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Friday, March 29, 2024
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HomeLocal NewsA dream rises: First State-run hospital for Bacolod City expected to rise...

A dream rises: First State-run hospital for Bacolod City expected to rise by June 2023

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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.

This hospital is a game changer, this is very important not just for Bacolod City or Negros Island but the whole Region 6.This will fill in the gap that we have seen in Bacolod City. Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health 6 Regional Director on the Bacolod City General Hospital | Photo by Ian Kee
This hospital is a game changer, this is very important not just for Bacolod City or Negros Island but the whole Region 6.This will fill in the gap that we have seen in Bacolod City. Dr. Adriano Suba-an, Department of Health 6 Regional Director on the Bacolod City General Hospital | Photo by Ian Kee

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.

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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.

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At the Site. The site for the groundbreaking ceremony in Vista Alegre is ready for top national and local officials who are expected to arrive for the ceremony today that signals the start of the construction for the Bacolod City General Hospital, a historic first government-owned medical facility here. Bacolod is the provincial center of Negros Occidental with an estimated population of 600,000. The lot where the hospital will be built was donated by the Gensoli family. | Photo by Nikki Magbanua
At the Site. The site for the groundbreaking ceremony in Vista Alegre is ready for top national and local officials who are expected to arrive for the ceremony today that signals the start of the construction for the Bacolod City General Hospital, a historic first government-owned medical facility here. Bacolod is the provincial center of Negros Occidental with an estimated population of 600,000. The lot where the hospital will be built was donated by the Gensoli family. | Photo by Nikki Magbanua

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.”

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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.

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Julius D. Mariveles
Julius D. Mariveles
An amateur cook who has a mean version of humba, the author has recently tried to make mole negra, the Mexican sauce he learned by watching shows of master chef Rick Bayless. A journalist since 19, he has worked in the newsrooms of radio, local papers, and Manila-based news organizations. A stroke survivor, he now serves as executive editor of DNX.
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