TACLOBAN CITY – For the first time, Samar Island will soon have its own tertiary hospital, a long-awaited development for the island’s three provinces that have lacked access to advanced medical care.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre emphasized the significance of this milestone, recalling how the healthcare gap in Samar became evident during their campaign years ago.
“Six years ago, when we were campaigning in Samar, we saw firsthand how much this was needed. We knew we had to do something,” Acidre said in a statement.
This urgent need led Rep. Yedda Romualdez to file House Bill 8195, which paved the way for Republic Act 11703, the Samar Island Medical Center Act—the law that turned this vision into reality.
Acidre expressed gratitude to Tingog Party-list and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, whose efforts ensured the hospital’s construction.
“Soon, our fellow Samareños won’t have to travel far for quality healthcare,” Acidre added.
The P900-million Samar Island Medical Center, located in Calbayog City, is set to transform healthcare in the region. Construction began in March 2024, with an initial funding of P477.68 million allocated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the first phase, which includes the Mother and Child Building.
Acidre emphasized that the hospital is more than just a medical facility—it represents hope, security, and progress for Samar.
With the construction already underway, the dream of bringing accessible and advanced healthcare closer to Samareños is finally becoming a reality.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
