Pampanga leaders lead re-opening of Bacolor hospital

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

BACOLOR — Pampanga third district Representative Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Governor Lilia Pineda led the blessing and re-opening of the Ricardo P. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in its original location here.

The event was attended by Mayor Jose Maria Hizon, provincial board members of Pampanga and other local officials.

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The re-opening is part of the commitment of the Provincial Government to finally operate the district hospital to serve indigents of Bacolor and neighboring towns.

The facility was built on a P25-million budget through the initiative of Gonzales, with an additional P27 million for other equipment and materials. According to Gov. Pineda, they have also spent P5 million for the refurbishing of the hospital along with other equipment to make it fit for operational standards.

“Currently we have a 25-bed capacity and we hope to accommodate patients once the permit to operate is in order,” Pineda said. 

To recall, the operation of the district hospital was transferred to the Bulaon Resettlement Area in the City of San Fernando after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo that devastated the town.

Congressman Gonzales said the operation and re-opening of the district hospital is a sign that Bacolor is coming back on its feet after the disaster. He said that the facility is something that can entice more of the original population of the town to return.

“People who resettle here can now feel secure as there is already a hospital that can cater to their health needs. This facility is my commitment to the people of this town and let us also thank Gov. Pineda for facilitating the beefing up of its facilities,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales initiated the construction of the hospital under the Bacolor Rehabilitation Council Act, most popularly known as the “Gonzales Law” in his honor. The BRCA, which was signed by then President Gloria Arroyo in September of 2008, was authored by Gonzales in the lower chamber and sponsored by then Senator Benigno Aquino III, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, in the upper chamber.

Meanwhile, Bacolor Mayor Jomar Hizon expressed optimism that the new facility would soon be operational to better address the health needs of residents of the town.