By Ruben Veloria

SUBIC, Zambales, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) expressed satisfaction on the progress of construction phase of the Subic General Hospital in Barabgay Cawag this municipaliy.

The statement was conveyed to Congressman (1st Dist., Zambales)Jay Khonghun and Subic Mayor Jonathan Khonghun by Department of Health Region 3 Director Dr. Corazon Flores, MD, during her visit to the half-finished hospital on February 6.

Director Flores said that the progression of the construction of the hospital is very satisfactory and expecting to meet the scheduled turn-over of the facility to the DOH.

Dir. Flores clarified that the hospital, like all other hospitals in the country, started to operate as Level 1 hospital or infirmary.

After three years, the facility will be evaluated and with the availability of doctors with specializations and other medical staff, equipment and fundings, the hospital may elevated to Level 2.

Meanwhile, Cong. Khonghun said the plan of the hospital, based on the House Bill he sponsored, is a Tertiary Hospital (Level 3). “So that we don’t need to apply again for Level 3, since our building already has the required space and the design,” he added.

In 2022, LGU Subic originally planned to construct a 20-bed capacity infirmary hospital with a budget of P10 million and 1.5 h.a. of land. But in 2023, the plan was redesigned to become 75-bed capacity.

In May 2024, the proposed hospital was transfered to DOH control, and upgraded to Level 2 facility with 100-bed capacity and a budget of ₱289.5 Million.

In 2025, the bed capacity was stretched to 150, and received additional budget of ₱50 million, and the land area was expanded to 15,000 sq.m.

The total budget allocation has reached ₱349 Million.

According to Cong. Khonghun, the hospital is expected to be turned-over to DOH on November this year. And after setting up all the furnishing, and medical staff, it will be operational and ready to accept patients by January 2027.