Subic, Zambales – !st District of Zambales Representative Jefferson Khonghun has sponsored House Bill No. 1227 for the establishment of the Subic General Hospital, a level 3 General Hospital under the full administration and technical supervision of the Department of Health (DOH)
The bill states “This initiative seeks to reinforce the State’s commitment to delivering equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare services by addressing longstanding gaps in the Zambales’ health system.”
Khonghun said although the House Bill applies for a tertiary hospital , it will start operation as a Level 1 hospital just like other hospitals in the country . “Any future increase in bed capacity, healthcare facilities,service capability and resource complement shall be based on the hospital development plan which shall be prepared by the DOH.”
On February 6, 2026, Congressman Khonghun, together with Department of Health Region 3 Director Dr. Corazon Flores, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) architects, Subic Mayor Jon Khonghun, and other construction planners, conducted inspection of the ongoing construction of the Subic General Hospital located on a 1.5 hectare land in Barangay Cawag, this municipality.
This project started in May 2022 when the local government proposed for a construction of a 20-bed capacity infirmary with initial budget of P10-million.
By 2023, the DOH filed a resolution transferring the administration of the proposed hospital from the local government to the department and upgraded it into a 74-bed level 1 capacity.
The project was temporarily put on hold for DOH to conduct further technical evaluation and revision of design to assure that the structure will pass the level 3 hospital requirements.
According to Architect II Ramond Pineda of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the construction phase was delayed due to revision of the master plan, expansion of the floor area and bed capacity which extended the timeline in the construction of the hospital.
By 2024, construction proceeded with a P289.5 million budget upgrading the hospital into a 100-level 2 facility.
By 2025, additional budget for the hospital reached P350-million with an upgraded 150-bed capacity facility.
Director Flores said that the hospital will start operation as Level 1 hospital. “We will start hiring doctors, medical staff and human resources, and after three years, the facility will be evaluated for Level 2 operation.”
Congressman Khonghun expressed satisfaction on the progress of the project and said that the hospital is expected to be turned over to DOH in November this year and will be operational by next year. (Malou Dungog)
