16/09/2025
ʀᴀ 12261 ꜱɪɢɴᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʟᴀᴡ:
𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐘 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐙𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (September 15, 2025) --- President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12261, a landmark piece of legislation establishing the Liloy General Hospital, a Level II general hospital in the Municipality of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.
The law aims to bring enhanced healthcare services closer to residents of Zamboanga del Norte and nearby areas, addressing longstanding needs for expanded medical facilities in the region.
Under the provisions of the law, the Liloy General Hospital will have a bed capacity of 100 and will operate under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health (DOH). This ensures national government support in its operations, staffing, and maintenance, unlike local or provincial hospitals which often rely on limited local government funding.
A Level II hospital, as classified by the DOH, is required to offer expanded clinical capabilities. This includes departmentalized clinical services (such as internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery), respiratory therapy services, a high-dependency unit (HDU), and specialized laboratory and diagnostic services, among others. This upgrade from a lower-level facility means residents will no longer need to travel long distances to access critical medical care.
The legislative process to establish the hospital began in the House of Representatives, where the measure was passed on December 18, 2024. It was amended and approved by the Senate on June 9, 2025, and the House concurred with the amendments on June 10, 2025. The law was finally signed by the President on September 5, 2025.
Local leaders and health advocates have welcomed the passage of the law, noting that Zamboanga del Norte, particularly the 3rd district which includes Liloy, has long struggled with limited healthcare facilities, high patient-to-doctor ratios, and inadequate access to specialized care. The new hospital is expected to serve not only Liloy but also nearby municipalities in the region, potentially reducing patient referrals to overcrowded urban hospitals.
With Republic Act No. 12261 now in effect, the Department of Health is expected to begin planning the construction and equipping of the Liloy General Hospital, in coordination with national and local stakeholders. Once operational, the hospital is projected to improve health outcomes, reduce preventable deaths, and provide timely and accessible medical care to tens of thousands of residents. ---30---
