The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and the United States Government formally launched the Veterans Enhanced Screening, Testing and Treatment for Tuberculosis (VESTT-TB) Project on Friday, September 18, 2026, in Quezon City — a bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening tuberculosis screening, prevention, and treatment services for Filipino veterans nationwide.
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Lee Lipton led the launch ceremony, underscoring the two nations' shared commitment to the welfare of those who have served in uniform.
US Commits $183,000 to VMMC for TB Services
Ambassador Lipton announced that the United States is providing $183,000 to the VMMC through the U.S. Embassy in Manila to bolster tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care at the institution.
"Today is about getting results. Today, we're delivering. The United States is providing $183,000 to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to strengthen tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care," Ambassador Lipton said. "Tuberculosis remains a serious challenge in the Philippines. So, we're bringing together great doctors, strong institutions, and some very impressive United States technology."
The project is facilitated through the U.S. Embassy in Manila and forms part of ongoing bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the United States on health and defense matters.
Teodoro Calls for Field-Based TB Screening Beyond Hospitals
Secretary Teodoro expressed the Philippines' gratitude for the targeted donation, describing it as an example of purposive, results-oriented cooperation between longstanding allies.
"First, let me thank the government of the United States of America, through the hard work of His Excellency Lee Lipton, for giving this targeted and actually appropriate donation to the VMMC right now," Teodoro said. "And I hope these kinds of functional partnerships between our two countries… continue in such purposive and database-based initiatives, which seek to achieve valuable results."
Beyond the hospital launch, Teodoro directed the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), VMMC medical teams, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Corps to accelerate field-based TB screening efforts and ensure that healthcare services reach veterans living in communities across the country.
VALOR Clinics Directed to Operationalize at Soonest
The DND Secretary also reiterated a standing directive to operationalize VALOR Clinics at the earliest possible time, according to the DND. He called on qualified medical professionals in the Reserve Force to contribute their expertise to expanded clinic operations, reinforcing the Department's commitment to making healthcare more accessible to veterans and military retirees.
Teodoro encouraged stronger partnerships across the defense community to support preventive healthcare delivery, framing the initiative as part of a broader modernization of VMMC's capabilities.
Broader Push to Modernize VMMC's Healthcare Capabilities
The VESTT-TB Project launch is part of wider efforts to develop future-ready facilities at the VMMC, the DND said. Secretary Teodoro emphasized the need to better address infectious diseases, expand outpatient services, and improve emergency preparedness for large-scale disasters.
Addressing the VMMC workforce during the ceremony, Teodoro acknowledged the institution's adaptability and dedication to serving veterans and their families.
"We are growing and maturing in our mission role," Teodoro said. "We're at the forefront now of changing paradigms, to make us more reachable and more relevant to the lives of those we are supposed to serve in the first place."
TB Remains a Serious Health Challenge in the Philippines
Ambassador Lipton noted during the launch that tuberculosis continues to be a serious public health challenge in the Philippines, making targeted interventions — particularly for vulnerable populations such as veterans — critically important.
The VESTT-TB Project seeks to address this by combining enhanced screening tools, U.S. technology, and institutional partnerships between defense and health agencies to improve outcomes for Filipino veterans.
By the Numbers
- $183,000 — U.S. funding committed to VMMC for the VESTT-TB Project
- 3 agencies directed to accelerate field-based TB screening: PVAO, VMMC medical teams, and AFP Medical Corps
- September 18, 2026 — date of the formal project launch in Quezon City
Why This Matters
The VESTT-TB Project represents a concrete step in the Philippines-U.S. alliance to address tuberculosis — a disease Ambassador Lipton described as "a serious challenge in the Philippines" — specifically for Filipino veterans who may lack access to institutional healthcare. By directing field-based screening through PVAO, VMMC, and the AFP Medical Corps, Secretary Teodoro's mandate extends the project's reach beyond hospital walls to veterans in communities nationwide. The initiative also signals a broader push to modernize VMMC into a more responsive, future-ready institution capable of handling infectious diseases and large-scale health emergencies.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defense / DND Philippines