LIPA CITY, BATANGAS — Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. on Thursday, August 14, 2026, highlighted the gains of the Veterans Access to Lifetime Optimized Healthcare (VALOR) Clinic program during a Thanksgiving Luncheon held at Bactol Hall, Fernando Air Base (FAB) in Lipa City, Batangas, marking the clinic's first founding anniversary.
The event brought together senior defense and military officials, healthcare professionals, veterans, and VALOR Clinic partners to recognize the collective efforts to bring medical services closer to Filipino veterans and their dependents.
From 200 to 1,000 Patients in One Year
According to Secretary Teodoro, the Fernando Air Base VALOR Clinic has undergone significant growth since it opened a year ago, scaling from 200 patients served in its first month to approximately 1,000 patients per month within a year of operations.
The clinic, which initially operated only once a week due to staffing limitations, now runs at least five days a week, Teodoro noted during the anniversary event.
AFP and VMMC Integration Seen as Key to Preventive Care
Beyond the clinic's growth, Secretary Teodoro underscored the strategic importance of integrating the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) medical system with the veterans' medical system under the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).
"The clients of the AFP medical system will be clients of the VMMC, and the sooner we can mitigate their conditions through preventive healthcare, the less problems we will have when they get older," Teodoro said.
The Secretary envisions the VMMC evolving into a highly specialized tertiary intervention hospital that handles cases beyond the capacity of local hospitals, outreach facilities, or the AFP Medical Center — particularly those requiring specialized equipment.
PHP40 Million Additional Funding from Malacañang
Sustaining the VALOR Clinics remains a logistical challenge, Teodoro acknowledged, citing concerns over staffing, connectivity, storage, and medical data privacy. To address these gaps, he disclosed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has committed an additional PHP40 million for VALOR Clinic operations this year to sustain and expand their service capacity.
Clinics Set to Open in Cagayan de Oro and Tarlac
The VALOR Network is slated for geographic expansion. Secretary Teodoro said clinics in Cagayan de Oro and Camp Aquino in Tarlac City are expected to open within the year, while a clinic at Fort Magsaysay may also proceed subject to the availability of logistics and support systems.
VMMC Rehabilitation and Infrastructure Upgrades Planned
Teodoro also discussed ongoing rehabilitation plans for the VMMC, which include the construction of a larger outpatient department, specialized centers, a large triage area, a research center, and a medical waste disposal facility.
"The VMMC will be a high-quality, high-tier specialized medical center for cases that cannot be remedied by any other medical facility or the AFP medical center for active-duty personnel," Teodoro said. "So that is the roadmap right now. And that's where we will go."
Waiting Times a Growing Concern
Secretary Teodoro acknowledged concerns over waiting times at both VMMC and the VALOR Clinics, framing the increased demand as evidence that veterans value the services being provided. The challenge, he said, is to shorten waiting times — including through partnerships with local hospitals — with cases beyond the capacity of partner facilities to be referred to VMMC.
Transition Program for Retiring Military Personnel
Beyond veterans' healthcare, the Secretary emphasized preventive care and mental wellness for active-duty personnel. He shared that a transition program will be introduced six months before mandatory retirement to provide counseling for personnel and their families as they prepare for civilian life.
By the Numbers
- 200 — patients served in the FAB VALOR Clinic's first month of operations
- ~1,000 — patients served per month after one year of operations
- 1 day per week — initial operating schedule due to staffing limitations
- 5 days per week — current operating schedule of the FAB VALOR Clinic
- PHP40 million — additional funding committed by President Marcos for VALOR Clinic operations this year
- 6 months — lead time before mandatory retirement when the new transition counseling program will begin
Why This Matters
The VALOR Clinic program represents a direct expansion of state-funded healthcare access for Filipino veterans and their dependents, with the Fernando Air Base facility already multiplying its patient capacity fivefold within its first year. The planned integration of AFP and VMMC medical systems, backed by additional presidential funding, signals a structural shift in how the government approaches long-term and preventive care for those who have served in the armed forces. Network expansion to Cagayan de Oro, Tarlac, and potentially Fort Magsaysay will extend these services to veterans in regions currently underserved by the program.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defense