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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Marcos cites Iloilo hospitals, recreational spaces in SONA

Marcos cites Iloilo hospitals, recreational spaces in SONA

Published Jul 29, 2025 09:22 am
THE Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City.  (Tara Yap)
THE Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City.  (Tara Yap)
ILOILO CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. cited Iloilo hospitals and recreational spaces in Iloilo during his fourth State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Hospitals managed by the Department of Health (DOH) in Iloilo were included in the administration’s priority of zero balance billing.
“Libre po. Ibig sabihin, ang serbisyo sa basic accommodation sa ating mga DOH na ospital wala nang babayaran ang pasyente dahil bayad na ang bill ninyo (It is free. This means that the basic accommodation service in our DOH hospitals will not cost the patient anything because your bill is paid),” Marcos said.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) released the list of DOH hospitals in the country.
In Western Visayas region, three are located in Iloilo.
These are the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City and Western Visayas Sanitarium and General Hospital (WVSGH) in the town of Santa Barbara and the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center (DJSMMC) in the municipality of Barotac Nuevo.
The WVMC has been at the forefront of government hospital services from the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo as well as the regional capital of Iloilo City for the past 75 years.
The WVSGH and DJSMMC are the two DOH hospitals with zero balance billing.
The President also lauded public recreational spaces in Iloilo that promote health and wellness and can help curb high obesity rates among Filipinos -- the Esplanade river park and the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard in Iloilo City.
Both are pet projects of former Ilonggo Sen. Franklin Drilon constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and turned over to the Iloilo City government for operations and maintenance. 
The Iloilo Esplanade and the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard have bike lanes, walking spaces, and aerobics or zumba areas.

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Iloilo SONA SONA 2025 President Marcos
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