THE Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibugay is constructing a 100-bed capacity hospital worth P300 million in the town of Ipil, the province' capital.

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Esperanza Cabral led the groundbreaking Wednesday, which signaled the start of the construction of the hospital.

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Zamboanga Sibugay provincial administrator Jet Hofer said the hospital, which will be known as Zamboanga Sibugay General Hospital, will be constructed in a 10-hectare lot purchased in the town of Ipil.

Once completed, Hofer said it would enhance the delivery of health services in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, which comprises of 16 towns and has a population of 546,186 as of 2007.

Hofer said the new hospital will replace the existing Provincial Hospital, which was the former Ipil District Hospital established in the 70s.

Duque and Cabral were assisted in the groundbreaking rite by DOH Regional Director Dr. Aristides Tan, which was witnessed by other health officials as well as Zamboanga Sibugay provincial and Ipil municipal officials. (Bong Garcia)