Benguet Board opposes hospital privatization

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Opposition to the proposed privatization of government hospitals continue to grow.

Apart from the militant groups, various local government units strongly opposed House Bill 6069, a proposed act to convert government hospitals into National Government corporations. It aims to convert 26 public hospitals around the country.

This week, the Provincial Board of Benguet presided by Vice Governor Cresencio Pacalso confirmed its support and alliance with various LGUs to oppose the proposed bill.

As a recall, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Del Norte called on Benguet to join their forces to strongly oppose the plan to privatize the public hospitals earlier on June and July, respectively.

Finally, the Provincial Board of Benguet gave its nod to support the advocacy. The support surfaced after the Provincial Legal Officer Danio Bolislis and the committee chairman reviewed the resolutions of the two places. They found the resolutions with merit.

The board passed a resolution stating its support to the opposition last Monday during its regular session.

The Department of Health - supervised hospitals to be converted into corporations are: Cagayan Valley Medical Center; Veterans Regional Hospital; Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center; Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center; Regional Medical Center; Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center; Jose B. Lingad Memorial Medical Center; Bicol Medical Center (Naga City); Bicol Research Training and Teaching Hospital (Legaspi City); Quirino Memorial Medical Center; Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center; Rizal Medical Center; Amang Rodriguez Medical Center; San Lazaro Hospital; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center; Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center; Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital; Western Visayas Medical Center; Northern Mindanao Medical Center; Southern Philippines Medical Center; Zamboanga City Medical Center; Cotobato Regional and Medical Center; CARAGA Regional Hospital; Davao Regional Hospital; and Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro, Sr. Regional Center and Training Hospital.