SBF stakeholders benefit from SBMA health caravan

A total of 618 stakeholders from this premier Freeport received free medical attention during the health caravan organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) at the Subic Bay Gymnasium on July 17, 2025.

 The said health caravan is a two-in-one event that features Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training, as well as the Bayanihan sa Kalusugan activity. 

 According to SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, the Hands-Only CPR and AED Trainings are in line with the Nationwide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Awareness Campaign by the national government. Participants were employees from SBFZ locators, as well as residents and students from neighboring localities.

 The largest delegation was from the SBMA with 307 participants, followed by employees from private companies here with 160 participants, and 151 from local government units, teachers, and students.

 He added that the Bayanihan sa Kalusugan is a wellness initiative for SBMA employees, with the assistance from physicians and laboratory technicians from The Medical City Clark, who held medical consultations, and facilitated the free screening tests, and sampling, respectively.

Awed with the highly successful conduct of the health caravan, Chairman Aliño expressed his gratitude to the SBMA’s partner institutions and socio-civic organizations namely, the Philippine Heart Association-Philippine College of Cardiology, Philippine Heart Association Central Luzon Chapter, Olongapo City Medical Society, Philippine College of Occupational Medicine Olongapo City Chapter, Rotary International District 3790, Unilab, Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corporation, and the Rotary Club of Subic Pearl. (MPD-SBMA) 

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Subic Freeport hospital opens heart center

Patients with heart problems in Central Luzon area will now have an option for treatment outside Manila, as the George Dewey Medical Center in this free port formally opened the Subic Heart Center.

According to Ryan Tulio, assistant hospital administrator, the Heart Center is the first of its kind in the Zambales-Bataan area and was built with patients from the locality and from nearby provinces in mind.

“We have the first heart center facility in this area complete with the necessary equipment to treat heart ailments,” Tulio said.

He said the Subic Heart Center has a Cardiovascular Catherization and Intervention Unit (CathLab), where most treatments for heart ailments are performed.

The CathLab has an adjacent operating room equipped with a heart-lung machine, which is dedicated specially for major heart surgeries.

Tulio said that the first major open heart surgery in the Subic Heart Center was performed last February 22. The patient underwent a six-hour aorto-coronary bypass grafting, which was performed by doctors from the Philippine Heart Center and University of Santo Tomas Hospital.

Dr. Pio Purino, team leader of the said operation, said that the choice of Subic Bay Freeport as the location for the heart center is advantageous to patients undergoing heart surgery.

“We have to reduce stress after open heart surgeries, and with an environment like this, it’s very conducive for the recovery of patients,” he said.

He noted that doctors usually suggest that patients walk around two to three days after surgery, and the location of the center amid a natural environment can help patients to recover well.

Purino, one of the trainers for the Subic Heart Center, said that they aim to train local surgeons specializing in cardio-vascular surgery so that there will be heart surgeons who will be based here.

“This is to ensure that patients do not have to go to Manila for heart surgery. They can have them here,” he explained.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Roberto Garcia said, meanwhile, that the Subic Bay Freeport is also being developed as a retirement destination for the same reason that its natural environment helps induce wellness and healing.

Garcia said the SBMA is supportive of industries that will help attract retirees to the Freeport.

“Having a facility such as the Subic Heart Center will assure our retirees that Subic is a well-rounded environment complete with everything they need to love comfortably,” Garcia said. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Seniors form walkers club in Subic Freeport

Health-conscious senior citizens in this free port have formed a walkers club here in cooperation with a popular commercial facility, which has agreed to accommodate the daily exercise activities of the newly-formed group.

The “Subic Bay Six o’clock Habit Club,” which was organized by Atty. Severo M. Pastor, manager of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) labor department, has requested the use of the promenade area of Ayala Mall’s Harbor Point here.

Harbor Point operations manager Derrick Q. Manuel said that while the agreement is being finalized with top management, walkers may already use open alleys inside the mall except for those that are still restricted due to shop construction work.

Manuel added that while only the Coffee Bean shop opens at 6 am, Starbucks coffee shop had confirmed that they would start receiving customers at 7 am also to accommodate the walkers.

Pastor, who has been walking with friends as his early morning ritual, said the Harbor Point facility is perfect for senior citizens.

“Senior citizens can walk around at Harbor Point’s covered areas freely and safely even when it rains,” Pastor said. “In fact, because Harbor Point has large open spaces, we can also bring the whole family with us so that we can do some exercises while the shops are still closed.”

Pastor said the focus of the Six o’clock Habit Club is to promote health and wellness among senior citizens. “It’s a well-known fact that walking can add more years to life, so I’m sure that walking and interacting with other people would be a big help to senior citizens like me,” he added.

Aside from requesting Harbor Point for walking space, Pastor said that his group has also requested appropriate areas at the ground floor for tai-chi or calisthenics.

And, as some doctors and other medical practitioners are expected to join the club, Pastor said that he would also ask them to provide free medical services to the senior citizens, like blood pressure or blood sugar checks.

The group has initially agreed upon a three-day-a-week schedule — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and more frequently thereafter until walking becomes a daily habit.

He added that residents, businessmen and workers from the Freeport and Olongapo areas are welcome to join the club.

Among those who expressed intention to join the club are acting SBMA senior deputy administrator for business and investment Atty. Ruel John T. Kabigting, and managers of other SBMA departments. (ILC/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Members of the newly-formed “Subic Bay Six o’clock Habit Club,” led by SBMA labor manager Severo Pastor (3rd from left), kick off an early morning walk at the Harbor Point promenade area in the Subic Bay Freeport.

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Medical and wellness center in Amorosa, Subic Freeport, serves patients, retirees from Northern Luzon and abroad

The George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center is a tertiary private hospital located in Amorosa.

Amorosa is a 12-hectare community composed of the George Dewey Medical College, living and recreation spaces for retirees and the general public, and the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center.

The environment of Amorosa is a preserved rainforest, providing an ambiance of healing and rejuvenation. Amorosa is located in the Subic Freeport Zone, an area of business, entertainment, outdoor activities, schools, hotels and restaurants, and homes.

The George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center sprawls among the gardens of Amorosa, consisting of nine buildings, surrounding the main hospital
and separated from it by grasslined driveways. This unique arrangement provides specialized areas for privacy, proper ambiance and infection control.

The main hospital is a single-story structure with access doors to the buildings of specialty, and areas for parking and emergency.

Essentially, the building arrangement follows a logical flow for the medical process, general services, privacy and safety.

The Medical and Surgical Services are provided by doctors who are leaders in their fields.

The medical organization follows global standards of healthcare, enhanced by a hospital information system which provides an integrated holistic approach to the individual patient.

Excellence in medical and surgical service is supported by latest equipment.

The Nursing and Ancillary Services Teams are specialized, with regular training programs in coordination with the George Dewey Medical College.

The Human Resource Department goes beyond its scope of responsibility to encourage personal growth and develop the core values of the institution. Quality Assurance Programs involve the Medical, Administrative, Finance, Marketing and Business Development groups, encouraging a culture in the community for excellence in health
services and continuing education.

The patients of the George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center are residents of Amorosa, the day and night populations of Subic, residents of nearby communities and retirement villages, as well as patients from other countries and the general public.

The residents of Amorosa benefit from the assurance of a tertiary hospital on stand by and the wellness programs to enhance their lifestyle.

The George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center is the only tertiary hospital inside the Subic Freeport Zone, with access to the Subic and Clark International airports and the provinces of Northern Luzon. Its vision of excellence in continuing medical education also encourages medical and paramedical specialty training sessions and conferences.

The Phases of Operation allow for the development of specialized centers of diagnosis and treatment, many of which will be firsts in the underserved population of Northern Luzon.

The potential for growth in the medical and wellness services is large, inside and outside of Amorosa. The standard of care, employment opportunity and empowerment of people the business provides is a significant contribution to society. (c/o Manila Times)

Photo: SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza visits the facilities at George Dewey Medical and Wellness Center.

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