- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri committed an additional P400 million for the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) completion, even as the first phase of the project broke ground Sept. 9 in Barangay Vista Alegre, with him as guest of honor and speaker.
“I’m here to show my further commitment to complete the hospital. Before 2024 starts, we will have a new hospital, complete with equipment and facilities,” Zubiri said in his speech, as guests, city officials and residents cheered when he pledged his full support to ensure the completion of the health facility.
“There are better things to come for everyone in Bacolod. We’re here today to show you our commitment to the health and wellbeing of Bacolodnons,” the senator said.
Zubiri allotted an initial P200 million for the BCGH in the 2022 General Appropriations Act, after Republic Act 11564, the law that establishes the BCGH, was signed by then President Rodrigo Duterte on June 24, 2021, with a P600 million allocation.
“With over half a million people in Bacolod, it is high time that we put up our very own hospital to cater to Bacolodnons,” he said, adding that during the pandemic, the 400-bed Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital was hard-pressed to cater to patients, not only from the city but from towns and cities of Negros Occidental as well.
Zubiri, who traces his roots to Negros Occidental, said the establishment of the BCGH will decongest the CLMMRH and other hospitals, and will give residents quality health care that is more affordable than in private hospitals.
“In establishing the BCGH, we are giving our people a better chance of availing of public health services, and also allowing our health workers at the CLMMRH to work within their capacity. We will ensure an effective healthcare system for all,” he stressed.
Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, who authored House Bill 6731 to establish a general hospital in the City, thanked Zubiri for sponsoring the counterpart Senate Bill 1647 in the 18th Congress that led to the BCGH law.
“It wasn’t an easy road, personally, for me when I pushed for this project,” the solon said as he admitted that there were many hindrances and naysayers from the very start. “But if we want to do something, however difficult, we will accomplish it. We just need to give our time, our effort, our everything.”
Gasataya also thanked the Gensoli Family for donating their property for the medical complex, and all those who supported and assisted him in realizing his dream of a hospital for Bacolod.
He assured that the project will be completed within his term, as a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Health and the Bacolod City government, represented by DOH 6 regional director, Dr. Adriano Suba-an and Mayor Alfredo Benitez, respectively, was also signed at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The MOA paved the way for the downloading of the P250 million allocated for the main hospital building, with bidding to be held soon, while area development and the construction of the BCGH Multipurpose Building, worth P200 million, go full blast.
Engr. Nerie Bueno, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Western Visayas, said the multipurpose building will house various facilities in support to the operation of the BCGH.
These include a 108-square meter morgue, a 1,288-square meter dietary building, a 162-square meter linen and laundry office, provision of fire reserved tank, cistern tank, and power house, and the backfilling and construction of reinforced concrete overpass, access roads, and a parking area.
Bueno said that barring unforeseen circumstances, the multipurpose building will be completed in June 2023./CGC
