Dizon inspects DPWH’s hospital projects in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from anomalous flood control projects as well as dismal roads and bridges, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon is also zeroing in on snail-paced and poorly planned hospital construction projects of the DPWH, especially in “legacy” state hospitals in Metro Manila.

Dizon said he wanted to accelerate the ongoing projects of the DPWH at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), National Kidney and Transplant Institute and Philippine Cancer Center (PCC).

Delays in project completion should be probed and addressed, Dizon said.

He inspected the hospital projects yesterday and raised concerns over prolonged construction timelines that have delayed the delivery of much-needed health services to the public.

During the inspection, Dizon flagged the slow progress of the PCMC building, which has been under construction for nearly a decade.

One of the major causes of delay in hospital projects is the piecemeal release of funds, which are sometimes realigned to other projects – an arrangement that Dizon said creates opportunities for inefficiency and corruption.

The DPWH and Department of Health are targeting the completion of the PCMC building within the first half of the year.

Dizon expressed hope that the facility will be opened by May or June.

He said the construction of the 20-story cancer hospital requires an additional P1.5 billion to P1.8 billion.

The total cost of the project is estimated at over P3 billion, with completion targeted toward the end of the administration’s term in 2028.

Once finished, the PCC is expected to become the largest cancer center hospital in the country.

Dizon said he would inspect the Philippine General Hospital in Manila next week.

The inspected hospitals in Quezon City form part of the administration’s priority “legacy hospitals,” which President Marcos wanted completed and made operational before his term ends in 2028.