CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PIA) — Responding to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s renewed call in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to strengthen regionalized specialty healthcare, the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) continues to lead Central Luzon in expanding accessible, high-quality medical services.
“Dito sa atin, mahal magkasakit. Mahal ang gamot. Kulang ang pagamutan. Walang doktor; lalo na sa mga liblib na mga bayan. Kaya mula nang nagsimula ang Administrasyon, ito ang tinutukan natin, kasama ng edukasyon at pagsugpo sa kahirapan. Sa loob ng tatlong taon, pinarami natin ang mga pampublikong ospital at specialty centers. (Here in our country, getting sick is expensive. Medicine is expensive. Hospitals are scarce. There are no doctors; especially in remote towns. So since the Administration began, this has been our focus, along with education and poverty alleviation. In three years, we have increased the number of public hospitals and specialty centers.),” Marcos Jr. outlined in his fourth SONA.
Anchored on this, JBLMGH shared that it has completed nine of its 12 assigned specialty centers, with the remaining three nearing full functionality.
Additionally, the hospital took the initiative to launch three more specialty services, including a brain and spine institute, trauma center, and an upgraded orthopedics unit.
“Recently we inaugurated our trauma center and also our orthopedics and brain and spine center. Our programs are ongoing now, so we are already catering to patients who need special services like this,” JBLMGH Medical Center Chief Monserrat Chichioco said.
According to her, the hospital is now averaging 1,000 outpatient consultations daily, while emergency cases reach 180 per day, signaling high demand and trust in regional care.
JBLMGH has also opened five fellowship training programs, ensuring the sustainability of specialized services.
“Because we are a specialty center, we also need to teach doctors, we need to train them in that specialty. So we have already established five fellowship training programs,” Chichioco added.
The expansion of specialty services at JBLMGH affirms the national government’s commitment to bringing quality healthcare closer to the people, in line with President Marcos’ directive for regionalized health access.
The medical chief assured that they will continue to strengthen capabilities, train specialists, and upgrade facilities to serve the growing needs of Central Luzon and nearby regions. (CLJD/MJSC, PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
