Frasco’s dream children’s hospital rises in Liloan

What began as a quiet aspiration in the heart of a young mayor nearly two decades ago is now taking shape as a pioneering pediatric hospital in Cebu’s 5th District.

Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco, a former mayor of Liloan, Cebu, has long envisioned a facility dedicated to children’s health needs. That vision took root when he assumed office as mayor in 2007 and has since evolved into a national law, culminating in the establishment of the Liloan Children’s Hospital.

Enacted in 2022 through Republic Act No. 11886, authored by Frasco under House Bill No. 8274, the law sets the foundation for the first dedicated pediatric facility in the region. The hospital will serve not only Liloan but also the broader Visayas and Mindanao, offering comprehensive maternal and child health services.

“Becoming a father changes the way you look at the world,” Frasco said. “Suddenly, policy isn’t just policy, it becomes personal. You begin to see the cracks in the system not just as gaps in governance, but as potential dangers for your own children. And so you act, not just as a leader, but as a parent.”

A father of four, Frasco said his experience in parenthood has deeply shaped his approach to governance—from the hospital visits and sleepless nights to the daily anxieties and hopes shared by millions of Filipino parents.

His legislative efforts were grounded in those experiences and extended toward children and families who lack access to affordable, specialized healthcare. “With every decision, I think about my own children. But I also think about the children in Liloan, in the 5th District, and across Cebu; those whose parents may not have the means or access to proper healthcare. That’s where public service steps in.”

Now under construction, the Liloan Children’s Hospital will offer services including prenatal care, pediatric emergency response, immunization programs, nutrition counseling, and parenting education. It is part of a broader vision aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda to decentralize specialized healthcare and bring essential services closer to families in the Visayas and Mindanao.

More than a brick-and-mortar achievement, the hospital stands as a testament to Frasco’s sustained commitment to the future of the nation’s children.

“In every policy we write, every project we break ground on, we are laying bricks not just for our constituents’ future, but for our children’s,” Frasco said. “This hospital is a commitment to both.”

As construction progresses, the Liloan Children’s Hospital emerges not only as a regional medical facility but as a father’s enduring legacy—born from love, lived through service, and built for generations to come.