via GRAPHIC PLUS — Where were you 10 years ago?
For many of us, a decade can feel like a blur—a collection of memories and moments reviewed in our minds. But for some, those ten years mark transformations that spread far past personal milestones, strengthening institutions that protect and serve the nation.
For the Philippine Navy, one of those transformations began in December 2016 at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui (NSLG) in San Antonio, Zambales, when the NSLG Medical Dispensary (NSLG MD) was renovated with the support of the SM Foundation. The same facility still pulses with purpose, delivering quality healthcare to naval personnel, trainees, their families, and residents nearly a decade later.
The dispensary provides about 18,000 medical services each year, ranging from preventive immunizations and physical exams to treatment of common infections and training-related injuries.
For Female Sailor Candidate Rochelle Nuestro, a trainee of the Philippine Navy Class 75, an ordinary day of training turned into a moment of uncertainty that could have changed the course of her life. Yet, it was within the walls of the NSLG Medical Dispensary that her journey to recovery began—a place where skill, compassion, and readiness converge to save not just bodies, but futures.
Reflecting on her experience, Nuestro said, “Kung wala ‘yung dispensary, for sure, wala na ako dito (Philippine Navy) kasi ‘yung accident ko, napunan agad siya because of the dispensary kaya hindi siya lumala nang sobra.” Her words capture the lifesaving role of the dispensary, where immediate first aid, X-rays, fracture care, and ongoing guidance ensured that her injury did not derail her career.
Serving as both a healthcare center and a force readiness asset, the NSLG Medical Dispensary provides access to quality care, allowing trainees to focus on their rigorous programs with confidence that their health is in capable hands.
SM Foundation’s partnership with the Philippine Navy has also reached other parts of the country through the renovation and expansion of several medical and dental dispensaries. These include facilities in Lapu-Lapu City, Legazpi City, and Puerto Princesa, each improved to provide more accessible, efficient, and responsive healthcare services for Navy personnel, their families, and nearby communities.
With every upgraded dispensary, care becomes faster, more accessible, and more dignified for the men and women of the Philippine Navy, their families, and the communities that live around them. These improvements also help raise the standards of medical service, supporting DOH and PhilHealth accreditation while bringing essential healthcare closer to those who need it most.
Rear Admiral Karl Decapia, PN, emphasizes the role of these renovations in keeping the Navy mission-ready:
“SM Foundation has given us years of free maintenance of the medical dispensary. It’s a huge help for NETC. It paved the way for improved medical services.”
His words highlight how quality healthcare not only improves health outcomes but also boosts confidence, morale, and operational readiness—missions that extend beyond clinics and dispensaries.
Ten years on, these projects are more than physical renovations; they also represent a long-term commitment to the well-being of the entire Philippine Navy.
For trainees like Nuestro, the dispensary is more than a facility or a program, it is the difference between uncertainty and hope, between a halted dream and a path forward.
And when the question arises, where will we be in the next ten years? The answer lies with the ripple of care and commitment that continues to grow, shaping stronger, healthier communities—today, tomorrow, and for the generations of men and women who will wear the uniform in the years to come.
