• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The two-storey Cancer Care Center will be inaugurated this morning, Aug. 20, at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) grounds in Bacolod City, with Department of Health officials as guests of honor.
CLMMRH medical center chief II, Dr. Joan Cerrada, told the Negros NOW Daily that the first floor will be the patient care area, and the second floor will have consultation and conference rooms, among others.
“This will be for chemotherapy patients since the CLMMRH has no radiotherapy” yet, Cerrada explained, although the regional hospital has an agreement with Riverside Medical Center Inc., with services now covering radiation therapy for all types of cancer.
Cerrada said the center construction was funded by the Department of Health.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said in a press conference Aug. 18 that about P50 million was allotted for the construction that started in 2022, when he was still congressman.
He thanked the national government for the center that will serve not only Bacolodnons but the Negros Island Region as well. “Nagapasalamat kita sa tanan nga agensya sang national government nga wala guid nagpamalibad sang aton ginpangabay para sa sini nga proyekto humalin sang 2022 para sa mga taga-Bacolod kag bilog nga probinsya.”
DOH undersecretary, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, and DOH-NIR director, Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, are expected to deliver keynote messages in today’s inauguration ceremony. | CGC
