The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) unveiled its newly renovated Ward 3, marking a major milestone in the government's ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services for Filipino veterans.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. on Friday. 

In his keynote remarks, Secretary Teodoro emphasized that the project reflects the administration’s deep commitment to honoring the service and sacrifices of former military personnel.

“All of this has been approved by the President. It is a presidential project already and not a DND project,”  he said. 

The upgraded Ward 3 will house specialized units including the Acute Stroke Unit and the Neurological Intensive Care Unit—significantly boosting VMMC's capacity to treat complex neurological cases.

During the event, Teodoro was joined by VMMC Director Dr. Peter Paul Reuben Galvez on a tour of several key medical facilities, including the Digestive Endoscopy Unit, the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, the Medical Social Work Department, and the newly acquired Arthroscopy Tower. 

The Defense Chief also engaged with hospital staff and medical professionals, commending their role in delivering quality care to veterans.

Calling the VMMC a "place of honor and dignity," Teodoro reaffirmed the center’s role as a dedicated facility for those who served the country in uniform.

“People that are confined here had served the best parts of their life for the country,” he said, opposing any plans to repurpose the facility for political or unrelated uses.

He also expressed strong opposition to any attempts to repurpose the facility for political or unrelated uses, stressing the importance of protecting its mandate.

“To use the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for other purposes, particularly when it is fraught with partisan politics, is not the way. And I will disallow any use of the Veterans Center beyond its mandate,” he declared.

Teodoro said President Marcos was “very receptive” to the broader modernization plans for VMMC. These include the construction of additional outpatient facilities, a medical waste disposal unit, a research center, and a new emergency triage area.

“Rest assured that we'll continue all efforts to make the VMMC worthy to live up to its vision of honoring our veterans,” Secretary Teodoro said.

The renovation of Ward 3 is expected to improve both the quality and reach of medical services provided by VMMC, reinforcing its role as a premier institution dedicated exclusively to Filipino veterans and their families.