Government to build hospital for police, emergency personnel

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- The Philippine National Police (PNP), with the help of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), will have its own hospital catering primarily to policemen and other uniformed personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Peace and Order Rico Puno announced this Friday when he graced the Police Regional Office’s (PRO) celebration of the 21st PNP Founding Anniversary.

Puno and PRO-Ilocos Director Franklin Jesus Bucayu led the celebration, which started with a wreath-laying at the bust of Brig. Gen. Oscar M. Florendo to whom the PRO1 camp was named after, as well as, the groundbreaking of the camp’s water supply facility.

He said DILG Secretary Jesse Robrido has given them the go-signal to negotiate PCSO for the construction of a PNP Hospital at Camp Panopio in Cubao, Quezon City.

Puno said the plan includes the construction of 17 tertiary PNP regional hospitals all over the country.

The project would be a joint venture between the Philippine National Police and PCSO.

"Maganda kung magkaroon kayo ng sariling hospital which would cater to the requirements of all our uniformed personnel. Malibre man lang yong mga diagnostic exams niyo malaking tulong na ito because it is a third of your medical requirements," he said.

As the office rental expense of the PCSO at the PICC is big, he explained, the plan is for PCSO headquarters to be transferred at Camp Panopio.

Puno said the PNP has its own budget for the construction of the hospital and its maintainance. (Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre/Sunnex)