EVMC to undergo massive rehab works
Bed capacity to increase to 1,500
TACLOBAN CITY – The national government has allocated an initial budget of P800 million for the construction of a new facility at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC).
The new facility, to be named the EVMC Legacy Tower or Legacy Building, will serve as the hospital’s specialty center, focusing on transplant operations, bypass surgeries, and housing additional operating rooms, as well as a helipad for patient transport.
This 12-storey building is designed to accommodate 600 beds and 600 chairs for outpatient laboratory patients.
It will also feature a covered crossway connecting it to the main hospital facility, ensuring easy access for patients, their guardians, and hospital staff.
“The funds have already been released by the Department of Budget and Management under the unprogrammed fund,” said EVMC Chief Dr. John Michael Jaro during a press conference at the hospital on Friday, October 25.
Jaro said that the expansion of the EVMC will result for the health facility to increase its current bed capacity of 500 to 1,500.
“We envision that EVMC will have a bed capacity of 1,500, potentially increasing up to 1,800 beds to accommodate more patients from across the region,” he said.
Jaro expressed his gratitude to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez who represents Leyte’s 1st district which includes Tacloban City where the regional health facility is located.
For 2024, a total of P1.67 billion has been allocated under the unprogrammed fund for EVMC, which includes P800 million for the Legacy Tower, P700 million for EVMC rehabilitation, and P170 million for equipment procurement.
Construction of the Legacy Building is set to begin next year, following the clearing of the property in front of the hospital, which is currently occupied by vendors.
Dr. Jaro noted that since construction will commence during the election ban period, they will seek an exemption to ensure timely progress on the project.
“We need to start constructing this building because it will greatly benefit the region’s healthcare,” Dr. Jaro emphasized.
The total cost of the project is estimated at P5 billion, with an additional P2 billion expected in 2025 and another P2 billion projected for release in 2026.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Ormoc City wins Galing Pook Award for marine conservation initiative
TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City has been awarded the prestigious Galing Pook Award for its initiative titled “Saving Kan: A Love Story in Ormoc Bay (Marine Mammal and Reptile Rehabilitation Center).”
This program tells the story of the city’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate stranded marine mammals, reptiles, and other threatened species, while promoting a balanced marine ecosystem.
The initiative not only focuses on rescue and rehabilitation but also emphasizes environmental protection through measures like preserving the 557.58-hectare mangrove forest, enforcing the Single-Use Plastic Regulation Ordinance, and strengthening fisheries law enforcement, among others.
Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Leyte Rep.Richard Gomez (4th district) personally received the award from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the awarding ceremony in Malacañang on Sunday, October 27.
“As mayor, I put the highest priority in protecting our environment because people, animals, and everything are interconnected—we breathe the same air, walk the same land, and share the same water,” Mayor Gomez said during the presentation of their entry on October 23, 2024, at Landbank Plaza in Malate, Manila.
This marks the second time Ormoc has been a finalist for the Galing Pook Award, with the city’s commitment to marine life conservation recognized by the Local Government Academy of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“No effort is ever too big, or too small. Gentle though this program may seem, we know that ours is more than just implementing a program—it’s a movement with long-term sustainable goals to safeguard marine life, from the smallest fish to the mightiest mammal. It’s a promise to preserve the beauty and balance of our natural world,” Mayor Gomez added.
The Marine Mammal and Reptile Rehabilitation Center, managed by a team led by Irish Belmonte, includes the Stranding Response Team, Medical Care Management Team, Bantay Dagat, City Veterinary Office, Philippine Coast Guard, deputized Philippine National Police personnel, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 8, the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and dedicated volunteers.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Farmer found dead beside road in Southern Leyte town
ORMOC CITY– A 74-year-old farmer was discovered lifeless in a rice field beside the road around 7:00 am on Sunday, October 27, in Barangay Dakit, San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
The victim, identified as “Nemesio,” a widower and resident of Barangay Gabi, was found lying beside his bicycle by a resident, who reported the discovery to the San Francisco Municipal Police Station (MPS).
According to an initial investigation, the victim was returning home on his bicycle from a birthday celebration in Barangay Punta around 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 26, when he reportedly suffered a self-accident.
A local rescue team transported the victim to the Rural Health Office for a post-mortem examination.
Dr. Marx Robin D. Tioazon, the Municipal Health Officer, conducted the examination and found no signs of foul play, concluding that the cause of death was a cerebrovascular accident secondary to blunt head trauma.
(ROBERT DEJON)
6 students qualify N. Samar medical scholarship program for this school term
(THE NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar has welcomed six medical students who qualified for the province’s Medical Scholarship Program (MSP).
The new medical scholars include Trisha Gomba from Gamay; Mark Dennison Leonor, who is from Catubig; Liezl Galias and Krizza Angela Balanquit, both from Pambujan; Ruvie Zyra Capangpangan (Palapag); and Lance Miguel Cajandab from Allen.
These six scholars represent the fifth batch to receive their scholarship certificates from the provincial government after signing their scholarship contract and return service agreement on October 25 at the provincial capitol building.
“Through this medical scholarship, you have given us the opportunity to pursue our calling,” said Leonor, a second-year medical student at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation in Tacloban City.
“We are not just aspiring to become doctors but to become doctors who will serve and uplift the health of our province, guided by the spirit of service inspired by this program,” he added, expressing gratitude to Governor Edwin Ongchuan for implementing the medical scholarship program.
“We look forward to you serving the province. You are our hope for improving health service delivery in our hospitals. While we, your elected officials, will come and go, you will remain in service. I hope you continue to serve our province even after your return service,” the governor added.
He thanked the medical scholarship grantees for joining the program and congratulating them on successfully passing the rigorous screening process of the MSP Board.
As medical scholars of Northern Samar, these students are entitled to various benefits, including P100,000 worth of tuition fees per semester, a stipend of P35,000, a book allowance of P30,000, and a uniform allowance of P5,000.
They are also eligible for additional benefits worth P60,000 for review fees for those taking the Medical Licensure Examination, along with another P35,000 stipend, P30,000 book allowance, and P5,000 uniform allowance.
Since its inception in 2020, the program has produced a total of 27 medical scholars, with five now licensed doctors and a 100 percent passing rate in the licensure examination.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
OCD reports that flood victims in EV due to ‘Kristine’ now back to their homes
Over 4,200 families were directly affected
TACLOBAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas reported that all 4,299 families, consisting of 14,528 individuals, affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” have returned home after temporarily evacuating due to flooding.
OCD Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion confirmed on Saturday, Oct. 26, that floodwaters have fully subsided in all affected areas across the region.
“All evacuees have already returned home, and currently, no individuals remain in evacuation centers,” Torrecarion said in a press conference.
He added that power and communication services have been restored throughout the region, particularly in the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The storm impacted 178,685 families, or 685,049 people, in total.
According to Torrecarion, 69 houses were completely destroyed, and 1,815 others sustained damage.
Assistance for affected families is underway, with housing materials provided by the OCD.
The OCD has yet to receive a complete report on damages to public infrastructure and agriculture. However, Torrecarion emphasized that their priority remains the immediate support of storm victims.
Preliminary data from the Eastern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) indicated infrastructure damages in the province amounting to P8.9 million, while agricultural losses, mainly affecting rice crops, totaled P15.12 million.
Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, upon Governor Ben Evardone’s recommendation, declared a state of calamity in Borongan City and 11 other towns in Eastern Samar due to Kristine’s impact.
Additionally, Calbayog City was placed under a state of calamity on Oct. 24, with flooding affecting 58 out of 157 barangays, impacting 9,307 families, or over 46,500 individuals.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that 43 local government units have received food packs totaling 56,620.
Regional DSWD Director Grace Subong noted that over 54,000 additional food packs remain prepositioned in warehouses across the region, ready for distribution to those affected by the storm.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)