Capitol bares winning bidder in hospital upgrading projects

THE Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) of the Iloilo Provincial Government issued Notices of Award to the winning bidder in the upgrading of Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian and Dr. Ricardo Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Lambunao.

Two Notices of Award were issued to C.T. Leoncio Construction and Trading as the winning bidder for the upgrading of the outpatient department, pharmacy and laboratory services of Aleosan District Hospital at a contract price of P2,517,399.71, and for the upgrading of X-ray, pharmacy and laboratory complex and completion of the operating and delivery rooms complex of Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital at a contract price of P5,120,095.80.

Both projects are part of the P24.8 million upgrading of the six district hospitals in the province initiated by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.

Aside from upgrading the Alimodian and Lambunao district hospitals, other projects are: repair and renovation of the ward complex and annex building of Jesus M. Colmenares District Hospital in Balasan (P4.4 million); construction of maintenance and housekeeping area, laundry and linen area, and the parking and repair bay for transport vehicle at Barotac Viejo District Hospital in Barotac Viejo (P3 million); improvement of the emergency room-outpatient department complex of Don Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Calinog (P4.3 million); and upgrading of the operating and delivery rooms of Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City.

“These projects manifest the governor’s commitment to improve and upgrade our hospitals which are now economic enterprises,” said Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, who is also head of the Hospital Management Office (HMO).

The conversion of Provincial Government-run hospitals into economic enterprises is coupled with the creation of the HMO that is tasked to supervise and provide technical support to the operations of Iloilo Provincial Hospital and 11 district hospitals as embodied in Provincial Ordinance 2011-091.

HMO consists of two divisions: the Technical Support Services Division and the Hospital Operations Division.

Defensor had allayed fears that converting the hospitals into economic enterprises would result in increased hospital charges and fees.

Defensor said it was embedded in the ordinance that the hospitals’ charges and fees would still be the same and will never be increased.

The governor pointed that the indigents in Iloilo province could still avail of hospital services for free.

Only those who can afford would be made to pay, Defensor stressed. (PR)