BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – The countdown has started today towards the rise of a first in this highly-urbanized provincial capital: a tertiary hospital that will provide almost all levels of medical care to the more than 600,000 residents here.
Lone District solon Greg Gasataya said the main building of the Bacolod City General Hospital is expected to be completed in 2024, about two years from today after Senate President Juan. Miguel Zubiri led officials here in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility that signalled the start of the construction.
Zubiri, whose family has roots here, also pledged an additional P400 million for the project, upping the total budget for the hospital to P1 billion.
Gasataya authored the original bill for the hospital creation in the Lower House while Zubiri authored the Senate counterpart, both of which eventually became the law signed by then President Duterte on 24 June 2021.
The hospital has an allocated budget of P600 million under the General Appropriations Act for 2022.
Gasataya said during the groundbreaking today that it was “not easy” for him to push for the hospital.
The third term solon, whose mother died of a kidney ailment, had long described a city hospital as a dream for him.
“A lot said it cannot be done, that the (local government unit) cannot do it,” he said without giving specifics as he thanked “those who helped and supported me.”
zubiri, on the other hand, said the BCGH will decongest existing hospitals in the city and will ensure that people have access to “quality health care that is more affordable than in private hospitals.”
For his part, Benitez said they have to “learn the best way how to manage” a hospital as the city would be running it as he added that the BCGH is significant for people here who don’t have to go to the neighboring city of Silay to avail of medical services from a State-run facility.
