Current provincial hospital has a ‘Malasakit Center’
NAVAL, Biliran- A modern and spacious provincial hospital is soon to be constructed in this town that can accommodate more people who need medical care.
This after a bill principally sponsored by Biliran Rep. Rogelio Espina was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte not only expanding the current bed capacity of the provincial hospital but relocating it to a safer place.
The expansion and relocation of the Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH) is contained under Republic Act 111671 which was signed into law by Pres. Duterte on January 3, this year.
Rep. Espina, who is now on his third and last term and running for governor in the province in this year’s midterm elections, said that he is happy that finally his dream for Biliran to have a better provincial hospital is now realized.
According to him, the proposed new BPH will now have a 200-bed capacity or an increase of 125 beds from the current bed capacity of the current provincial hospital.
Aside from increasing the bed capacity, the new BPH will be relocated at the provincial government center located in Barangay Larrazabal.
The current BPH is located in Brgy. Santo Niño, about a kilometer away from the proposed site.
“It will be located at our government center in Brgy. Larrazabal. The proposed site is far safer compare to its current location, which is just 20 meters away from the shore,” Espina said.
“Of course, it can now accommodate more patients and it’s easy for us to develop because we have more space for expansion,” he added.
With a bigger provincial hospital, BPH would be needing more doctors and nurses, among others, to accommodate the projected increase number of patients.
It was learned from Rep. Espina that the provincial government, under Gov. Gerry ‘Boy’ Espina, provided a two-hectare lot where the proposed new BPH will be constructed.
The Department of Health (DOH) has allocated P50 million for the first phase on the construction of the new BPH which is expected to start anytime this year.
But meantime, the gubernatorial aspirant said that the people of the province, particularly the poor, have now better access of their medical needs.
This after a ‘Malasakit Center’ was introduced at the provincial hospital which was given an initial funding of P5 million for its initial operation.
Rep. Espina said that he is grateful to the administration of Pres. Duterte, particularly to his former close aide, Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, for putting a Malasakit Center in their province.
The Malasakit Center was formally inaugurated at the BPH on March 15.
A Malasakit Center is just like a one-stop shop staffed by personnel from the DOH, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development where patients can avail of immediate medical assistance.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
