• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said on Sunday (Nov. 17) that they will try to secure funds for the newly-approved Victorias City General Hospital in 2026.
On Nov. 8, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act (RA) 12070, creating the Victorias City General Hospital, which was authored by then Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez.
It has a proposed budget of P500 million.
The mayor, however, said the budget has not been included in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
“We will take one step at a time,” he said, adding that he has to work with the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Health for the construction of the hospital, which already has an identified location.
Benitez said that he will also ask the assistance of the provincial government on the running of the hospital, which will be a Level 1 government medical facility.
“We want a synergy with the Capitol,” he added.
In a statement, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez said that “all Victoriasanons will soon have their own hospital and no longer need to travel far.”
As provided in RA 12070, the city government “shall manage the Victorias City General Hospital and prepare, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), a hospital development plan that is aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.” While Victorias City shall provide funds to establish the hospital, the Secretary of Health shall include in the DOH’s subsidy program the support for capital outlay requirements, it added.
The elder Benitez said that establishing the Victorias City General Hospital is “crucial in providing the people of Victorias and nearby residents of the third district wider access to affordable and quality healthcare.” | GB
