A PRIMARY health care facility with a 150-bed capacity will soon rise on a 6,000 square meter lot in Barangay East Poblacion, City of Naga, southern Cebu.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility was held on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the Naga City Reclamation Area.
It was attended by City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong, together with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Senador Francis Tolentino, Congresswoman Rhea Mae Gullas, San Fernando Mayor Mytha Canoy and Carcar City Mayor Patrick Barcenas.
Mayor Chiong told SunStar Cebu on July 27 that the facility’s projected cost is P350 million.
Chiong said that the total budget for the new health center has been approved through a loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
He explained that this new facility is expected to provide improved healthcare services to the city’s constituents.
Chiong said that the office of Senator Tolentino had also transferred P50 million through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to begin the first phase of the construction.
The mayor did not give any comments when asked about the medical care that the new institution will offer to the residents.
He emphasized that the city is currently focusing on the construction of the facility.
Chiong claims that after the building's foundation is laid, they will begin accepting bids for another part of the hospital.
"The loan nato nga approved na with DBP is naghuwat nalang kanus-a nato kuhaa so after mahuman ni ang P50 Million para sa foundation actually before gani mahuman we will conduct our own bidding for the another portion of the hospital," Chiong said on Thursday, July 27.
(Our financing approved with DBP is just waiting to be claimed thus after the P50 million foundation is built, actually before it is finished we will conduct our own bidding for the other portion of the hospital).
The mayor said they are currently working to acquire equipment for the medical waste treatment facility, where hospital waste will be disposed of, in order to ensure that the city is protected from hazardous pollutants.
Chiong was grateful for the support of the government officials to add a health care facility for patients in the city.
Currently, the city has an infirmary that can accommodate 15 to 20 patients.
The mayor wants to equip the hospital with tools for patients like CT scans.
The government intends to hire medical professionals after the hospital is finished, particularly doctors and nurses between the ages of 30 and 40 because it is anticipated that most medical professionals in the nation will leave.
The hospital is targeted to be completed by next year.
Although the clinic would accept patients from nearby municipalities, Chiong said locals will be given preference. (AML, ANV, TPT)