GOVERNOR Dennis Pineda has given the green light for the construction of Pampanga's 11th public or community hospital after the Department of Public Works and Highways’ First District Engineering Office (DPWH’s 1st DEO) presented the design of the new facility to him and Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco on Wednesday, January 26, 2022.

"Go na go na po ang first phase (It's go for the first phase)," the governor said.

The first phase, worth P70.2 million, was funded by the General Appropriations Act under the National Building Program, according to Engr. Alfie Lejarde, maintenance section chief of DPWH’s 1st DEO.

The four-story hospital features 24 five-bed wards, including rooms for radiology, ob-gyn, maternity, pharmacy, dental, pediatrics and surgery.

It needs around P170 million more, which is being sourced, for additional works, Lejarde said.

Pineda thanked the DPWH for helping secure the initial funding. The Provincial Government will oversee the operations of the community hospital, he said.

The local government of Apalit donated a 1,496-square-meter of land in Barangay Sampaloc, Tetangco said.

The province operates the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Provincial Hospital and 10 district hospitals.

Dialysis center to open soon

Meanwhile, renal care patients from the fourth district towns need not to go farther anymore soon to get treatment as the newly-constructed dialysis center in Apalit is eyed to open within the year.

The one-story building, which construction started mid 2021, is located in Barangay Sampaloc, Apalit.

The Provincial Government, together with the DPWH and Anakalusugan Partylist, allocated some P29.2 million for the establishment of the dialysis center.

Tetangco said the facility will equipped with 47 dialysis machines, medical personnel and other necessary equipment.

Once operational, the dialysis center is seen to cater around 360 renal care patients in a year.

It will also be the first government-operated dialysis center in the fourth district of Pampanga.