President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. paid tribute to late Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Susan V. Ople during the groundbreaking of a hospital in Pampanga on Tuesday.

Marcos honored Ople’s dedication to public service during his speech as he led the groundbreaking of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital–Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“This endeavor is inspired by the vision of the late Susan Ople, who was our DMW secretary and who dedicated her entire life to working for the rights of our workers and eventually also our migrant workers.  ‘Til the day she died, I know this for a fact, ‘til the day that she died, she was still working for our OFWs,” Marcos said. 

The President said Ople’s legacy of helping migrant workers will remain.  

“And that is why we have to honor her memory and honor her legacy, and we do so today with this hospital. Her legacy reminds us to approach every patient with compassion and care, assuring them that they are not alone in their fight,” Marcos remarked. 

Also, Marcos touted that the construction of the facility “would not have been possible without the support” of the Department of Health (DoH) through its Health Facility Enhancement Program. 

He said the realization of the hospital project requires collective efforts from the DMW, DoH, the Department of Public Works and Highways, other government agencies, and private partners.

“I look forward to the completion of this facility and the procurement of the necessary medical equipment. And we once again show, nothing is impossible when we unite together for a shared purpose,” he said. 

Moreover, Marcos also paid tribute to the sacrifices and contributions of OFWs in the country’s economy, mentioning them as modern heroes.