bawat Bayan Makikinabang" program following his hospital tour, President Marcos underscored that modernizing public hospitals goes hand-in-hand with championing a robust preventive healthcare system. He highlighted proactive national initiatives, including comprehensive child vaccination drives, regular medical consultations, and accessible diagnostic testing to catch illnesses early. Additionally, the President oversaw the processing of patient discharges under the Zero Balance Billing Program, which successfully relieves vulnerable families of burdensome hospitalization costs.
Setting Sights on Level 2 Hospital Status by 2027
As part of broader efforts to bridge healthcare disparities between urban centers and regional provinces, the government announced an ambitious target to upgrade DDOPH-Montevista to Level 2 status by 2027. This vital elevation will enable the primary referral hospital—which serves Montevista, Monkayo, Compostela, New Bataan, Maragusan, Laak, and neighboring areas—to deliver faster and more comprehensive medical services. Through sustained national and local collaboration, the administration aims to ensure that quality, compassionate healthcare reaches every Filipino family in need.
