By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Dec. 17 (PNA) – The Senate committee on health has terminated its inquiry into the land being occupied by the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) in Quezon City after the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Housing Authority (NHA) settled their dispute.
“Because you agreed to settle the dispute, I now terminate this hearing,” committee chairman Sen. Teofisto ‘TG’ Guingona III said Wednesday.
During the hearing, the DOH and the NHA informed the committee that they signed a memorandum of agreement to settle the ownership of the 3.7 hectares land.
Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV thanked DOH Secretary Janette Garin and NHA administrator Chito Cruz for working together and coming up with the solution.
“Officials and employees of PCMC have nothing to worry because the land that they’ve been occupying for decades will finally be theirs,” Aquino said.
Under the MOA, the DOH will pay NHA an initial Php500 million from its 2015 budget for the land while the remaining Php400 million will be paid from the agency’s 2016 budget.
The NHA, for its part, will convey the title of the land occupied by the PCMC to the DOH. The housing agency also requested the DOH to implement the 2003 valuation of the land.
“This is an early Christmas gift to the thousands of Filipino children who enjoy free and quality medical service from PCMC,” Aquino said.
Aquino also said the PCMC will receive a total budget of Php1.226 billion, Php500 million of which will be allocated for the payment of the land.
Aquino said Php400 million will be used for the upgrading of the hospital building and Php326 million for new equipment and new hospital wing. (PNA)