“IT'S a technical observation of the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas that the City Health Office (CHO) should not be constructed within the compound of Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) in Barangay Vista Alegre.”
This was stressed yesterday, June 16, by Lone District of Bacolod Congressman Greg Gasataya after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) already held the first phase of the bidding for the construction of the BCGH.
Gasataya said the DOH suggested that the CHO should not be part of the BCGH complex because the City Health Office is for prevention, while the hospital is curative.
“Instead of having the CHO there, the city should construct the ancillary services of the hospital in the area like the dialysis center and molecular laboratory, among others,” he said.
The solon suggested to the DOH and DPWH to come up with a proposal for the final construction of the building that will be submitted to the incoming administration for the assessment and evaluation of the project.
Gasataya pointed out that the purpose of the Gensoli family for donating the lot is primarily for the construction of the hospital.
The four-hectare lot was donated by the family led by its representative Gloria Gensoli.
Outgoing Mayor Evelio Leonardia earlier said the entire property as a health complex, as concurred by the city council, will be called the "Teofilo M. Gensoli Memorial Medical Center."
Within it are the BCGH and the new Bacolod City Health Office built side by side in the city's effort to further improve the delivery of health services to the city's growing population, he added.
The mayor noted that the new CHO is envisioned to expand health services which may include birthing facilities, dialysis centers and laboratories, among others.
On June 24, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11564, creating the Bacolod City General Hospital and appropriating funds for its establishment.
Gasataya authored the House bill at the House of Representatives, while its counterpart in the Senate was sponsored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
He said the DPWH earlier held the P200 million bidding for the land development of the hospital, linen and laundry services among others that may start in July, and another bidding will be set for the construction of the P250 million hospital building.*