THE Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA), a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC), is eyeing to soon establish a medical city in Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City.

Abdulghani Aljul Salapuddin, SPDA administrator and chief executive officer, told reporters Thursday, April 19, at the sidelines of his turnover ceremony as head of SPDA at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Davao City that the state-of-the-art modern medical facility, dubbed as the Asia Pacific Medical City, will rise on a 4.7 hectare (ha.) SPDA-owned land in Catalunan Pequeño.

"The medical city will have a college of medicine, hospital, and business center," he said.

Salapuddin said the funding for the development of the medical city, which has an estimated cost of P10 billion, will be coming from the government and its private partner.

At present, he said the Catanduanes Hospital and Medical Group has already expressed willingness to be the government's partner for the Medical City.

Salapuddin said they will start the project as soon as the masterplan has been completed and take back their land from DAR, which is currently using the 4.7 ha. property of SPDA in Catalunan Pequeño.

"It (4.7 ha. property) is still being occupied by DAR that is why we want the president to issue an executive order for DAR to vacvate the place so we can put up this modern medical center," he said.