TMC-Clark President and CEO Dr. Bengzon and GGLC officials Wright, Williams and Spore, CIAC’s Luciano and Mayor Morales, TMC’s Margaret Bengzon and other officials watch the full-blast construction of The Medical City in Clark. Photo by Ric Gonzales
ANGELES CITY – Operational in two years at the Clark Freeport is a world-class medical center that is seen to raise the quality of health service not only in the Metro Clark area but in the whole of Central and Northern Luzon.
Yesterday, the cornerstone was laid amid frenzied construction for the $40-million The Medical City (TMC) at the Global Gateway Logistics City (GGLC).
In his short speech before the cornerstone-laying rites, former Health Secretary Alfredo R.A. Bengzon, TMC president and CEO, underscored the premium location of TMC-Clark to serve the health needs of the people in the greater northern Luzon area, noting its accessibility via the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark –Tarlac Expressway.
Bengzon likewise noted the positioning of TMC-Clark in the development of the “next premier international gateway of the country” referencing to the Clark International Airport (CIA).
“The TMC-Clark will serve as our flagship center for Central and Northern Luzon. In addition, being situated next to the CIA, the Clark location provides an excellent platform for building our international tourism base,” said Bengzon.
The GGLC’s 177-hectare logistics and business center is envisioned to be the primary part of the aviation complex of the CIA and the Clark Freeport.
There are at least 300 international and local flights weekly at the CIA and there were 1.4 million passengers served in 2012. Passengers at the CIA are expected to reach two million in 2013.
The GGLC said the TMC-Clark is the “first component of a larger health care complex at the area.” It added that their project’s master planned logistics and business center will house new infrastructure amounting to over $1.5 billion.
Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano said the hospital will be “good for medical tourism too.” He added that passengers needing the TMC-Clark’s services will land “straight to the hospital via the airport.”
Evelyn Luciano-Yumul, director of the TMC operations and marketing-Luzon Division, said the TMC-Clark is a tertiary hospital and is “internationally recognized and accredited.”
The TMC’s main hospital is in Pasig City. It has two provincial branches in Angeles City and Iloilo.
Bengzon said the TMC has 40 years of experience in hospital operation and administration. He added that it had survived bankruptcy and “now is globally competitive.”
The TMC has over 1,000 physicians and some 2,200-strong human resource complement.
Yumul said “they will hire the doctors of Pampanga.”
Under the terms of agreement, the GGLC will construct the hospital according to the TMC’s specification.
The TMC will lease, equip and operate the facility.
Others who graced the event are Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and CEO Arthur Tugade, Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales and officials of the Peregrine Development International led by Mark Williams, Dennis Wright and Jim Spore.
