THE Department of Health (DOH) has appropriated P10 million for the upgrading of the Ospital Ning Angeles (ONA) emergency room (ER) and P9.6 million for the establishment of a laboratory.
This was learned from Mayor Carmelo "Pogi" Lazatin, Jr., who disclosed that the public hospital's ER will be expanded to accommodate more patients.
"Yun pong emergency room ipapaayos natin iyan. Papalakihin po natin, iyan po ang unang unang aayusin natin," Lazatin said.
Aside from the ER, the mayor also mentioned the establishment of a modern laboratory where blood tests and other medical examinations will be conducted.
"Sa tulong po ng DOH, nabigyan po tayo ng pondo para sa pagpapaayos ng ating ER. Nabigyan din po tayo ng pondo para maipaayos natin ang ating laboratory," Lazatin said.
The ER expansion and lab construction are expected to start during the last quarter of 2019, according to the local chief executive.
"Hopefully, by the end of the year ay maguumpisa na ang construction nila," Lazatin said.
The mayor also bared the local government's plan to acquire properties where additional hospital buildings will be erected.
With the construction of additional buildings, the capacity of the hospital will increase, he added.
"May kinakausap na rin po tayo para sa gusto nating bilhing lupa para makapagdagdag tayo ng mga gusali para sa ONA. Ang gusto po natin ay madoble man lang ang kapasidad ospital," Lazatin said.
The mayor earlier vowed to work on the upgrading of the hospital which was named after his grandfather, former mayor Rafael Lazatin, from Level 1 to Level 2 hospital category.